John Wesley

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

“The whole family of angels in heaven, saints in paradise, and believers on earth is named. Being the "children of God," (a more honourable title than "children of Abraham,") and depending on him as the Father of the family.”

will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

“That being rooted and grounded - That is, deeply fixed and firmly established, in love. Ye may comprehend - So far as an human mind is capable. What is the breadth of the love of Christ - Embracing all mankind.”

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

“Now to him - This doxology is admirably adapted to strengthen our faith, that we may not stagger at the great things the apostle has been praying for, as if they were too much for God to give, or for us to expect from him.”

This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”

“Wherefore he saith - That is, in reference to which God saith by David, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive - He triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world: alluding to the custom of…”

“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

“Be ye angry, and sin not - That is, if ye are angry, take heed ye sin not. Anger at sin is not evil; but we should feel only pity to the sinner.”

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

“To the use of edifying - To forward them in repentance, faith, or holiness. That it may minister grace - Be a means of conveying more grace into their hearts.”

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.

“"I am not angry," says one; "but it is my way to speak so." Then unlearn that way: it is the way to hell. And evil speaking - Be it in ever so mild and soft a tone, or with ever such professions of kindness.”

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

“Or jesting - The word properly means, wittiness, facetiousness, esteemed by the heathens an half- virtue. But how frequently even this quenches the Spirit, those who are tender of conscience know.”

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

“The fruit of the light - Opposite to " the unfruitful works of darkness," chap. iv, 11. Is in - That is, consists in. Goodness and righteousness and truth - Opposite to the sins spoken of, chap. iv, 25,&c.”

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

“With all possible care redeeming the time - Saving all you can for the best purposes; buying every possible moment out of the hands of sin and Satan; out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business; the more diligently, because the present are…”

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

“And spiritual songs - On any divine subject. By there being no inspired songs, peculiarly adapted to the Christian dispensation, as there were to the Jewish, it is evident that the promise of the Holy Ghost to believers, in the last days, was by his…”

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands - Unless where God forbids. Otherwise, in all indifferent things, the will of the husband is a law to the wife.”

to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

“That he might sanctify it through the word - The ordinary channel of all blessings. Having cleansed it - From the guilt and power of sin.”

In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

“As their own bodies - That is, as themselves. He that loveth his wife loveth himself - Which is not a sin, but an indisputable duty.”

For we are members of His body.

“For we - The reason why Christ nourishes and cherishes the church is, that close connection between them which is here expressed in the words of Moses, originally spoken concerning Eve.”

“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

“That thou mayest live long upon the earth - This is usually fulfilled to eminently dutiful children; and he who lives long and well has a long seed-time for the eternal harvest.”

Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

“And, ye fathers - Mothers are included; but fathers are named, as being more apt to be stern and severe. Provoke not your children to wrath - Do not needlessly fret or exasperate them.”

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

“Your masters according to the flesh - According to the present state of things: afterward the servant is free from his master. With fear and trembling - A proverbial expression, implying the utmost care and diligence.”

Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men,

“Unto the Lord, and not to men - That is, rather than to men; and by making every action of common life a sacrifice to God; having an eye to him in all things, even as if there were no other master.”

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

“Brethren - This is the only place in this epistle where he uses this compellation. Soldiers frequently use it to each other in the field.”

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil…

“And great is their power, and that likewise of those legions whom they command. Against the rulers of the world - Perhaps these principalities and powers remain mostly in the citadel of their kingdom of darkness.”

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.

“In the evil day - The war is perpetual; but the fight is one day less, another more, violent. The evil day is either at the approach of death, or in life; may be longer or shorter and admits of numberless varieties.”

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

“And having on the breastplate of righteousness - The righteousness of a spotless purity, in which Christ will present us faultless before God, through the merit of his own blood. With this breastplate our Lord is described, Isaiah lix, 17.”

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

“Above or over all - As a sort of universal covering to every other part of the armour itself, continually exercise a strong and lively faith.”

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

“The armour for this is the hope of salvation. The lowest degree of this hope is a confidence that God will work the whole work of faith in us; the highest is a full assurance of future glory, added to the experimental knowledge of pardoning…”