this epiftle was writ at Corinth, what follows in ver. 23. Eraftus, the chamberlain of the city, faluteth you. For by the city I fuppofe to be meant Corinth. But whether this Eraftus be the fame, who is mentioned by St. Luke Acts xix. 22. as one of St. Paul's affiftants, I cannot say certainly.

The time of writing this epistle is farther manifest hence. It was writ after that Paul had compleated his collections in Macedonia, and Achaia, and when he was setting out for Jerufalem. For fo he writes ch. xv. 25. 26. But now I go unto Jerufalem, to minifter unto the faints. For it has pleafed them of Macedonia, and Achaia, to make a certain contribution for the poor faints, which are at Jerufalem... ver. 30. 31. Now I beseech you, brethren,... that ye ftrive together with me, in prayers to God for me: that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea, and that my fervice, which I have for Jerufalem, may be accepted of the faints.

Confequently, it is probable, that it was now near the end of the three months, that the Apostle staid in Greece. Whence he returned to Macedonia, and after the days of unleavened bread, failed from Philippi, to Troas, upon the continent of Afia, Acts xx. 3... 6. And then went to Jerufalem, where he arrived about the time of Pentecoft in the year 58.

If St. Paul came to Corinth in November 57. the epiftle to the Romans might be sent thence in the month of Februarie, in the year. 58.

SECT. ix.

The Epiftle to the Ephefians.

****ONCERNING St. Paul's Epiftles, writ during his imprisonment at Rome, particularly, the Epiftle to the Ephefians.

Soon after writing the epiftle to the Romans, as was before hinted, Paul fet out from Corinth, on his journey to Jerufalem. In a fhort time after his arrival there, he was apprehended. And he was kept a prisoner in that countrey, till he was fent to Rome.

During his stay in Judea, we know not of his correfponding with any churches, or particular perfons, by writing. But at Rome, though a prifoner, he wrote divers letters. Grotius fays, that (f) though all St. Paul's epiftles are excellent, he most admires those writ by him, when a prifoner at Rome. And of the epiftle to the Ephefians he says, it (g) furpaffeth all human eloquence.

It is generally fuppofed, that St. Paul wrote there four epiftles: to the Ephefians, the Philippians, the Coloffians, and Philemon. Jerome has twice (b) fpoken of these four epiftles, as writ at Rome. Theodoret having spoken

of

f) Omnes epiftolæ Pauli egregiæ funt: fed omnium in primis, quæ Româ ex vinculis miffæ funt. Gr. Pr. in ep. ad Col.

(g)... rerum fublimitatem adæquans verbis fublimioribus, quam ulla unquam habuit lingua humana. Grot. Pr. in ep. ad Eph.

(b) Quod Romæ in vincula conjectus, hanc epiftolam miferit eo tempore, quo ad Philemonem, et ad Coloffenfes, et ad Philippenses, in alio loco fcriptas effe monftravimus. Hieron. in Eph. cap. iii, T. 4. p. 347.

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of the epiftle to the Romans, as the feventh in order, and the laft of those that were fent from Afia, Macedonia, and Achaia, fays: "The (i) reft were sent "from Rome: the first of which I take to be that, writ to the Galatians.” Lightfoot (k) likewife fuppofed the epiftle to the Galatians to have been writ at Rome, and the first of those that were writ there. That is a wrong computation, as muft appear from what has been already faid. But befide the four above mentioned, the second epistle to Timothie might be writ at this season. The epiftle to the Hebrews likewife, if it be Paul's, was, probably, writ about this time, either during the Apostle's imprisonment, or foon after it, before he left Rome, and Italie.

St. Paul's imprisonment, from the time of his being apprehended at Jerufalem, to his coming to Rome, was the space of almoft, or quite three years. For a fhort time he was confined in the caftle of Antonia at Jerufalem. Thence he was fent to Ceferea by the fea fide, the feat of the Roman Governour, who at that time was Felix. Where he was kept in Herod's judgement hall. Acts xxiii. 15. And though afterwards there was an order for enlarging the firft ftrictneffe of his cuftodie, and that his acquaintance should be permitted to come to him, and minister to him. ch. xxiv. 23. I fuppofe, he was ftill confined in the above mentioned prifon. And, perhaps, this new order imported little more, than leave for his friends to bring him needful refreshments, and take care of his health. It does not appear, that during the space of two years, and several months, whilft he was in Judea, he wrote any letters, or received any, as before intimated. Says (1) Wall: " Thofe two years of imprisonment under Felix feem to have been the most unactive part of St. Paul's life. There is no account of any preachings, or difputations, or of any epiftles writ in this space." Indeed, confidering the violent oppofition made by the Jews throughout the whole fpace of the Apoftle's being in that countrey: I apprehend, there was no attempt made by Paul, or his friends, to procure him intelligence from the Chriftian churches abroad: and that the Roman Governour could not allow of any fuch thing. He would rather have fet Paul at liberty, and let him go quite away. But when Paul was brought to Rome, though he was under a guard, he was fuffered to dwell by himself, in his own hired houfe. Acts xxviii. 16. 30. where he was two years. Having fuch liberty, he wifely improved it, not only by difcourfing with all thofe who came to him, but also by writing several epiftles.

Of all these epiftles the firft writ seems to me to be that to the EpheA. D. 61. fians. I think, it was drawn up by the Apoftle, as foon as conveniently could be, after his friends at Rome had taken a lodging for him, and he was fettled in it.

The epiftle is infcribed to the faints which are at Ephefus, and to the faithfull in Chrift Jefus. But I apprehend, that the Apoftle thought of the Chriftians throughout Afia, properly fo called, whether living at Ephe

fus,

Scribet igitur ad Philemonem Romæ vinctus in carcere, quo tempore mihi videntur ad Philippenfes, Coloffenfes, et Ephefios epiftolæ effe dictatæ. In Philem. ib. p. 445. in.

(;) Τὰς γαρ δὴ ἄλλας ἀπὸ τῆς ῥώμης ἐπέσειλεν καὶ πρώτην μὲν ἡγῆμαι τὴν πρὸς yaλáτas ypaŢival. T. 3. p. 5.

(k) Lightf. Vol. I. p. 323.

(1) Notes upon the N. T. p. 267. 268.

fus, the chief city of the countrey, or not. To the like purpose (m) Hammond: and alfo Mr. Pyle, who paraphrafeth the firft verfe of the epiftle in this manner: "Paul, called to be an Apostle, fendeth this epiitle to the church of Ephefus, and to all the Chriftians of the leffer Afia, thofe faithfull Chriftians that firmly rely upon the Chriftian Religion for falvation, without the obfervation of the Mofaical ceremonies." We are led to this fuppofition by what St. Paul fays near the conclufion of his first epiftle to the Corinthians, writ at Ephefus: the churches of Afia falute you. 1 Cor. ch. xv. 19. And that epiftle to the Corinthians is addreffed to the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are fanctified in Chrift Jefus, called to be faints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jefus Chrift, our Lord, both theirs and ours. And the fecond epiftle to the Corinthians is addreffed to the church of God, which is at Corinth, with all the faints, which are in all Achaia.

After the falutation of these Chriftians, at the beginning of the epiftle, he praiseth God for the gospel difpenfation, now made known to all men, agreeably to the gracious purpose, long fince formed in the divine counfels. Bleed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who has bleffed us with all fpiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Chrift: according as he hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world. ver. 3. 4. to the 12. He then reminds them of their firft faith in the gofpel, and the circumftances of it. In whom ye alfo trufted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your falvation in whom alfo, after that ye believed, ye were fealed with that holy Spirit of promife. Which is the earnest of our inheritance. . . . ver. 13. 14. After which he lets them know, that in his confinement, fince he came to Rome, he had heard of the continuance of their faith, and of their love for all Chriftians in general. Which had filled him with transports of joy and fatisfaction. Wherefore I alfo having heard of your faith in the Lord Jefus, and love unto all the faints, ceafe not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Father of glorie, may give unto you the spirit of wif dom: or that they might be more and more illuminated, and established in the principles of true religion. ver. 15. 16. and to ver. 23.

The account, that had been brought him of the Chriftians at Ephefus, by Tychicus, as may be supposed, having been very agreeable, the Apoftle does not cenfure them for any great irregularies in conduct, as he does the Corinthians, nor for any remarkable deviations from the fimplicity of the gospel, or inftability therein, as he does the Galatians. But he treats them with great mildneffe. However, he fends them a pathetic exhortation to persevere in a conversation, becoming their profeffion, and their privileges, and to guard against the temptations, which they might meet with either from Heathen idolaters, or corrupt and felf-intereited Chriftians.

At the end, he tells them, that he had fent Tychicus, who would give them information concerning his affairs, and comfort them. ch. vi. 21. 22. And then adds: Peace be to the brethren, and love, with faith, from

(m) Ephefum fuiffe primam Metropolim Lydia, vel proconfularis Afiæ, oftendimus in notis ad Coloff. iv. 16. Itaque epiftola hæc, Ephefiis infcripta, non eft putanda ad eos folos pertinere, verum etiam ad alias urbes provinciæ, imo et totius Afia. Hammond. Præf, in ep. ad Eph.

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God the Father, and the Lord Jefus Chrift. ver. 2. 3. Peace be to the brethren, that is, the brethren, with you, at Ephefus, to whom the epiftle is directed. So I Theff. v. 27. I charge you by the Lord, that this epiftle be read to all the holy brethren: meaning the brethren, or Chriftians at Theffalonica. So to the Philippians ch. iv. 21. Salute every faint in Chrift Jefus, meaning, undoubtedly, the Chriftians at Philippi. And then at ver. 22. All the faints falute you: meaning all the Christians in general at Rome. It was not needful to say, of this place. The meaning is obvious.

The concluding words of this epiftle are these at ver. 23. Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity. Which, I think, may be understood, and paraphrafed after this manner. "And grace

be with all thofe, who, like you, love the Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity."

That is a brief and general account of the epiftle itself. I must add somewhat in behalf of the early date of it, which is here affigned by me.

There might be many confiderations, inducing the Apoftle to write to the Ephefians, foon after his arrival at Rome. Ephefus was a place of great importance, being the chief city of Afia, where was a great refort of merchants, and all other people. Here the apoftle chofe to fettle that eminent difciple of his, Timothie. Here alfo St. John took up his refidence, after he had left Judea. It was the place, where Paul had been longer, than in any other city, except Antioch. Here alfo he had wrought many, and fpecial miracles, and had great fucceffe in his preaching. Acts xix. Moreover, he had intended them a vifit. 1 Tim. iii. 4. But had been prevented. When he went to Jerusalem, it is likely, that it was earneftly defired, and confidently expected by the Chriftians at Ephefus. Such expectations are fufficiently intimated by St. Luke. Acts xx. 15.

17. The next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to fail by Ephefus, because he would not spend the time in Afia. For he hafted, if poffible, to be at Jerufalem the day of Pentecoft. And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. Where having made a pathetic difcourfe, all present were much affected, and gave teftimonies of a fervent affection, and high efteem. These things muft have made impreffions upon the Apoftle, and have been well remembered by him: and may have induced him to think of writing first to this church upon his coming to Rome, and having liberty of correfpondence.

There might be likewife fome other reafons for this determination. The epiftle is carried by Tychicus, who was of Afia, and, probably, an Ephefian. Mr. Bifcoe (n) thought, that Tychicus accompanied the Apoftle in his voyage to Rome. But for that I fee no ground. I rather think, that like divers others of his fellow-labourers, Tychicus had come to Rome of his own accord, to meet Paul, and to attend upon him or had been fent by the Ephefians, to pay their refpects to him, and enquire into the ftate of his affairs. It seems to me, that Tychicus was one of the first, who came to the Apoftle, and very foon after his arrival at Rome. Yea, poffibly, Tychicus was got thither before him, as fome other of the Apostle's friends likewife might be. However, Tychicus being now at Rome, he was a very fit perfon to go with a letter from the Apostle to Ephefus.

(n) Upon the Acts, p. 435.

If.

If we duly attend to the Apoftle's fituation, after having been above two years in a clofe confinement at Cefarea, we may be able to difcern the reafon of feveral things. Particularly, we may perceive, why this is a kind of general epiftle, not much concerning itfelf with the affairs and circumftances of any church: but delivering, firft, the doctrine of the gospel, and then the duties of it, with a fulneffe, fcarcely equalled in any other of the apoftolical epiftles. As Theodoret faid: "The (o) former part of the epiftle contains the doctrine of the gospel, the latter part a moral admonition." Or as a learned modern fays: "Being fomewhat in the manner of an inftitute." The Apoftle might well judge it best to write thus in his first letter, writ after a long filence and in this manner, to remind his friends and converts in Afia of the principles of the gofpel, and their obligations, as Chriftians.

We are likewife hence led to difcern the great beauty and propriety of the feveral places of this epiftle, where the Apoftle speaks of his bonds. ch. iii. 1. I Paul, the prifoner of Jefus Chrift for you Gentils. That for their cause, he was now in bonds, aappears from the hiftorie of his imprisonment, as related by St. Luke in the Acts, and particularly, from what is faid ch. xxii. 21. 22. and the following verfes. There is an efpecial fuitableneffe in that expreffion of the Apoftle, in a letter writ foon after his arrival at Rome, and efpecially, if it be the firft letter writ by him after his being apprehended, as I think it is. And having enlarged fomewhat farther upon his having been appointed an Apostle by Chrift, for forwarding the gofpel among Gentils, he goes on, and endeavors to comfort these Chriftians, and all Gentil converts in general, with regard to the afflictive dispensation, which he was under, and which might appear very strange to many. ver. 13. Vherefore I defire, that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glorie. Again: iv. 1. I therefore the prifoner of the Lord befeech you. And ch. vi. 20. he calls himself an Ambafador in bonds. How fuitable is this to the Apostle's circumftances, if we confider him now lately arrived in the city of Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, and the feat of the Emperour!

I cannot forbear tranfcribing that paffage. ch. vi. 18... 20. Praying for all faints. ... and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mysterie of the gospel. For which I am an Ambafadour in bonds: that I may speak boldly, as I ought to fpeak. Wherein I do not think, the Apostle so much defires these Christians to pray for his enlargement, as that he might difcharge his commiffion aright and fpeak with the freedom and boldneffe of an Ambaffadour from a great Prince: though he was chained as a prisoner, and had not the outward pomp and state, usual with men of that high character. This was very proper at the time of his arrival at Rome, where he was likely to continue fome while.

There is a like paffage in Col. iv. 3. 4. which, I think, ought not to be understood very differently.

It is alfo an argument, that this epiftle was writ by the Apostle foon after his coming to Rome: that here are no expreffions, denoting hopes of enlargement, as there are in the epiftles to the Philippians, the Colof fians, and Philemon: writ, as we fuppofe, not long before his deliver

(o) See Vol. xi. p. 86.

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ance.