1:4 gave himself. This is the first of six times in the New Testament where we are reminded that Jesus Christ not only has given us forgiveness and blessing, but in fact has given Himself! See also Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2,25; I Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14. There can be no greater love!
1:4 present evil world. The word for “world” is aion; Paul indicates that the present age is an evil age, and that one purpose for which Christ died was to deliver us from it.