13. In whom ye also--Ye Gentiles. Supply as English Version, "trusted," from
Eph 1:12;
or "are." The priority of us Jews does not exclude you Gentiles from
sharing in Christ (compare
Ac 13:46).
the word of truth--the instrument of sanctification, and of the new
birth
(Joh 17:17;
2Ti 2:15;
Jas 1:18).
Compare
Col 1:5,
where also, as here, it is connected with "hope." Also
Eph 4:21.
sealed--as God's confirmed children, by the Holy Spirit as the seal
(Ac 19:1-6;
Ro 8:16, 23;
1Jo 3:24;
see on
2Co 1:22).
A seal impressed on a document gives undoubted validity to the contract
in it
(Joh 3:33; 6:27;
compare
2Co 3:3).
So the sense of "the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy
Ghost"
(Ro 5:5),
and the sense of adoption given through the Spirit at regeneration
(Ro 8:15, 16),
assure believers of God's good will to them. The Spirit, like a seal,
impresses on the soul at regeneration the image of our Father. The
"sealing" by the Holy Spirit is spoken of as past once for all.
The witnessing to our hearts that we are the children of God, and heirs
(Eph 1:11),
is the Spirit's present testimony, the "earnest of the (coming)
inheritance"
(Ro 8:16-18).
that Holy Spirit of promise--rather, as the Greek, "The Spirit
of promise, even the Holy Spirit": The Spirit promised both in the
Old and New Testaments
(Joe 2:28;
Zec 12:10;
Joh 7:38, 39).
"The word" promised the Holy Spirit. Those who "believed the
word of truth" were sealed by the Spirit accordingly.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible