But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
These are the true riches of God’s mercy, that even when we did not seek it mercy was made known through his own initiative…. This is God’s love to us, that having made us he did not want us to perish. His reason for making us was that he might love what he had made, seeing that no one hates his own workmanship.
But God.hath raised us up together, both Gentiles and Jews, to life in Christ, remitting our sins by faith in him, and by the grace of our merciful Redeemer, by his pure mercy, not by any works of ours, nor merely by the works of the former law.
Hath made us in a condition to sit together in heavenly places, to be hereafter crowned in heaven. (Witham)
* But God, being rich in mercy.
Not merely merciful, but rich in mercy; as it is said also in another place; In the multitude of your mercies. Psalm 69:17 And again, Have mercy upon me, according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Psalm 51:1
* For His great love, wherewith He loved us.
Why did He love us? For these things are not deserving of love, but of the sorest wrath, and punishment. And thus it was of great mercy.
