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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"In whom having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance." Here again, the word "sealed," is an indication of especial forecast. He does not speak of our being predestinated only, nor of our being allotted, but further, of our being sealed. For just as though one were to make those who should fall to his lot manifest, so also did God separate them for believing, and sealed them for the allotment of the things to come. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
That is, in Christ. So also to the Hebrews he says: "has spoken to us in the Son" (Heb. 1:2). He calls the preaching "the word of truth" in contrast to the law, which was a foreshadowing and shadow, and "the gospel of salvation" in contrast to the law that kills and the future punishment. For the preaching of the first coming calls to salvation, while the trumpet of the second calls to punishment. …
Western Saints
Jerome
It is no small praise for the Ephesians that they have heard not preaching as such but "the word of truth." Remember that we read in another letter that there is a great distance between preaching and the word of truth.
Thomas Aquinas
Once the Apostle has enumerated the blessings offered generally to all the faithful, then those especially given the Apostles (1:8), he begins to recount those granted to the Ephesians themselves. This section is divided into two parts: First, he sets down the favors shown them. Secondly, he describes his feelings aroused by the favors (1:15). The first is divided into three parts according to the three blessings granted to them: First, the blessing of preaching. Secondly, the blessing of conversion to the faith (1:13). …
Bonaventure
And Paul says of it: "You too, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise." Through this seal, the friends are distinguished from the enemies, free men from slaves, heavenly men from the earthly. This seal is imprinted on the forehead of the contemplative soul and on the foreheads of the elect. This seal was imprinted on those standing upon Mount Sion. …
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