I

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 Theff. v. 27. 1 charge you by the Lord, that this epifile 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 Jejus, meaning, undoubtedly, the Chriftians at Philippi. And then at ver. 22. All the faints falute you: meaning all the Chriftians in general at Rome. It was not needful to fay, of this place. The meaning is ob

vious.

The concluding words of this epiftle are thefe 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 Christ, in fincerity."

That is a brief and general account of the epistle itself. I must add fomewhat 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 chose to settle 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 special 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 Jerufalem, 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 prefent were much affected, and gave teftimonies of a fervent affection, and high esteem. These things must 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. Biscoe (n) thought, that Tychicus accompanied the Apostle 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 Reme 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 feems to me, that Tychicus was one of the firft, 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 Apoftle's friends likewife might be. However, Tychicus being now at Rome, he was a very fit perfon to go with a letter from the Apoitle to Ephefus.

(n) Upon the Acts, p. 435.

If

If we duly attend to the Apostle's fituation, after having been above two years in a close confinement at Cefarea, we may be able to difcern the reason of several things. Particularly, we may perceive, why this is a kind of general epistle, not much concerning itself with the affairs and circumstances of any church: but delivering, firft, the doctrine of the gofpel, and then the duties of it, with a fulneffe fcarcely equalled `in any other of the apoftolical epiftles. As Theodoret faid: "The (0) 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 beft to write thus in his firft 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 several places of this epiftle, where the Apoftle fpeaks of his bonds. ch. iii. 1. I Paul, the prisoner of Jefus Chrift for you Gentils. That for their caufe, he was now in bonds, appears from the hiftorie of his imprifonment, as related by St. Luke in the Acts, and particularly, from what is said ch. xxii. 21. 22. and the following verfes. There is an especial suitableneffe in that expreffion of the Apostle, in a letter writ foon after his arrival at Rome, and especially, if it be the first letter writ by him after his being apprehended, as I think it is. And having enlarged fomewhat farther upon his having been appointed an Apoftle by Chrift, for forwarding the gofpel among Gentils, he goes on, and endeavors to comfort thefe Chriftians, and all Gentil converts in general, with regard to the afflictive difpenfation, which he was under, and which might appear very strange to many. ver. 13. Wherefore 1 defire, that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glorie. Again: iv. 1. I therefore the prifoner of the Lord befzech you. And ch. vi. 20. he calls himself an Ambaffador in bonds. How fuitable is this to the Apoftle's circumftances, if we confider him now lately arrived in the city of Roms, 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 myfterie of the gospel. For which I am an Ambaffadour in bonds: that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Wherein I do not think, the Apoftle fo much defires thefe Chriftians to pray for his enlargement, as that he might difcharge his commiffion aright and fpeak with the freedom and boldneffe of an Ambassadour from a great Prince: though he was chained as a prifoner, and had not the outward pomp and ftate, ufual 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 Coloffans, and Philemon: writ, as we fuppofe, not long before his deliver

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

R 2

ance.

ance. Nor does he here take any notice of fucceffes obtained at Rome, or give any intimations of converts made by him there, as he does Philip. i. 12. 13. 14. iv. 22. He feems indeed to have pleafed himself with a profpect of recommending the gofpel in his prefent fituation. ch. iii. 7... 10. like to what he fays 2 Tim. iv. 17. an epiftle writ about the fame time. But he does not intimate any advantages obtained as yet. Nor does he at the end of this epiftle fend fuch falutations, as at the end of the epiftles to the Philippians, the Coloffians, and Philemon. All which muft lead us to think, that the circumftances of the Apostle at writing this epiftle were different from his circumstances at writing thofe epiftles: when his captivity, as is allowed, was near it's period.

Says St. Paul 2 Tim. iv. 12. And Tychicus have I fent to Ephefus. It is likely, that the Apoftle there refers to the epiftle, of which we are now fpeak. He had juft fent, or was fending away Tychicus to Ephesus with this epiftle. I think, I fhall presently fhew, that the fecond epiftle to Timothie was writ in the first year of the Apoftle's imprisonment at Rome, and not very long after his arrival there. Confequently, this epiftle, being there referred to, must have been fent about the fame time. That the epiftle to the Ephefians is here referred to, has been the opinion of many. So thought (p) Tillemont. Who fuppofing, that the fecond of Timothie was writ in a fecond imprisonment of the Apostle at Rome, placeth the writing of this to the Ephefians in the year 65. Whitby in his preface to the epiftle to the Ephefians obferves: "In his clofe of "this epiftle St. Paul speaks thus to them. ch. vi. 21. 22. That ye may "know my affairs and how I do... Tychicus shall make known unto you "all things.... And in the fecond epiftle to Timothie he faith: Tychicus "have I fent unto Ephefus. 2 Tim. iv. 12." So Whitby. But forgetting, as it seems, what he had faid in fome other places. However, this fhews, how natural and eafie it is, to think the epiftle to the Ephefians intended in that place of the fecond to Timothie. And it is what most would think, if not biaffed by fome prejudice.

Theodoret in his general preface to St. Paul's epiftles fays: " The (4) "Apostle fent to the Ephefians and the Coloffians at the fame time, and "fent them by the fame meffenger," meaning Tychicus. But in his preface to the epiftle to the Ephefians, having quoted Eph. vi. 21. 22. he goes on: "And (r) th: he fent Tychicus from Rome, he fhews in his "fecond epifle to Ti thie, faying: Do thy diligence to come to me 66 shortly.... And Tychicus have I fent to Ephefus." 2 Tim. iv. 10. .... 12. So Theodoret, without confidering the confequence. For he supposed the second to Timothie to have been writ but a fhort time before the Apoftle's martyrdom. But if the epiftle to the Ephefians was writ when the Apoftle was first at Rome, (as Theodoret allows,) and if he refers to it in his fecond epistle to Timothie; it will follow, that this was writ foon after that to the Ephefians, and when the Apostle was first at Rome.

However,

(p) Saint Paul. Art. 49. et Note 58. Mem. Ec. Tom. i. (9) Καὶ μὲν τοι καὶ ἐφεσίοις καὶ κολοσσαεῦσι κατὰ τὸν ἀυτὸν ἔγραψε χρονον, ἐπιστολῶν ἀμφοτέρων διακόνῳ χρησάμενος. Theod. Τ. 3. p. 5.

(*) Τὸν δὲ μακάριον τυχικὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ῥώμης απέσειλεν καὶ τῶτο ἐν τῇ πρὸς τιμύθιον δευτέρα διδάσκει, κ. λ. I. ρ. 292. Α.

However, there are difficulties attending this opinion, which muft be confidered.

Firft, it is faid, that the epiftles to the Ephefians and the Coloffians were fent by the fame meffenger. Comp. Eph. vi. 21. 22. Col. iv. 7. 8. The epiftle to the Coloffians was fent away from Rome, when the Apostle had hopes of enlargement. Confequently, the epiftle to the Ephefians was writ about the fame time.

I anfwer, that this is no proof. For Tychicus might be fent twice into the fame countrey, in the time of the Apostle's two years imprisonment, Tychicus might be fent to Ephefus, with this letter to the Ephefians, foon after the Apostle's arrival at Rome, and come back to him, and be able to take another journey into those parts a year after, when the Apostle was about to be fet at liberty.

Secondly, it is faid, that there is a great agreement between the epiftle to the Ephefians and that to the Coloffians. This laft, as is allowed, was writ in the fecond year of the Apoftle's confinement, and when it was. near it's end. Confequently, the epistle to the Ephefians was writ about the fame time.

To which I anfwer: Undoubtedly, there is an agreement between thefe epiftles in feveral things, taken notice of by (s) Grotius, and others. But it does not therefore follow, that they were fent away together. For, as has been obferved by (t) Lightfoot, it is likely, that the Apoftle kept copies of his letters. If fo, it might be eafie for him to write after the fame manner at different times, to people not very remote from each other, and whofe circumftances were much alike. Indeed, without keeping copies of his letters, I believe it would be no difficult matter for St. Paul to repeat the Chriftian principles, and exhortations to Chriftian virtues, at feveral times, in like expreffions, if the circumftances of men required it.

And there are feveral things in the epiftles themselves, which afford good reafon for thinking, that they were not writ, and fent away at the fame time and that the epiftle to the Coloffians was writ fome while after that to the Ephefians. From what is faid in the fecond chapter of the epiftle to the Coloffians, concerning the worshipping of angels, and other matters, it may be concluded, that the Apoftle had received from thofe parts fome intelligence, which he had not, when he wrote the epiftle to the Ephefians. For there thofe matters are not at all touched

upon.

And though there is a refemblance between thefe two epiftles, they are very different. For the epiftle to the Ephefians is a good deal longer

than

(s) Proxima huic et argumento, et verbis etiam, eft illa ad Coloffenses, eodem, ni fallor, fcripta tempore. Grot. Pref. in ep. ad Eph. vid. et ejufd. Pr. in ep. ad Coloff

(t)"It may be, the parchments 2 Tim. iv. 13. were the originals of those epiltles, that he had already written. For that he fent tranfcripts, and referved the originals, may be collected from thefe paffages. I Tertius, who wrote out this epiftle. Rom. xvi. 22. See alfo 1 Cor. xvi. 21. Col. iv. 18. 2 Theff. iii. 17. For all the epittle befide was written with another hand.” Harmonie of the N. T. Vol. i. p. 316.

than that to the Coloffians, though the fore-mentioned article in the fecond chapter to the Coloffians is entirely wanting. And in those places, where there is an agreement, there are differences.

Nor is there in the epiftle to the Ephefians any notice taken of Timethie, or Epaphras, or Mark, fo exprefsly mentioned in the epistle to the Coloffians. Which must be reckoned a very strong, and even a demonftrative argument, that these two epiftles were not writ, and fent away at the fame time.

In this date of the epiftle to the Ephefians I have (u) followed Light foot: from whom I have had great affiftances in fettling the time of St. Paul's epiftles. I have likewife had, in this inftance, affiftances from (x) Baronius, (y) Eftius, (z) Hammond, and (a) Witfius.

Baronius (b) and Lightfoot firft fpeak of the fecond epistle to Timothie : though they do not deny, the epiftle to the Ephefians to have been writ before it. But as we are now inquiring into the order of time, I have judged it beft to adhere to that strictly. A few weeks, yea a few days, might make a great alteration in the Apoftle's circumftances at this time. And fome of his friends and affiftants might be daily coming to Rome from the provinces, and getting acceffe to him in his apartment. By comparing thefe two epiftles I am led to think, that when the Apostle wrote the second epistle to Timothie, he had been longer at Rome, and was better acquainted with the world about him, than when he wrote the epistle to the Ephefians.

Bafnage is fingular in his fentiment concerning the time of this epiftle. "That (c) it was writ at Rome, when Paul was prifoner there, he "fays, is manifeft. But he thinks it to have been the last epistle, which "was fent thence by the Apoftle. He argues well enough, that it was "not fent with the epiftle to the Coloffians. And he fuppofeth, that Ty"chicus was fent twice into these countreys by the Apoitle from Rome." He should therefore have concluded, that this letter to the Ephefians was carried by Tychicus, not after those other epiftles, but before

them.

Says

(u) As before p. 325. *

(x) Annal. 59. num, xv. Vid. et num. xx. (y) Praf. in ep. ad Eph.

(z) Praf. in ep. ad Ephef.

(a) Witf. de Vit. Paul. Se&t. xii. num. vi. et ix. (b) Hæc cum ita fint, nos tamen primum egimus de ipfa ad Timotheum fcripta epiftola, eo quod multa in ea de rebus fuis Romæ geftis ipfe fignificet, ex quibus intexeretur hiftoria: quarum nulla eft mentio in epiftola ad Ephe fios. Baron. Ann. 59. num. xv.

(c) Epiftolarum omnium, quas primis in vinculis exaravit Apoftolus, ea que ad Ephefios ultima effe videtur. Ludovico enim Cappello non affentimur, qui eodem tempore ad Coloffenfes et ad Ephefios, epiftolam fcriptam effe ftatuit... Agebat Romæ Epaphras, dum Paulus fcribit Coloffenfibus. Col. i. 8. Urbe autem aberat, cum ad Ephefios mifit epiftolam, in qua ne verbulo quidem meminit Epaphræ. Quinetiam non ut ad Coloffenfes fic et ad Ephefios nomine fuo et Timothei fcribit. Præterea per Tychicum mifla eft epiftola. Eph. vi. 21. Quæ de alia prorfus Tychici profectione intelli genda funt, quam cujus meminit ad Coloffenfes iv. 12. Alioquin Timothei ac Epaphræ mentionem quoque injeciffet. Ann. 61. num, vii.