Bernard of Clairvaux

In his own words on Ephesians

• Ephesians 1:4

  In this so magnificent work of our salvation there are three certain things which God the author claims for himself, and in which he prevents all his helpers and co-workers: predestination, creation, inspiration. Of these, predestination — I do not say from the beginning of the Church, but not even from the beginning of the world — had its beginning, not indeed from this or that time: it is before time. Moreover creation is with time; inspiration already happens in time, where and when God wills. Indeed, according to predestination the Church of the elect was never not with God. If an unbeliever marvels at this, let him hear what he may marvel at more: she never was not pleasing, never was not beloved. Why should I not boldly speak the secret which that ready reporter of heavenly counsels opened to me from the heart of God? I speak of Paul, who, as with many other things, so also this secret from the riches of his goodness was not afraid to divulge: "He blessed us," he says, "with every spiritual blessing, in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in his sight in love"; and he adds: "Who predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ in himself, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he made us accepted in the beloved Son" (Eph 1:3-6). Nor is there any doubt that these things are said in the voice of all the elect: and they themselves are the Church. In that therefore so profound bosom of eternity, before she came forth into the light and work of this creation, who among even the blessed spirits would have been able in any way to find her, unless eternity itself, which is God, had willed to reveal her?

  Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 78

• Ephesians 1:5

  In this so magnificent work of our salvation there are three certain things which God the author claims for himself, and in which he prevents all his helpers and co-workers: predestination, creation, inspiration. Of these, predestination — I do not say from the beginning of the Church, but not even from the beginning of the world — had its beginning, not indeed from this or that time: it is before time. Moreover creation is with time; inspiration already happens in time, where and when God wills. Indeed, according to predestination the Church of the elect was never not with God. If an unbeliever marvels at this, let him hear what he may marvel at more: she never was not pleasing, never was not beloved. Why should I not boldly speak the secret which that ready reporter of heavenly counsels opened to me from the heart of God? I speak of Paul, who, as with many other things, so also this secret from the riches of his goodness was not afraid to divulge: "He blessed us," he says, "with every spiritual blessing, in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in his sight in love"; and he adds: "Who predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ in himself, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he made us accepted in the beloved Son" (Eph 1:3-6). Nor is there any doubt that these things are said in the voice of all the elect: and they themselves are the Church. In that therefore so profound bosom of eternity, before she came forth into the light and work of this creation, who among even the blessed spirits would have been able in any way to find her, unless eternity itself, which is God, had willed to reveal her?

  Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 78

• Ephesians 2:3

  But both heights were cast down, yet in man more gently, since he who does all things in weight and measure so judged it. For with the angel punished—nay, damned—in fury, man felt only wrath and not fury. For when he was wrathful, he remembered mercy. On this account his seed are children of wrath, and not of fury, to this present day. If I were not born a child of wrath, there would be no need to be born again; if I were born a child of fury, it would either not have happened or not have profited to be born again.

  Sermons on the Song of Songs, Sermon 69