Ephesians

Summary

Ephesians lifts our eyes. It begins in eternity, blesses God for every spiritual blessing in Christ, and then presses that heavenly reality into the shape of the local church and the daily life of believers. Ian Hamilton writes as a Scottish Reformed pastor who wants doctrine to land as worship and obedience. We found his treatment of Ephesians particularly strengthening for preachers who want to keep the letter’s tone, high doxology, deep humility, and practical seriousness.

Hamilton helps us see that Paul is not giving abstract theology. He is forming a people. In Christ, God is gathering a new humanity, united, holy, and filled with the Spirit. That has consequences for preaching, for church culture, for marriage, parenting, and work, and for spiritual warfare. Hamilton keeps the movement from grace to obedience clear, so that the imperatives never eclipse the indicatives. The result is preaching help that encourages holiness without slipping into legalism.

We also appreciated the way Hamilton carries a pastoral weight through the text. Ephesians is full of identity, adoption, redemption, sealing, access, and strength. Those themes are not only for theologians. They are for weary saints. Hamilton keeps returning to the comfort of God’s purpose, and to the power of the Spirit, which makes this volume a helpful companion in real ministry seasons.

Strengths

First, Hamilton is strong at keeping Ephesians Christ centred without forcing it. The letter is already saturated with Christ, and Hamilton allows that saturation to shape the exposition. When Paul speaks of election, redemption, and inheritance, Hamilton keeps it doxological. When Paul speaks of union, he keeps it practical. When Paul speaks of the church, he keeps it anchored in Christ’s headship rather than in organisational technique.

Second, the commentary has a steady ecclesial instinct. Ephesians is a letter about the church, not merely about personal spirituality. Hamilton helps preachers emphasise unity, maturity, and love. He also helps pastors avoid turning unity into sentimentality. Unity is created by Christ, guarded by humility, and expressed through truth in love. That is exactly the kind of clarity needed in a church culture shaped by consumer preference.

Third, Hamilton’s treatment of Ephesians 4 to 6 is especially useful for preaching. He connects ethics to identity. He shows how holiness is the fruit of grace. He also handles spiritual warfare soberly, avoiding sensationalism while still taking the devil seriously. That helps pastors who need to preach the armour of God without turning it into superstition.

Limitations

The main limitation is that readers who want extensive interaction with scholarly debates, authorship discussions, or detailed grammar will need another resource. This is written for exposition and pastoral use. It focuses on meaning, structure, and application. Also, at points the commentary assumes a level of theological familiarity. That is not a major problem, but some readers may want to slow down and work through key doctrinal terms, especially in Ephesians 1 and 2.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume when preaching through Ephesians, especially to keep the letter’s worshipful tone and its church shaping burden. It is also helpful for training leaders. If a ministry team needs a clearer understanding of what the church is, how unity works, and why doctrine matters, Ephesians is a crucial letter, and Hamilton offers a steady guide.

We would also draw on this commentary for pastoral care. Ephesians addresses shame, alienation, and fear by grounding believers in God’s purpose and love. Hamilton helps keep those comforts close to the text. We can take the letter’s promises into counselling without detaching them from the call to live as a new humanity in Christ.

Closing Recommendation

This is a warm, clear, and church serving commentary on Ephesians. It will strengthen preaching that aims to lift eyes to Christ, deepen love for the church, and call believers to Spirit empowered holiness. We commend it especially for busy pastors who want a guide that reads like a pastor, yet thinks like a theologian.