Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
For—illustrating "the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness." Translate as in Ephesians 2:5, "Ye are in a saved state."
through faith—the effect of the power of Christ's resurrection (Ephesians 1:19-20; Philippians 3:10) whereby we are "raised together" with Him (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12). Some of the oldest manuscripts read, "through your (literally, 'the') faith." The instrument or mean of salvation on the part of the person saved; Christ alone is the meritorious agent.
and that—namely, the act of believing, or "faith." "Of yourselves" stands in opposition to, "it is the gift of God" (Philippians 1:29). "That which I have said, 'through faith,' I do not wish to be understood so as if I excepted faith itself from grace" [ESTIUS]. "God justifies the believing man, not for the worthiness of his belief, but for the worthiness of Him in whom he believes" [HOOKER]. The initiation, as well as the increase, of faith, is from the Spirit of God, not only by an external proposal of the word, but by internal illumination in the soul [PEARSON]. Yet "faith" cometh by the means which man must avail himself of, namely, "hearing the word of God" (Romans 10:17), and prayer (Luke 11:13), though the blessing is wholly of God (I Corinthians 3:6-7).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ephesians 2:8:
1 Corinthians 1:30
Ephesians 2:3
Ephesians 2:5
Ephesians 2:10
Philippians 1:29
Colossians 2:12
2 Timothy 1:9
1 Peter 5:12
2 Peter 1:5
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