Ephesians 2:4

¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

But {G1161} God {G2316}, who is {G5607} rich {G4145} in {G1722} mercy {G1656}, for {G1223} his {G846} great {G4183} love {G26} wherewith {G3739} he loved {G25} us {G2248},

But God is so rich in mercy and loves us with such intense love

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Commentary on Ephesians 2:4 (KJV)

This verse marks a powerful shift in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Following a description of humanity's dire state—being dead in trespasses and sins and children of wrath by nature (Ephesians 2:1-3)—verse 4 begins with the pivotal words, "But God." This phrase introduces the divine intervention that dramatically changes the human condition described previously.

Context

Paul has just detailed the spiritual death and enslavement to sin and the world experienced by both Gentiles and Jews before Christ. He emphasizes that this state was not a minor ailment but a fundamental separation from God, leading to being objects of divine wrath. Ephesians 2:4 pivots from this bleak reality to highlight God's character and action as the sole source of salvation.

Key Themes

  • God's Character: The verse defines God by two primary attributes in relation to fallen humanity: being "rich in mercy" and possessing "great love." This contrasts sharply with the human state of spiritual poverty and alienation.
  • Divine Initiative: Salvation is presented as entirely God's work, stemming from His nature ("rich in mercy," "great love") and His will ("wherewith he loved us"). It is not based on human merit or effort, but on God's inherent goodness and desire to save.
  • The Basis of Salvation: Mercy and love are identified as the foundational reasons for God's saving action. His mercy overlooks our sin and misery, while His great love compels Him to act on our behalf.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "rich in mercy" translates the Greek plousios en eleei. Plousios means abundant or wealthy, emphasizing that God's mercy is not limited but is exceedingly plentiful. Eleei (mercy) refers to pity shown to someone in distress.

"Great love" comes from the Greek dia ten pollen agapen. Pollen means much or great, indicating the magnitude of this love. Agapen signifies agape love, which is a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial love, characteristic of God Himself. The use of agape here underscores the divine nature and immense depth of the love that motivates God's saving work. It is this great love wherewith He loved us that initiates salvation.

Reflection

Ephesians 2:4 offers profound hope. It reminds us that regardless of our past state or perceived distance from God, His nature is defined by abundant mercy and immense love. Our salvation is not a result of earning His favor but a gift flowing from who He is. This verse calls us to recognize the depth of God's grace and to respond with gratitude and faith, trusting in His rich mercy and great love as the basis for our new life in Christ, as described in the following verses.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Peter 1:3

    ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • Ephesians 1:7

    In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

  • Titus 3:4

    But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

  • Titus 3:7

    That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  • Psalms 86:15

    But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

  • Romans 5:8

    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

  • Ephesians 2:7

    That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
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