| Geneva Study Bible Having made known unto us the {m} mystery of his will, {13} according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (m) For unless the Lord had opened to us that mystery, we could never have so much as dreamed of it ourselves. (13) Not only the election, but also the calling proceeds from grace alone. People's New Testament 1:9 Having made known unto us. To all who receive the adoption of Christ. The mystery of his will. The word mystery is used in the sense of something beyond human comprehension until revealed. This mystery of his will is revealed and is declared in Eph 1:10. According to his good pleasure. See PNT Eph 1:5. Wesley's Notes 1:9 Having made known to us - By his word and by his Spirit. The mystery of his will - The gracious scheme of salvation by faith, which depends on his own sovereign will alone. This was but darkly discovered under the law; is now totally hid from unbelievers; and has heights and depths which surpass all the knowledge even of true believers. Scofield Reference Notes Margin mystery See, Rom 16:25,26 Eph 3:3. See Scofield Note: "Mt 13:11". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 9. "He hath abounded," or "made (grace) to abound toward us" (Eph 1:8), in that He made known to us, namely, experimentally, in our hearts. the mystery-God's purpose of redemption hidden heretofore in His counsels, but now revealed (Eph 6:19; Ro 16:25; Col 1:26, 27). This "mystery" is not like the heathen mysteries, which were imparted only to the initiated few. All Christians are the initiated. Only unbelievers are the uninitiated. according to his good pleasure-showing the cause why "He hath made known to us the mystery," namely, His own loving "good pleasure" toward us; also the time and manner of His doing so, are according to His good pleasure. purposed-(Eph 1:11). in himself-God the Father. Bengel takes it, "in Him," that is, Christ, as in Eph 1:3, 4. But the proper name, "in Christ," Eph 1:10, immediately after, is inconsistent with His being here meant by the pronoun. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:9-14 Blessings were made known to believers, by the Lord's showing to them the mystery of his sovereign will, and the method of redemption and salvation. But these must have been for ever hidden from us, if God had not made them known by his written word, preached gospel, and Spirit of truth. Christ united the two differing parties, God and man, in his own person, and satisfied for that wrong which caused the separation. He wrought, by his Spirit, those graces of faith and love, whereby we are made one with God, and among ourselves. He dispenses all his blessings, according to his good pleasure. His Divine teaching led whom he pleased to see the glory of those truths, which others were left to blaspheme. What a gracious promise that is, which secures the gift of the Holy Ghost to those who ask him! The sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit seal believers as the children of God, and heirs of heaven. These are the first-fruits of holy happiness. For this we were made, and for this we were redeemed; this is the great design of God in all that he has done for us; let all be ascribed unto the praise of his glory. | 
