Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 1 · Verse and explication 17
Vers. 21. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22. And hath put all things under His feet,—
THe Apostle, in the second place, insisteth upon that second effect of God's mighty power, and explaineth what he meaned by the Father's setting of Christ at His own right hand, even, that which we formerly shewed, to wit, that transcendent glory and dignity, with full power and soveraignity which was put upon Him. And first, he speaketh of that general power and eminency, which He hath over and above all the creatures, by shewing that He is exalted in glory, not only above, but far above the glory of all creatures whatsoever, whether principality, power, might, or dominion, under which is comprehended every thing that is excellent among the creatures, whether in Heaven, Earth, or Hell; for, sometimes good Angels are expressed by those titles, Eph. 3. 10. sometimes bad Angels, Eph. 6. 12. and sometimes Civil powers, Tit. 3. 1. And lest any might apprehend some dignity besides, not comprehended under any of these four, he addeth a general clause, comprising every name, that is, all things excellent or famous, and worthy to be so named; as famous men are called men of Name; So that he hereby sheweth no creature can enter in competition with Christ in glory, dignity and worth: and withall he extendeth this glory put upon Christ in its duration, not only unto this world, but that which is to come, and shall never have an end, ver. 21. And that he may exalt Christ yet further, he sheweth, that He is not only above all creatures in glory, but also in dominion and soveraignity, the Father having placed all the creatures in a state of lowest subjection unto Him, even under His feet, to be disposed of as He seeth fit.
From Vers. 21. Learn, 1. The glory and splendor of things created hath some aptnesse in it, if it be not rightly looked on, or rather we are apt to take occasion from it to hide and undervalue the glory and excellency of Jesus Christ; for otherwise the Apostle would not labour so much to set Him high up above them, and His glory above theirs; Far above all principality and power. 2. Though Scripture give some ground to affirm, that there are different degrees and dignities among the Angels, Dan. 10. 13. and 12. 1. yet, what are their different orders, offices and dignities, Scripture doth nowhere determine: neither is there any ground for us to determine from this place: for, as we shew, the Apostle's scope is under those titles, and the general clause subjoyned, to lay aside, not only Angels, but all civil powers, and all created dignity whatsoever from competing with Christ in the point of power, excellency and worth; Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named. 3. Even the humane nature of Christ, and His glorified body by vertue of that unspeakable union which is betwixt the two natures of Christ in one person, is lifted up so high in glory, that the glory of Kings and Emperors, of Sun, Moon and Stars, of the souls of just men made perfect; yea, and of glorious Angels, is nothing to it, and lesse than the light of a candle being compared with the Sun in his brightnesse: for, he is speaking here of that glory, which Christ hath by sitting at the right hand of God, which, as to some pieces of it, doth belong to Christ, as man; and of it he affirmeth, that it is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named. 4. As we do then only think aright of that high glory put upon Christ, when we look on it as matchlesse, and not only above, but far, and infinitly far above all that glory, which can be found in all, or any of the creatures; So the holding forth of Christ in his glory by the Lord's Servants, is a point of great concernment for the good of God's People, to make all created glory wax dim and bulklesse, Dan. 3. 16, 17, 18. to draw their hearts up after and towards Him, Joh. 4. 10. to hearten them against those discouragements they usually meet with in doing service to Him, Act. 7. 55, 56. and to make them more reverent in their approaches to Him, Heb. 12. 25. for therefore doth Paul so much labour as he cannot well satisfie himself, in setting forth that high glory wherein Christ is, while he saith, He is above, and far above; and then enumerateth four comprehensive particulars, and addeth a general clause comprising all things, and preferreth Christ unto all; Far above all principality and power, &c. 5. As there is a world to come, when this is gone, wherein shall dwell righteousnesse, 2 Pet. 3. 13. So, though Christ's Kingdom shall cease at the last day, and be delivered up by Him to the Father, as to the way wherein He doth now administer it, by ruling in the midst of His enemies, Psal. 110. -2. whom He subdueth and destroyeth, Psal. 2. 9. and gathering-in His Elect by the means of Word and Sacraments, Matth. 28. 19, 20. Yet this Kingdom of His shall never cease, but be continued in that world which is to come without end, as to the glory, majestie, absolute soveraignity and dominion over all the creatures, which Jesus Christ Mediator, and God manifested in the flesh shall enjoy for ever and ever: for, these words, Not only in this world, but in the world to come, do shew the duration of Christ's kingly glory, and are to be referred not to the word named, immediatly preceeding, but to God's action of setting Christ at His right hand, far above all principality, not only in this world, &c.
From Vers. 22- Learn, 1. The Lord hath all things at His disposal, to do with them what He pleaseth: for, saith Paul, He hath put all things under His feet, which He could not have done, except they had been at His disposall. 2. Jesus Christ, God-man, Mediator, is not only exalted unto high glory and dignity above all the creatures; but also hath received absolute dominion and soveraign authority over them all, So that all the creatures, even the greatest, are subjected to Him, and that in the lowest degree of subjection, to wit, some willingly, as the effectually called and chosen, Psal. 110. 3—others by constraint, and without, or contrary to any purpose or intention of their own, being lyable unto, and made use of by His over-ruling power for bringing about His own glory and His Churches good, Rom. 8. 28. Thus devils, reprobates, crosses, tentations, and all creatures are subjected to Him: for, it seemeth those all things, which are under Christ's feet, must be taken universally of all creatures whatsoever, as being most agreeable, not only to the verse preceeding, where the comparison is made betwixt Christ and all creatures, but also to Philip. 2. 10, 11. which place is a commentary unto this, He hath put all things under His feet.