Ephesians Bible Study

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Paul now begins to address order within other social relationships after addressing marriage at the end of Chap 5.

• He first addresses children should obey their parents.

  • Child (Gr, τέκνον, Teknon) which is a school aged child who is able to learn and obey.

  • Obey (Gr, ὑπακούω, Hupakouo) means to hear and the child should place themselves  under what they have heard.

    • Interestingly the word differs from that of a wife who voluntarily orders herself under God and her husband in Chap 5 and they reflect the difference in the discipline of the child he must learn to listen and then do.

• The Apostle then adds that this order is appropriate or correct before God.

  • In other words, it is God placing order on the family so he is able to function and be a good spiritual testimony to the world (1 Tim 3:5-6).

  • Further, in order we family allows the family to function to accomplish their spiritual professional and educational goals for themselves and their children.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.

We are in a series of verses discussing order in society. God values order because it better allows the gospel to go forward and people are free to serve and seek God, as opposed to anarchy.

• In verse 4 the apostle turns to fathers and tells them not to provoke their children to wrath.

  • The word here for ‘wrath’ interestingly is the same as verse 4:26 (παροργίζω, Parorgizo), provoked to anger or exasperation. It seems to contrast with God’s anger (οργίζω) which is a purposeful just, anger.

    • The preposition ‘para’ on the front of the word seems to indicate that somebody is ‘next to’ their just anger make it imprecise or inappropriate.

• In contrast fathers are to bring up their children in the instruction of the Lord.

  • Therefore, fathers should take direct, active and planned participation and teaching their children about God. Others can help but the father is responsible for the oversight of what the child learns and to assure they learn what is needed.

  • This instruction is obviously good for the child not just in terms of salvation but realizing the goals of God or higher than their own emotions and helping them obey and honor their parents creating an orderly family environment.

Ephesians 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the LORD, and not to men:

In verse 7, Paul continues his admonishments to slaves, or anybody in submission to an overseer to do the work of service as to God and not to man.

• The word for serve is the verb form of the noun ‘slave’ or ‘bondservant’ in the prior verse (δουλεύω, Douleuo), meaning to act as a slave or submit to authority.

• This is a healthy encouragement by Paul because it is possible to become bitter or discouraged in employment. Yet we work as unto God and not man.

• Such an attitude will help us live through an unsatisfying professional position with the most joy possible and help us to accomplish the goals while also being a good service to God.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The Apostle Paul in v.10 makes a dramatic change in topic to begin one of the most exciting and important passages in the epistles (the apostles’ letters to the churches).

• He states that we should have power derived from God.

• This is an important concept as often Christians wonder how they can know the power of God. As always, we look to scripture define answers to our important questions.

• Paul tells us in the verse to be strong in the Lord. This is translated from the Greek word, ἐνδυναμόω (Endunamoo), which means to empower. It is given in the passive tense which means to be empowered.

  • The 2nd word for power is a noun which in the Greek (κράτος, Kratos) is a general word for power or to hold.

  • The 3rd word for power, also a noun and is also a general word for power in the Greek (ἰσχύς, ischus).

• Therefore, the encouragement of Paul is for Christians to seek power from God who is a strong source of power.

The question remains of course is how this happens which it will be studied in upcoming exciting verses.

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The Apostle Paul reiterates his point in the prior two verses, to take up the whole armor of God. These pieces representing the Greek hoplite soldier or the manner in which we could know God’s power in our lives.

• The word for ‘to be able ‘in the original Greek is δύναμαι (Dunamai) and is a general word, not specifying the type were source of power.

• This word is where we derive the word ‘dynamite’ in English.

• The following verses are key for Christians to identify as they often wonder how they could know the source of God’s power.

  • Sometimes believers depend on experiences or emotions not based in scripture or simply get on no.

  • Therefore the following verses, 6:14-17, are key to the Christian life.

• Paul also reiterates from the property versus that this power is used to stand against evil which is ultimately derived from Satan.

  • Paul emphasizes that all the armor must be used. Just like a soldier who is only partially outfitted for battle will more easily fall in the fight.

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

• Paul continues in this amazing passage by which we can know the power of God and defeat sin in our lives.

  • Paul is using the analogy of a Greek hoplite soldier and six pieces of armor to illustrate the power of God.

  • In the prior 2 verses we examined the belt of truth, the footwear of the gospel and the breastplate of righteousness.

• In the current verse Paul tells us to take up the shield of faith which allows us to defend ourselves from the evil one.

• The use of the direct article in the singular probably indicates Satan as a primary source of evil in contrast to evil from all sources.

• The phrase reminds us of the source of all evil integrating back to verses 10 and 11.

  • Faith is vital in defending ourselves as it gives us confidence in the dark hour of being attacked from outward threats or inward temptations.

  • Our faith drives us to prayer and God answers prayer (1John 5:14-15).

  • Our god is pleased with faith (Romans 14:23).

Ephesians 6:2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 

The apostle Paul continues discussing order in society by indicating children should honor their parents.

This extends verse 6:1, where the Greek word for children used is a grade school aged child.

He alludes to the 10 commandments in Exodus 20:12, which were given first before the rest of the law, that it what’s the first law with a promise attached.

• As Christians we do not follow the law. However, when they are repeated, as 9 of 10 are, in the New Testament we do take them as current commandments.

• In general, the commands of the law provided also for orderly society, Messiah and central worship among the Jews who were just coming out of slavery in Egypt.

Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

The Apostle Paul next turns to servants and their masters an order of conduct.

• In context Paul is speaking about societal arrangements so order is maintained which more easily allows God’s word to go forward.

• Servants and masters were a huge societal construct in ancient Rome as about 50% of people were slaves.

  • The word for slave in Greek (δοῦλος, Doulos) meant slave, bonded to another or a servant.

• Slaves were to be obedient and fear (from where we get the word phobia) their masters as they would Christ.

Ephesians 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the LORD, whether he be bond or free.

Verse 8 indicates that the good we do for others God will reward to us. This is a lovely promise (1 Cor 3:14).

• When God awards us is not clear, whether it is in heaven or while we are still on earth. This verse integrates with other verses stating we should do good to all men and especially those who are believers (Gal 6:10; Heb 13:15).

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The Apostle Paul continues this key passage by indicating that we can obtain the power of God, first mentioned in Verse 10, by putting on His full armor.

• The word for ‘put on ‘ in the original Greek is  ἐ̓νδύω (Enduo), which means to dress yourself.

• The active form of the verb indicates that it is something that we initiate, but it is clear in the lower parts of the passage that God helps.

• The armor of God passage reflects the protective and offensive gear of a Greek hoplite soldier in the times of the author.

• Paul then states importantly that by putting on the armor of God we’re able to withstand against the devil.

  • This statement indicates that it is Satan that is our main enemy and not the world itself.

  • Although we know the world hates Christians and Christ, it is Satan’s power that stands behind this hatred and the attacks applying Christianity. Therefore, defense is mostly against him.

  • This is an important mindset because so much of the world’s hatred for Christianity seems otherworldly, it makes no sense. It comes from man’s desire through Satan to avoid God and Christ and put himself under any other authority such as the state or another religion.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

The Apostle Paul is beginning a great passage on knowing the power of God which is typed by a Greek hoplite soldier with 6 pieces of armor.

• First piece, the belt – we were told to gird up our loins with truth.

  • Ancient Greek infantry soldiers typically wore long skirts. When called into battle they would pull these up and place it into the belts so they would not trip, and be prepared, going into battle.

  • As Christians we prepare ourselves to face battle with evil by knowing the truth which is God’s word.

    • The world tells us many lies about how bad we are as Christians and that we should obey their system. God’s work provides a steady consistent source of truth which stabilizes our mind and helps us understand good from evil the ultimately increases our wellbeing and produces excellent fruit in our lives.

    • As we will see in verse 17 The Holy Spirit uses God’s word as a source of power (sword) in our lives.

• Second piece, breastplate of righteousness – this piece of armor covers our heart and protects who we are as people.

  • By knowing God’s word we can understand what are good and evil.

    • So by clinging to what is good and desiring in it, and realizing it’s good results, righteousness produces a defense over our heart to keep us from bad.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

• The Apostle Paul continues with his amazing passage of how we can know the power of God through the armor of God. Verse 17 contains the last two important pieces of armor.

• Helmet of salvation – This is vital because the knowledge of our eternal hope, our ultimate home with God, protects our minds throughout our life.

  • This is vital not just before death, but you are young and middle age times of life where we may face disappointment in terms of our children profession or marriage. Although we can accomplish great things on earth, they are not our hope and our identity.

  • Our great hope protects our minds from being hurt by expectations throughout our life.

• Sword of the spirit in this important phrase tells us that the Holy Spirit uses God’s word too empower our lives.

  • Otherwise, the spirit acts consistently with God’s word. Therefore when our prayers and actions are consistent with His word, we can anticipate the spirit helps us with his power.

• Importantly, the word here for ‘word ‘ is ῥῆμα (Rhema) – what was specifically said by God, which of course is recorded in the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16).

• This verse tells us that the spirit empowers us through His word while protecting our minds through our hope of eternal salvation.

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Paul summarizes the prior verses indicating a believer’s lifestyle should “follow” God.

• The word follower is better translated “mimic” (Gr, μιμητής, Mimetes).

  • An important difference:

    • In the gospels Christ told people to follow Him since they had limited capability to change independent of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

    • Now in church times believers have the Holy Spirit within so they actually can mimic Christ.

  • Indeed, with the Holy Spirit Christians can do much more than saints in the Old Testament or gospels because of His power (John 14:12).

Further, Paul calls believers “dear children”:

• Believers have been adopted into God’s family as sure inheritors of God’s promises (Ephesians 1:5).

  • In the Old Testament and the gospels, saints did not have an individual family relationship with God.

    • This is part of our great promise as redeemed, church-age believers.

  • Greek word for children τέκνον (Teknon) denotes a child old enough to obey and to learn.

Indeed, we have great promises of our secure salvation which we received through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for us!

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

^{Paul continues the list of negative behaviors to be avoided by believers.}

• ^{He specifies shamefulness, silly talk and jesting (vulgar joking implied by the Greek word).}

  • ^{Foolish talk is μωρολογία (Gr, Morologia), literally secret talk or speech that does not make sense.}

  • ^{In contrast speech should be characterized by thankfulness.}

• ^{Paul directs believers to be thankful.}

  • ^{Consider for what we are thankful from God and to mention it specifically to others.}

  • ^{Tell others specifically the reasons we are thankful for them.}

^{In summary, use biblically based speech (not often discussed by believers), based in Eph 4:29, that conversation should benefit the hearer and not the speaker’s self-satisfaction.}

Ephesians 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

 

^{Paul refers to the prior 4 verses telling the Ephesians not to be a co-sharer (Greek, συμμέτοχος, Summetochos) with people whose lives are characterized by sin.}

Ephesians 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the LORD.

Paul indicates believers should prove the word of the Lord in their lives!

• The word for prove (Gr, Δοκιμάζω, Dokimazo) means to test or try.

  • Derived from context of Greek hoplite soldier wanting the warrior beside him to be “proven” in battle so he would not be blindsided by the enemy he fought.

  • Likewise Christians should test the Bible so we can confidently apply it to our lives

    • We do this by our prayerful obedience to the Bible and noticing the results and Gods intervention in our lives consistent with His word.

• This passage nicely integrates with Romans 12:1-2 which states as we serve God we “prove” His word.

  • This proof creates in us a desire to learn, love and rejoice in the Scriptures even more as we experience the positive results of applying it to life.

Ephesians 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

The Apostle Paul continues from verse 12 that Christians should reprove or educate about those things done in darkness, i.e., evil acts.

• Darkness is exposed (made manifest) by light.

• Light and dark are used often in the New Testament to compare Christian to non-Christian activities.

• Christ Himself is light!

  • This image is first described in the book of Exodus by the holy place in the tabernacle.

  • All elements in the holy temple typed Jesus Christ, including the 7 headed lampstand (Hebrews 9:1-10).

  • Jesus is called light specifically in John 1:5 and in John 8:12.

  • Metaphorically Jesus is the light because He shines on all things impure and illuminates them for us to understand.

  • This moral light helps us to avoid unethical situations, people decisions.

• In verses 11-13 Paul emphasizes shining this moral light on society to correct and educate about wrongdoing.

• • Also used to teach others about salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Paul continues with positive commands for wise living, continued from verse 15 where he said to live carefully because we are surrounded by evil

• We make good use of time by setting goals, spiritually, professionally and relationally

• In short, if we spend time doing the things we should do, we won’t have time for the things we should not do

  • This keeps us from hurting ourselves and others mentally and physically

• Redeem, Greek ἐξαγοράζω (Exagorazo) means to buy out everything in the marketplace

  • This means to make the most of every moment of time, to buy every potential opportunity to the benefit of your goals

• God has given us great wisdom in scripture

  • Learning it before we run into problems helps us understand good and bad

  • As we pursue good and flee bad, we reap the benefits over time in our lives

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD;

Paul continues to discuss important aspects of the Christian walk, now addressing speech

• Christians often speak poorly to one another

• Believers should speak to others in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

What does this mean?

• Historical context is important. Paul wrote to the Ephesian church in about 60 AD before most of the New Testament canon was complete

• When neither apostles nor qualified elders were present the church depended on catechisms and hymns to encourage each other and teach truths of the faith

• Now we have the Bible we should consistently speak New Testament scripture to encourage each other and maintain a thankful attitude towards God

  • Of course you could sing to each other as well! 

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the LORD.

In the context of chapters 4-6, Paul continues his vital discussion of Christian lifestyle to address marriage

• The most comprehensive passage on marriage in the New Testament

• A wife should submit to her husband as to God

• Greek word submit (ὑποτάσσω, hupotasso) literally means to “order under”, as in verse 21

• Extent of submission is same as woman would give God

Why this command? 99% of New Testament epistles addresses men and women equally with instructions for both. There are two potential reasons:

• God values order, in the workplace, government, the church, and marriage

  • God assigned responsibility for directing marriage to the husband 

  • Just is in well-run business, the CEO responds to board of directors for success of the company

    • Other company officers are no less valuable; the CEO depends on them for success

  • In marriage God holds the husband responsible before Him for the conduct of the marriage

  • To succeed the husband must be an excellent Christian

  • He also must depend on his wife for success inside the marriage

  • A well-run organization is not a one-person job

• Second potential reason

  • Marriage between a man and woman reflects relationship between Christ and His church

  • We will discuss this in future verses!

• •  

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Husband should love his wife as Christ loves His church

• Greek word for love ἀγαπάω (Agapao) is usual word for love in the Bible and means a giving love based on obedience and knowledge of scripture (1 Jn 5:2-3; Phil1:9)

• Husband must love his wife and consider her first, above himself, in thought, speech and actions

Husband must love his wife as Christ loves His church

• Husband’s action should reflect how Christ cares for His church

  • Husband should treat his wife as he desires Christ to treat him!

• This attitude fulfills primary marriage purpose, is a tool for spreading the gospel

  • People should look at marriage, marvel at the love and care demonstrated, and be attracted to Christ because of it

• •  

Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

In this amazingly perceptive verse, Paul tells husbands to love their own wives as they care for themselves.

• Otherwise, husbands as they might prioritize themselves to care for their own bodies and minds, do the exact same for their wives.

• This encouragement goes against much secular advice, or in many movies, that tell us to selfishly take what we can from a relationship and then leave when it doesn’t feel good anymore. 

• The amazing part of the verse is what the husband receives back for loving his wife as his own body, he is also loving himself through his wife.

  • This is because a godly woman responds to the love, care and security from her husband, so he gains wonderful emotional, physical, spiritual as well as social companionship.

  • By this quality relationship, the husband becomes better in all these areas of his life than he would be being selfish towards his wife or with no wife at all.

• As a reminder the Greek word for love in this verse is ἀγαπάω (Agapao), the selfless, giving love in which Christ loved us. This is the type of love that men should have for our wives. 

•  

Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

• The use of the word ‘for’ further explains the prior verses in that since the church is connected to each other as much as a fleshly body, so marriage represents the relationship of Christ to the church.

  • Therefore, we are connected to our spouses before God in the same way your body is connected to each other (Christ and the church).  

• The verse indicates that the husband leaves his parents to please his wife, and God sees them as one inseparable being.

  • Therefore, the main purpose of marriage is evangelical, to represent Christ and the church and all people to salvation by faith in Christ.

• Culturally, most likely the verse indicates the husband must separate from his parents because in the Roman-Greek families the wife joined the husband to start the family on his own family’s compound.

  • Therefore, the husband would need to be careful that he was prioritizing his wife who was in close proximity of his mother and father. 

•  

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

^{Paul continues his lifestyle discussion directed to believers in the church – Walk in love:}

• ^{Greek word for walk is περιπατέω (Peripateo), commonly used for manner of life, especially in moral aspects.}

• ^{Greek word for love is ἀγάπη (Agape) meaning a giving, selfless love, typically.}

• ^{We should “walk”, or have our lifestyle, modeled on the example of Christ’s love for us demonstrated by giving Himself on the cross for us.}

• ^{We do not sacrifice ourselves on a cross, as Christ did, but by obeying Him, which scripture states demonstrates love for God and others (1Jn 5:2-3).}

^{Christ’s sacrifice was a sweet savor to God because it was a satisfactory sacrifice for our sins (Rom 3:23-26).}

• ^{This phraseology is based upon the Old Testament priests’ service of sacrificing to God before the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle.}

• ^{In a similar manner our lives should be a  satisfactory, sweet savor of service (sacrifice) to God (Rom 12:1-2; Heb 13:15-16).}

Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

^{Paul continues the list of negative behaviors which should characterize believer’s lives.}

• ^{Most all believers struggle with occasional sin but these attributes should not characterize our lives as they are qualities of nonbelievers.}

  • ^{Unbelievers are indicated by the apostle’s use of the present tense in 5:4 and 6, indicating that these attributes are continuous.}

• ^{Paul tells us not to be a whoremonger (fornicator), generally impure person, covetous, or worshipping a god above the one true God (a problem in the Greek/Roman culture).}

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the LORD: walk as children of light:

 

^{The Apostle contrasts their prior life as “sometimes” (Greek, ποτέ, Pote) meaning “formerly” darkness itself}

• ^{But now, in contrast, they are light!}

• ^{Scripture often uses dark and light to describe the differences between non-believers and Christians, and their respective lifestyles.}

^{Paul states believers should “walk” in the light}

• ^{Walk (Greek, περιπατέω, Peripateo) refers to the whole manner of life, particularly in the moral realm.}

• ^{Walking in the light means allowing scripture to shine as a moral flashlight to illuminate good and bad, sin and purity.}

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Paul here contrasts verse 11 with verses 9-10 stating believers should not fellowship with useless darkness, but instead reprove these works

• Fellowship – (Gr, κοινωνέω, Koinoneo) is the usual word for fellowship, simply means “in common.”

• Darkness – (Gr, σκότος, Skotos) is the usual word for dark in Greek.

  • However, the Bible often uses the term dark in contrast to light to indicate differences between non-believers and believers, which is the theme for the next few verses.

• Reprove – (Gr, ἐλέγχω, Elegcho) is an important word in scripture, but hard to understand.

  • It encompasses everything a teacher provides a student, from reproof to instruction. In context it would mean to interpret.

• Here reprove may indicate we should teach others about the evil ways of the world so they can be careful to avoid major life mistakes.

• Alternatively, it may mean to rebuke either Christians or non-believers who are doing evil.

In summary, Christians should avoid cooperating with evil which leads to, at a minimum, wasted time and effort that will not help you.

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Apostle Paul now applies the concept of light to the unbeliever, here called a “sleeper”:

• He urges them to come to salvation (that is, the light) and awaken (be resurrected or regenerated).

• Some think “sleepers” are disobedient Christians but the words light, arise and awake generally are associated with unbelievers.

• Therefore, those who are reproved by the light described in the prior verse are urged to awaken unbelievers to salvation.

• Reference to ‘He’ at the beginning of the verse most likely refers to God speaking in the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:1-2).

• Awaken probably refers to resurrection.

  • As Christ was raised from the dead so the old bodies of a believer is put to death and raised up as a new person in Christ at salvation (Romans 6:2-9).

• Two words, translated to English words, awake and arise, used in the New Testament to describe Christ’s resurrection:     

• Awaken (Greek, ἐγείρω, Egeiro), meaning arise.

• Arise (Greek, ἀνίστημι, Anistemi), meaning stand or resurrect.

Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the LORD is.

This verse continues the theme of excellent lifestyle measures Christians should implement  

• Do not be unwise

  • We saw the root word, wisdom, in Verse 15 (Greek, σοφός, Sophos)

  • Apostle Paul repeats the word using the negative form “without wisdom” just the opposite of wise

    • Remember, wisdom means the practical application of knowledge

    • So the instruction is not to be without practical wisdom

• Paul then contrasts being unwise to understanding the will of the Lord

  • A general admonishment to learn what God wants for us in life, which of course comes through God’s word

Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ;

The Apostle Paul states a key to life, not often discussed in Christian circles: thankfulness! Life can sap us of thankfulness very easily by:

• Burdensome responsibilities

• Poor relationships with others

• Our expectations for others and situations

• Jealousy of others

• Lack of self-perceived success

• Sickness

• Downtrodden position in life

Scripture wisely states godliness with contentment are great gain (1 Tim 6:6). We cannot be content without being grateful:

• Primarily for salvation, our hope that no matter what happens on earth we have an eternal future with God through our faith in Jesus Christ

• Also for earthly things: health, resources, job and family

• Gratitude for our current condition provides a platform to make future goals in faith, whether relational, professional or spiritual

• We should express thankfulness to other people as an example and describing specific reasons for gratitude to those to whom we speak

Train your mind to be grateful in all situations! 

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Paul continues to discuss marriage

• He repeats Verse 22 – the husband is head of the wife

• Why? Two possible reasons:

  • God values order in: society, the church, the family, government, and the workplace because order allows God’s word to progress

  • Primary purpose of marriage is to demonstrate before world Christ’s relationship to the church

    • Marriage is a tool to spread the gospel

• Headship of man over his own wife reflects relationship between Christ and His church

  • Husband should enable his wife to be her best in service to God and others, as Christ does for us

• Greatest demonstration of God’s love is Christ’s death for us to provide eternal life

  • He deserves glory as the name above all names and as head of the church

• Husband, in reflecting the role of Christ, should give everything to his wife as Christ did for us

  • This allows wife to be her best and most capable servant to Christ

  • As a team effort husband and wife will accomplish goals they make in faith before God and serve him greatly

• Husband is responsible before God for results of his marriage

  • Wife has a different responsibility, described in the next verse. Stay tuned!  

Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

The Apostle Paul continues his wonderful discussion on Christian marriage and how it functions to help each spouse as well as be an evangelical outreach to nonbelievers.

• • First, Verse 26 continues the role Christ and the church along two threads:

    • This verse continues the thought in Verse 25 that Christ gave himself on the cross to the church, that he might present each member forgiven impure before God.

      • The word sanctify in Greek is Aγιάζω (Hagiazo), meaning to set apart to God or make holy.

      • Cleansing indicates a biblical symbolism for washing away of sins (Acts 22:16; Rev 1:5).

  • Second, the verse also indicates that the husband gives himself to the wife that, while he does not die for her, his goal in marriage is to present her pure and holy before God.

    • Therefore, he is to use his love and encouragement and time to help her become the most godly woman possible in her Christian walk.

    • Naturally the guidebook the husband uses to sanctify his wife his scripture which provides all the information we need to help a person mature individually and in Christ.

    • Therefore, the man was no scripture himself to be able to encourage his wife.

Ephesians 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the LORD the church:

The Apostle Paul continues his most immediate thought from V28, that we should love our wives as we love ourselves.

• He makes the obvious, but useful point, that most of us nourish and cherish ourselves in a healthy manner. So added to V28, men assist themselves my nourishing and cherishing their wives: 

  • Nourish (Gr, ἐκτρέφω, Ektrepho) – nourish to maturity, to nourish (Thayer)

  • Cherish (Gr, Θάλπω, Thalpo) – cherish with tender love, care

• Again Paul indicates that the love the man has for the wife should be similar to that as Christ has for the church.

  • Therefore, in our married lives men are to love, nourish and cherish their wives and present them holy before God (VSS25-29).

    • In this way men help themselves from the abundant bounty the godly wife provides back to him.

    • However, he also sacrificially helps his wife develop into the best and most godly woman she can be.

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Paul continues his discussion from V31, that a man should leave his parents and cleave to his wife.

• He brings the discussion back to the church. As mentioned in prior verses, the relationship between a husband and wife reflects that of Christ in the church.

• He refers to V31 as a mystery and then clarifies that the mystery is explain the church and Christ in V32.

  • As discussed in chapters 1 and 3, the word mystery (Gr, μυστήριον, Musterion) means something that was hidden, but now revealed. For example, a mystery novel when the culprit is always identified by the end of the book.

  • In scripture a mystery is that which was hidden in the Old Testament, but revealed in the New Testament by Christ’s coming or by the apostles.

  • The church times were first disclosed as a mystery in Matthew 13 after Christ’s rejection by the pharisees in Chapter 12.  

Therefore, in the current verse Paul indicates that the bringing together of one flesh into husband and wife reflects the permanent and strong unity of Christ in this church. 

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Chapter 4 begins the Christian life section of the book of Ephesians.

Paul opens with “therefore.”

• This word signifies the following chapters are based on the prior information.

• Otherwise, believers can live a Christian life because they are saved by grace and placed in the church with Christ as the head (Chapters 1-3).

• The first three chapters related generally to Christology, the foundation of our salvation and the church.

V.1 emphasizes the Christian life as Paul beseeches (Gr, παρακαλέω, parakaleo) the Ephesians to walk worthy of their calling.

• Walk (Greek, περιπατέω, peripateo) – literally means to walk around, in other words how we live our lifestyle, especially morally.

• Calling (Greek, καλέω, Kaleo) – a general word in Greek for “to call” is used in scripture to refer to God calling believers to salvation.

  • The epistles essentially do not use the word ‘calling’ in relation to other aspects of our Christian life.

As in Chapter 3 V.1, Paul notes that he is a prisoner of God, indicating his work and suffering on behalf of the believers in Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

^{Paul continues a discussion of the foundation of Christian life within the church by describing two general areas.}

• ^{Believers’ attitude towards each other manifested by love (V.2).}

• ^{Proper doctrine.}

  • ^{Body (Gr, σῶμα, soma) is a secular word for the human body but used in scripture figuratively to mean the church.}

  • ^{The church is the worldwide communion of all believers under the headship of Christ.}

  • ^{Since Christ’s 1st advent, God manages and matures His people through the church.}

^{One spirit – this refers to the Holy Spirit who was sent by God and Christ when Christ ascended to heaven after His resurrection.}

• ^{Christians saved by faith through Christ’s death have the Holy Spirit inside them and His power at their disposal.}

• ^{Believer’s regeneration (Romans 6:2-12) by the spirit has remade us in Christ’s image and allows unity with other believers in the churchs}

^{Hope (Gr, ἐλπίς, elpis) is a secular word for hope always used in scripture to refer to eternal salvation.}

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

In this verse Paul indicates a change in topic by use of the conjunction ‘But’ (Gr, δέ, De).

He then notes each believer has been given grace (Gr, Χάρις, charis).

• Charis means ‘unmerited favor.’

• Typically relates to the unmerited favor of salvation given to those who believe by faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus for our sins (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 10:9).

• ‘Each’ means the Ephesians to whom he his writing – an audience of believers.

The term ‘measure’ (Gr, μετρον, metron) is the general word for measure.

The term ‘gift’ (Gr, Δωρεά, dorea) is one of several generic words for gift in Greek, but generally means ‘gift of salvation’ in the Bible.

Therefore, and in context to V.8, Christ gave to each person who was to believe, the measure of faith needed to come the salvation.

Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Paul extends his point here about V.8, quoting from Psalm 68:18, prophesying the ascension of Christ into heaven after His death and resurrection.

V.9 indicates that the ascension in V.8 most likely related to the resurrection.

• • See prophetic and integrating verses (Gen 28:12; Deu 30:11-15; Jon 1:51).

V.10 appears to indicate that Christ’s descent to earth as man is associated with the resurrection.

• • Part of the purpose of His ascension to sit at God the Father’s right hand is to fill all things.

  • Fill (Gr, Πληρόω, pleroo) means simply ‘to fill.’

  • Had a secondary abstract meaning ‘to mature or complete’ which generally reflects its use in the NT.

Christ will complete all things in Himself, includes:

• • Salvation to believers.

  • Establishment of His kingdom ultimately in the world (Col 1:16-17; Rev 20-22).

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Paul continues to discuss the maturing of the early church. Since no New Testament scripture was yet available, the early establishment of the church was based on God’s provision of special servants (v11) to instruct and care for the fledgling body of Christ:

• Goal #1: To unify believers (v13). This is a reemphasis from VSS.2-6.

• Goal #2: Come to a “knowledge” of Christ.

  • Knowledge (Gr, ἐπίγνωσις, epignosis) – the word is important as it is used by both Apostles Paul and Peter to emphasize a close knowledge of God.

  • This knowledge can only be possessed by believers.

• Goal #3: A “perfect” man.

  • Perfect (Gr, Τέλειος, teleios) – this word is the basis of our ministry. This word is often translated ‘perfect’ but really means to be mature, an approachable, well-spoken person.

• Goal #4: “Fulness” of Christ.

  • Fullness (Gr, πλήρωμα, pleroma) – the typical word for ‘full’ but with an abstract meaning of mature or complete which is the typical meaning in scripture.

In summary, v13 indicates God gave special servants (v11) to the church (v12) until the time it would be unified, mature and able to realize more complete knowledge of Christ. This occurred at the completion of the New Testament scriptures (i.e., the canon).

Some believe this verse refers to heaven. The context and use of the words for knowledge, perfect and full, which are all used elsewhere in scripture as attainable by Christians in this life, indicate a more historical development of the church until the completion of the canon.

Ephesians 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The context of VSS.11-16 is the foundation of the church as it received the epistles and the commandments from God for Christian lifestyle.

In V.16 specifically Apostle Paul completes this important section by declaring the end result of God’s word as it:

• Unified the body of Christ

• Increased the body in size and/or maturity

• Encouraged believers to love each other

Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Paul continues his points about their prior lifestyle, when they were unbelieving gentiles, that Christians should avoid.

• Three characteristics should NOT characterize their lives:

  • Excess desire for things that they want

  • Unclean sinful behavior

  • Greed

• ‘Being past feeling’ describes their prior mindset as beyond having grief about their sin.

  • In other words, they were so desirous of sin their mind and conscience were unable to have any feeling of regret for their acts (1 Timothy 4:2).

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Paul returns to his prior point that Christians do not behave as non-Christians whose behavior is governed by their desires.

• The word for ‘conversation’ in Greek is ἀναστροφή (anastrophe), better translated as ‘behavior.’

Paul names non-Christians the ‘old man’ and describes them as corrupt.

• Man’s corruption happened with the 1^st sin in the garden of Eden.

• Therefore, a non-Christian is guilty not just by personal sin, but also by their fallen nature (Romans 5:12-14).

• A non-Christian is incapable of consistently denying their passions because of their inherited nature.

  • They rarely desire to resist sin (Eph 2:1-3).

• The term ‘old man’ hints at spiritual baptism (i.e., regeneration).

  • With baptism, the old man has died and a new man raised to new life (Rom 6:2-12; Tit 3:5) through identification by faith with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What a great promise! This concept will be further described in upcoming verses so please join us!  

Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Here the Apostle Paul makes an important transition by using the conjunction ‘wherefore’ (διό, Dio) meaning ‘therefore.’

• This conjunction signifies everything that follows is based upon what preceded.

• Paul indicates that believers have put on the ‘new man’ (i.e., been regenerated) and so are able to function within the church body.

• The information to follow will help us to know how Christians are to behave.

The first two exhortations are:

• Don’t lie to each other.

• Speak truth to each other.

He accentuates the importance of these truths because we are members of one another.

• In other words, we are on the same team with the same goals (in the body of Christ).

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

• Paul notes in V28 that believers should not steal.

• Stealing should be replaced by “work with hands” which referred to doing an honest day’s work.

  • Work in the Roman times would have been manual.

• Paul states the first benefit of work:

  • It is good! This means it sustains not only the worker and his family but also benefits society with the production of food or other materials.

• Paul states the second benefit of work:

  • Help those in need.

• • • Perhaps he refers to direct giving to those who with unmet needs and unable to work, or by paying taxes or giving to the church or missions for social relief.

    • It might also include work that requires employing others thereby providing jobs to those who can work.

• The Greek word for ‘work’ in this verse is κοπιάω (Kopiao), which means labor until fatigue, in other words, hard work!

• Paul recognizes the importance of work

  • Paul himself worked to support himself (1 The 2:9-10; 2 The 3:7-12).

  • Paul expects others to do follow his example and do the same.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

• Paul continues addressing our lifestyle within the body of Christ continues to discuss speech.

  • • V29 indicated speech content should be for the benefit of the listener not the speaker.

    • V30 ties this directly to grieving or offending the Holy Spirit.

• Now in V31 Paul states we should NOT express bitterness, general (Greek, θυμός, Thumos) or directed anger (Greek, ὀργή, Orge), blasphemy (Greek, βλασφημία, Blasphemia, literally injure speaking), outcries, or any badness.

• These past few verses emphasize that believers should guard their speech carefully, speaking to the good of other believers, not according to their own personal emotions or needs.

• Thanks be to God He has given us such wise scripture to help us improve our lives and those around us!

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Paul specifies several important attributes of “walking worthy” before God:

• Lowliness (Gr, ταπεινοφροσύνη, Tapeinophrosune) – ‘low think.’

  • This important concept tells us no matter how successful we are, we should think like the person who is just beginning, typically at the bottom. Such a person may be more careful and attentive to people’s feelings.

  • Success tempts people to become arrogant.

    • Arrogance ignores clues in voice and facial expressions that help us read other people’s responses.

    • Arrogance causes mistakes in decisions which can hurt individuals and institutions, even in the church.

• Meekness (Gr, πρᾳότης, Praotes) – an important word which is not easily translated to English.

  • Meekness has a negative connotation in English but in Greek it is positive, meaning one who is approachable and has a mature, even-keeled manner.

• Longsuffering (Gr, μακροθυμία, Makrothumia) – ‘anger far away.’

• Forbearing (Gr, ἀνέχομαι, Anechomai) – ‘hold each other up.’

• In love – this is the Greek word ‘agape’ meaning a ‘giving’ love with the other person in mind.

This marvelous verse gives us 5 wonderful characteristics to help us relate and encourage one another in the church.

Ephesians 4:5 One LORD, one faith, one baptism,

^{Paul continues the discussion of unity that is a vital component of the foundation of Christian lifestyle within the church.}

• ^{VSS.2-3 discussed the importance of love in promoting unity.}

• ^{V.4 provides the importance of doctrine to unity – body, spirit and hope.}

• ^{V.5 describes three other important doctrinal truths regarding unity – lord, faith and baptism.}

^{Lord (Gr, κύριος, Kurios) is anyone of higher rank than you}

• ^{In the epistles it typically is used of Christ but is used in several passages for other members of the godhead (the Trinity, one 1 God in 3 distinct eternal persons).}

^{Faith (Gr, πίστις, Pistis) generally means faith or belief and is the typical word used in the Bible}

• ^{In context this means the basic elements of the faith, which are the doctrines of Christ (1 John 2-4: He is Christ, He came from God as man, and is our Savior). These define us as Christians}

^{Baptism (Gr, βάπτισμα, Baptisma) is an ancient term from the dye trade meeting to identify with something (i.e., the color of the dye).}

• ^{Used in scripture in several instances as water baptism, a common rite at the time of Christ (Acts 8:36).}

• ^{In the epistles means spiritual baptism which is the Holy Spirit’s regeneration of believers to a new person identified with the life and death of Christ (Colossians 2:11-13; Ephesians 2:4-7; Romans 6:2-12).}

• ^{A key element of salvation which unifies believers who are made like Christ, with the mind of Christ who can fellowship with each other (Colossians 1:27; 3:9-10).}

Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

This verse is a quote from Psalm 68:18.

• The verse describes a great victory of Israel.

• The Psalm was written by King David.

• The event is thought to be related to when David took Jerusalem from the Canaanites and established the capital of Israel.

• One of only two Old Testament quotes in Ephesians.

Ascended’ could mean David and his armies ascended up to Jerusalem (3500 feet elevation), and potentially to Mount Moriah (even higher, where the temple would be built).

• However, David was a type of Christ, and the word to ascend in the Old Testament and in the New Testament may well also mean Christ ascension into heaven following his great resurrection.

• Therefore this verse prophesizes Christ ascension into heaven which established the church when H also sent back the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).

Through Christ’s ascension God the father provided gifts to men.

• The word for gift (Greek, δόμα, doma) is related to the word for gift in Verse 7. Again it is typically is used in scripture for salvation.

• Leading from captivity’ indicates Christ sacrificed to pay our ransom to free us from our sin (redemption, Verse 1: 7,14).

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Paul extends his discussion to the actual historical development of the church.

• • Based upon salvation by grace (VSS.7-10) and unity of doctrine in love for each other (VSS.2-6).

To establish the church at its beginning, God provided some early Christians with specific areas of maturity.

Word for ‘gave’ is in the Greek aorist tense:

• • Western European languages do not have this tense.

  • It does appear in Slavic languages & modern Greek.

  • Signifies a one time, punctiliar action that is completed.

  • Probably here indicates the ‘giving’ was limited to a specific time period at the beginning of the church.

These individuals helped establish the church for teaching, prophesy, speaking the gospel and pastoring:

• • Prophet (Gr, προφήτης, prophetes) in the epistles indicates “telling forth” truth versus “telling the future” which was a different Greek word.

  • These early leaders were important because the Bible was not yet available.

Maintaining doctrine as shown by Christ, giving the Word to the apostles, who gave it to the 2nd generation Christians, was imperative to firmly establish the church.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Paul contrasts early believers at the beginning of the church to mature believers as described in V.13.

They were without clear written doctrine, vulnerable to deception.

They were like children, a term often used to describe young believers who are untaught (1 Peter 2:1-2; Hebrews 5:11-15).

They were like a ship tossed on a stormy ocean, vulnerable to destruction and unable to correct their course.

Untaught Christians are vulnerable to cults and heresy. Believers should seek the scriptures proactively to be:

• Stable

• Able to judge right and wrong quickly (Hebrews 5:11-15; 1 John 4:1)

• Able teach others (Hebrews 5:12)

Some people try to sway Christians from God’s word.

• May be for politically correct or seemingly good social justice reasons.

• Christians should test everything they hear to ensure it conforms to sound doctrine and fits the biblical model for society and the church.

Questions to help you evaluate what you hear

• What is the doctrinal statement of the teacher?

• Is it consistent with God’s word?

• Is the teacher teaching scripture?

• Is the teacher associated with a structure for discipleship to mature believers?

• Is the teacher or group involved with ministries to evangelize and teach God’s word?

Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the LORD, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

By using the word ‘therefore’ Paul indicates that the text that follows is based on the preceding verses:

• VSS.1-16 indicate the basis of maturity in God’s word to allow us to become godly people.

• V.17 then states, due to these benefits from God, we should not live our prior lifestyle (as demonstrated by non-Jews [Gentiles],who had no access to scripture, not even the Old Testament).

• Importantly, because of the regeneration (Romans 6:2-16) believers now have power to live a godly life.

Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

Paul now provides a great contrast!

• He begins to describe the positive lifestyle that mature and unified Christians should demonstrate (VSS.1-16) in their lives.

• These characteristics are based in the word that Christ received from God, gave to the apostles who then gave to us, that is the written word, the Bible.

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Paul progresses the discussion in this passage by the use of the Greek word ‘δε’ indicating more information to follow.

• This is based on the statement in V.22 that the ‘old’ sinful man died, but was regenerated by the Holy Spirit at salvation.

• Therefore, believers should renew their minds to be God-like (see similar verses in Col 3:10; 2 Cor 4:16; Rom 12:2).

  • The mind can only be renewed because the ‘old man’ died.

  • Believers are ‘new’ persons (see next verse) because they are resurrected with Christ to new life.   

• The general Greek word ‘spirit’ (pneuma) must be interpreted in context to determined if it refers to the Holy Spirit or man’s spirit.

  • Here appears to refer to a believer’s spirit (character or nature), which should be renewed to be like that of God.

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Paul continues his discussion on the Christian life. He tells the believers at Ephesus not to sin when they are angry.

• The verb for anger in Greek (ὀργίζω, Orgizo) is the same word used for God’s wrath.

• In other words, our anger should be consistent with God’s anger, hating the things He hates.

• This Greek word indicates anger that is directed and purposeful.

• Furthermore, it indicates once any punishment or correction is enacted, the anger is no longer present.

Paul continues to say that your anger should not fester; resolve it by the time night arrives.

• This Greek word ‘wrath’ (Παροργισμός, Parorgismos) differs from the word anger in that it implies being next to your anger or perhaps out of control.

• This is only used here in the scriptures.

In summary, believers should be angry at the things about which God is angry. Believers must control this anger without sinning and not to let it fester.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

• In this important verse about lifestyle, Paul addresses important speech characteristics.

• Avoid corrupt language.

  • Greek word (σαπρός, Sapros) means poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless.

• Instead speak to others what is best for them, building up and giving grace.

• • Important concept to ensure speech is not self focused and self serving.

  • Unless we have an unmanageable problem, we should speak to the hearer’s need and not for ourselves.

• Developing biblical speech!

• • We love others when we obey God (1 Jon 5:2-3):

• • • Begin by having enough interest in the hearer to ask questions and to learn about them so you know how to address their needs.

    • Consider their needs.

    • Know scripture and speak it to others to love them effectively, in the context of their needs.

    • Guard your speech from bad content, talking about yourself, judging or making fun of others.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

• Paul emphasizes positive attributes that believers should have towards each other.

  • “Kind” (Gr, χρηστός, Chrestos) emphasizes being useful, mild and pleasant.

  • “Tenderhearted” (Gr, εὔσπλαγχνος, Eusplagchnos) is a fascinating word in Greek meaning basically “good guts.”

    • Splagchnos, bluntly put, is what pours out of a person’s abdomen if they are sliced with a sword in battle.

    • The word stresses we should feel deep compassion, deep down into the inner self (guts), towards others who have difficulties.  

  • “Forgive” (Gr, χαρίζομαι, Charizomai) indicates to give graciously or forgive.

    • One of the typical words for forgiveness used in the epistles and related to the typical word for “grace.”

    • As we consider others who have sinned against us, we should remember how God has forgiven us through Christ… completely and undeserved.

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 

‘For this cause’ – This phrase indicates the verse is based upon the prior content in Chapters 1 & 2:

• The nature of our salvation (Eph 1:1-14).

• The pathway to salvation by faith (Eph 2:4-10).

• Reconciling Jews and Gentiles to one entity and both reconciled to God (Eph 2:11-19)

• Each believer is built into the church structure based on the cornerstone (Christ) and the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20-22).

Prisoner (Gr, δέσμιος, desmios) – bound, in bonds, a captive, a prisoner:

• Before continuing the reasoning of the book, Paul mentions his current condition as a prisoner of Christ.

• Although the word could be taken figuratively as Paul’s commitment to God, it’s used in the New Testament generally to describe an actual prisoner. Therefore, the word probably indicates Paul’s imprisonment in Rome while awaiting his hearing before Caesar.

• Ephesians is often called one of the “prison epistles”.

Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

This is an important verse as Paul indicates he is giving information from God through Christ to the readers that explains Christ’s coming and what it means not only in salvation but in Christian life. This concept is called ‘apostolic authority’ which is a critical concept to Christians. Scripture describes a flow of information of the truths from God to early Christians.

• God gave His commands to Christ.

• Christ gave His commands to the apostles. It was especially Paul’s role to transmit the meaning of Christ’s coming to subsequent generations.

• The apostles gave this information to the second-generation Christians.

  • Scripture was written down in the Canon of 27 New Testament books developed to teach subsequent generations.

  • The passing down of God’s word to the Bible is an argument for biblical authority since these commands came directly from God.

  • Second generation teachers taught generations that followed them as we are to do to the generations following us.

Mystery (Gr, μυστήριον, Musterion) – This word was discussed also in Verse 1:9 and means information that was not known beforehand but has now been revealed. A mystery in the New Testament provided information not known about Christ’s coming in the Old Testament.

 

 

 

Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

God chose Paul to be His apostle and make him a minister to the Gentiles (Acts Chapter 9).

• It began when Paul received the free gift of salvation by God’s choosing.

As noted previously, an apostle is one of the original founders of the church personally taught by Christ.

• Paul replaced Judas after he betrayed Christ.

Grace (Gr, χάρις, Charis) – in secular Greek means unmerited favor.

• Primarily used in the epistles as the free gift of salvation.

God saved Paul, as He does everyone, by His power, expressed by the same power that resurrected Christ from the dead (Eph 1:19).

• God’s power is demonstrated in the gospel (Rom 1:16-17).

• This verse continues the explanation (started in Verse 5) of Paul’s mission, authority and the foundation and knowledge about Christ and how believers should live.

Paul’s words are commandments about how Christians live fruitful lives.

• Words given through the Spirit (2 Tim 3:16).

• Contained in the epistles (Romans through Revelation, chapter 3, majority written by Paul).

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Paul describes one of the purposes of his ministry to bring the Gentiles into the family of God by Jesus Christ and establish the church (Verses 8-9).

In doing so, the powers in the heavenly places will know God’s wisdom by His actions through the church.

• Heavenly places (Gr, ἐπουράνιος, Epouranios) – Literally the heavenlies; generally indicates the place where God and other heavenly beings dwell as opposed to the realm of Satan in the world or in the air.

Therefore, one of the purposes of the church is to show God’s wisdom to those in heaven.

• The reason is not disclosed, but it may relate to either encouraging those in heaven or increasing their knowledge of the plan of God through Christ.

Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

‘Wherefore’ means in Greek ‘therefore’ and signifies Paul’s statement is built upon the content of the prior verses, including:

• Paul is God’s servant for the welfare of the church.

• He has brought information (the epistles) from God through Christ about:

  • Salvation.

  • How to live a godly and fruitful life.

• This is according to the eternal purpose of God in which all believers can have great confidence.

Accordingly, Christians during Paul’s time should not have been ashamed of his preaching even if it brought them tribulation.

• Paul wanted them to realize they were correct, stood with Almighty God and had a secure and glorious future.

Likewise, when faced with tribulation today believers should stand firm, knowing confidently that their beliefs are correct.

• Believers should not allow others who hate God to shame them and cause them to abandon their hope in Christ and replace it with any earthly institution (such as government, environmentalism).

Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Paul begins his prayer for believers in Ephesus to attain strength, consistent with God’s glory (see Verse 1:6):

• This power comes through the Holy Spirit.

• One of the Spirit’s important functions.

• Ephesians 6:10-17 explains how we attain this power.

The Spirit’s power is delivered to the “inner man.”

• This phrase used only here in scripture.

• To the Greeks, the inner man, was recognized as the heart, the diaphragm, the lungs or kidneys, and is discussed frequently in scripture.

• This internal change is vital.

  • Not just when we believe through faith and are regenerated (Titus 3:5) to a new Christ-like person.

  • Further, ongoing renewal is also important in the Christian’s life (Colossians 3:10-17; Romans 12:1-2).

Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Paul continues his prayer he started in V.16 which he began by asking God to allow believers to know first God’s power and then maturing to be grounded in a knowledge of salvation, given out of His love, otherwise secure.

In this verse, he prays that the Ephesians (and by extension all Christians) would know the love of Christ in their Christian life.

• Love (Greek, a̓γάπη, agape) – This word is used for the word ‘love’ in the Bible 90% of the time and when referring to God’s love.

  • It means a giving, selfless love.

Through this love he wants them to be filled with God-like characteristics (fullness of God).

• Fullness (Greek, πλήρωμα, pleroma) – This word in Greek primarily meant full (to overflowing), but had a secondary meaning of “maturity”.

• In other words, Paul is praying for the Ephesians to become mature in their Christian life.

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Paul indicates that his actions have been on behalf of the Gentiles, if indeed they have heard of grace through Jesus Christ.

• • The Greek structure indicates to expect a positive answer, “if indeed”.

Dispensation (Gr, οἰκονομία, Oikonomia) – As seen in Eph 1:10, the word means “management” or “administration”:

• • God manages through grace during this time of the church.

  • Grace (Gr, χάρις Charis) – means, as always, “unmerited favor” and describes God’s attitude in giving freely salvation by faith (Eph 2:8-9).

Paul is laying a foundation of both his position (a prisoner to serve the Gentiles) and the Ephesians’ position (saved and living by grace) to receive more revelation in the upcoming verses.

Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Paul indicates that he is to reveal what was hidden in prior times (i.e., the Old Testament).

• This is consistent with the word ‘mystery’ in Greek – that which was concealed is now revealed (see Verse 3).

• Verses 3-5 are a prelude to the specific mystery unveiled in this passage, mentioned in Verse 6.

New revelation is revealed through the apostles and prophets for the church age.

• This was Paul’s primary job (also see Colossians 1:25).

• As most of the epistles were written by Paul, his important role is obvious.

• John and Peter also were apostles who were vital in their contributions in New Testament books.

Who are the prophets mentioned here? This may be controversial but include at least prophets named in the New Testament:

• Christ, John the Baptist, Paul, John and Peter who were foundational in describing Christ’s role and bringing the revelation of scripture.

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

The exact reason Paul states he is the least of all saints is not clear.

• It most likely relates to the fact as a nonbeliever, being a Pharisee, he severely persecuted Christians.

Paul recognizes it was God’s grace, more for him than anyone else, that saved his soul through Christ.

• He may also be recognizing his servanthood to the church as an apostle.

God made Paul specifically the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 15:16).

• Paul, in particular, took and established the gospel, apart from Israel, to the other areas of the Roman Empire.

Riches of Christ (Gr, πλοῦτος, ploutos) – a general word for rich in Greek.

• Likely means here any blessings that come from our salvation through Christ.

• In other verses can signify the blessings from God during our Christian life (e.g., Phil 4:19).

Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our LORD:

God’s eternal purpose is to provide salvation to men and forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.

This plan was established before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-5).

God will fulfill His eternal purpose when Christ returns and all things are summed up in Him.

To review, Christ is Lord:

• Lord (Gr, κύριος, Kurios) – Anyone with authority over another.

• Christ (Gr, Χριστός, christos) – Greek translation of the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’, the anointed one.

• God anointed (appointed) Christ as our King (Mark 15:32) and savior (John 4:42).

Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

As typical in scripture, Paul’s thoughts connect well to each other in a progressive argument throughout his letter to the Ephesians.

• The cause he mentions, linking to the prior verses, is to prevent the Ephesian believers from becoming weak because of Paul’s efforts to bring them the truth.

Therefore, Paul initiates prayer for the Ephesians.

• This prayer is one of 3 model prayers by the Apostle Paul in scripture (please see Ephesians 1:15ff and Colossians 1:9-14).

• Salvation is not in view in these prayers, but Paul’s earnest desire for Christians to push ahead to gain the benefits God wishes to give them.

Notice Paul, in his role as an apostle, prays.

• If he felt he should pray, surely we should do likewise.

The phrase “bow my knees” mentioned only here in the epistles, probably demonstrates his earnestness.

• As such, it shows his heart for prayer and is not a command we must do physically with every prayer.

• Scripture does tell us to pray continuously (iterative sense, meaning often) and in all places.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Paul continues his prayer for the Ephesian Christians, which is a model how to pray for ourselves and other believers.

• First, he prayed that they would know the power of God (Verse 16).

Dwell (Gr, κατοικέω, Katoikeo) literally means to fasten down or live in a permanent dwelling.

• This indwelling occurred when we believed in Christ’s redemptive death and were regenerated into His likeness.

He then emphasizes Christians are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ at salvation.

• These verbs, in the perfect tense in Greek means the action was completed in the past with ongoing effects in the present.

• Love (Gr, ἀγάπη, agape) is a giving, godly love (see 1 John 4:9-10).

Therefore, in Verses 16-17, Paul prays for believers to be strengthened in their Christian life.

• This results from regeneration (Christ dwelling in believers) and establishment in His love at salvation.

We should be confident of our salvation as a foundation for our Christian life!

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Paul nicely finishes the first 3 chapters of Ephesians, which deal extensively with salvation and the basis of the church, with one of the great praise passages in the New Testament.

The final 2 verses of Chapter 3 are probably, although not conclusively, part of Paul’s prayer starting in V.16.

It provides an example for our own prayers, that we should include praise, which simply is thanking and commending God for His actions and character.

Paul directs praise to God for providing believers more than we could ever ask or think!

• Much of His provision may be through our prayers in accordance to His word (1 Jn 5:14-15).

  • However, this is not specified and God may use other means as well to provide to us.

• God provides to us according to the power that He works within us.

  • Importantly, this power is consistent with His word (Eph 6:17).

What a great promise showing the grace and benevolence by which God acts in the lives of those who have trusted on Christ for salvation and trust in Him in their daily lives!

 

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Verses 1-3 summarize nicely our prior state before we believed on Christ.

• Verse 1 indicates that we were dead in our sins before we came to faith and were resurrected.

• Dead (Gr, νεκρός, nekros) – from where we get the word necrotic; means dead either spiritually or physically, in this case spiritually.

Two different words for sin are used, most likely for emphasis:

• Trespasses (Gr, παράπτωμα, paraptoma) – Indicates an unintentional or sin of omission, also used in Verse 1:7.

• Sins (Gr, ἁμαρτία, hamartia) – Means to miss the mark or an active sin; in other words, a sin of commission.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Verses 4-10 present a key description of how to access salvation and add to the wonderful characteristics of eternal life described in Ephesians 1:3-14.

But (Gr, δέ, De) – Paul begins with a contrasting conjunction to emphasize the difference between the pre-salvation state just described in Verses 1-3.

God’s attitude – despite our sin nature, God was merciful to us and loved us.

• Love (Gr, ἀγαπάω, Agapao) – the biblical, selfless love, loving with the other person’s need in mind.

Interestingly, the verb tense for the verb ‘love’ in Greek is called aorist (which we do not have in English).

• It indicates a one-time, completed process.

• This tense most likely points specifically to Christ’s completed one-time death and resurrection to provide eternal life.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

All these blessings from Verses 4 to 6: His mercy, grace, love, and our resurrection all will demonstrate His glory when He comes again and presents us with Him in heaven.

Our presence with Christ in heaven is based in the forgiveness we acquire by our belief that His sacrifice on the cross was for our personal sins.

As stated in Chapter 1, this is all to the praise of His glory which He richly deserves (Verse 6).

Grace (Gr, χάρις, Charis) – Like in other verses here means unmerited favor, in this case referring to our salvation.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God created believers in Christ into a new person at conversion, that is at the time of belief for salvation by faith alone (Romans 6:2-12; Titus 3:5; Colossians 1:27; Ephesians 4:24).

This describes regeneration or spiritual baptism (being identified with the resurrection of Christ).

If not for regeneration, we would have no eternal life or relationship with God.

It is the new, holy spiritual person that can have access to God (Hebrews 10:22-23) and eternal life (1Corinthians 15:17).

It is also this new person who can do good works which God created beforehand for Christians to accomplish.

This probably refers to doing good to all men, Christians and non-Christians, as well as specific actions to spread the gospel (teach, encourage serve the church, etc).

Believers are only able to do good works after believing in Christ by faith alone and being regenerated to a holy person who can do the works God desires.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Definitions

• • ‘Sometimes’ (Greek, ποτέ, Pote) means “at some time, before”.

• • ‘Nigh’ means “near”.

Therefore Gentiles (all non-Jews) who were far away spiritually and physically in the Old Testament now have been brought near spiritually by the death of Christ for our sins.

Gentiles do not need to be physically near because the Jewish law was fulfilled in Christ (and made inactive, see Romans 10:4) and Jews and Gentiles are bound together by the Holy Sprit in the church (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Gentiles have the same spiritual status and access to the same advantages as Jews through Christ shedding His blood on the cross for our sins.

Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Reconcile (Gr, αποκαταλλάσσω, Apokatallasso) is a very important word, which is a stronger form of the word ‘to change’.

• Reconciliation as a concept is vital.

• It describes the gracious work of Christ’s death to repair the status of sinful man’s relationship with God.

• Reconciliation integrates with redemption, used in Chapter 1, Verses 7 and 14, which describe Christ’s death at the cross as purchasing believers from sin.

Two words often associated with reconciliation are:

• Enmity – This describes the quality of relationship between God and man before salvation.

• Peace (Verse 17) – This describes the quality of relationship between God and man after salvation.

‘Both’ refers to Jews and Gentiles as one entity being reconciled to God.

Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Paul emphasizes in this verse that foreigners and strangers, previously the Gentiles, are now fellow citizens with the Old Testament Jewish believers (saints).

The Jews in the Old Testament had the advantage of a national relationship with God, participating in the feasts and sacrifices, and the benefits of the scriptures (Verses 11-12).

Through Christ the wall between the Gentiles and Jews was destroyed, forging both groups into one new entity, reconciled to God (Verses 12-18).

Therefore there are no second-class citizens! All are equal in the household of God, which is the church.

The church is explained further in the subsequent verses.

Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The verse emphasizes, adding to Verse 21, that the church is where God dwells:

• God meets His people through the church.

• Refers to the church universal in which all Christians are members (1 Corinthians 12:13).

• Reflects the Old Testament promises of God who indicated that His eternal home will be in Jerusalem where the temple then resided and will again reside (Ezekiel 40-48).

• Since the physical kingdom is not yet present (until Christ returns to earth) God now inhabits the spiritual kingdom (Matthew 13) through the church.

This habitation is built by the spirit.

Likewise in the Old Testament the spirit was promised to the Jews at the coming of the Kingdom.

When they rejected Christ, God sent the spirit to the church representing the presence of the spiritual Kingdom until Christ came again and the physical Kingdom becomes present.

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Prior (before a believer) you walked (Gr, Peripateo, per-ee-pat-eh’-o) – meaning your manner of life:

• You lived according to the world so your life was controlled by non-Christian society.

Also you were controlled by the prince of the power of the air, Satan:

• Paul noted that Satan remains active in the church times by his influence over non-Christians (children of disobedience).

• The phrase ‘the children of disobedience’ most likely is for emphasis and indicates that unbelievers are equal to disobedience.

We have learned in Verses 1 and 2 that non-Christians (unbelievers) cannot refuse the world or rebuff Satan.

Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Before believing in Christ we were dead in sin.

• This is our former condition.

• Dead (Gr, νεκρός, Nekros) – here means spiritually dead.

• Can also mean physically dead; meaning determined by context.

Christ then made us alive (quickened) through his resurrection (Romans 6:2-9).

• The verse states clearly we are saved by grace.

• Grace (Gr, χάρις, Charis) – This is the typical word for grace in scripture, meaning ‘unmerited favor’.

• Save (Gr, σώζω, Sozo) – The general Greek word for save, but almost always used in scripture for our wonderful salvation.

Therefore, the verse points out as noted in Verses 1-3, while we were still dead in our sins God saved us by his grace and gave us new life through his resurrection (Romans 6:2-9).

Indeed we have a marvelous and merciful Savior!

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The use of the word ‘for’ indicates that Verse 8 explains the prior several verses.

What Christ graciously accomplished at the cross and at His resurrection was not done by men but by God alone. Consequently it is a gift:

• Gift (Grk, δῶρον, Doron) – word for gift in Greek, but in scripture is used for salvation.

• Grace (Gr, χάρις, Charis) – unmerited favor.

• Faith (Gr, πίστις, Pistis) – conviction of the truth of anything, belief.

Therefore, salvation must be by faith through God’s grace and nothing that we’ve done because we could not have a new life and resurrection as Christ did in bringing us to salvation.

This is one of the key verses in a key passage (Verses 4-10) explaining the method by which we access salvation, through faith.

As stated in Chapter 1, this is all to the praise of his glory which He richly deserves (Verse 6).

Ephesians 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Paul indicated to the mostly Gentile believers at Ephesus that they were saved by grace (Verses 4-10):

• Gentile (Greek, ἐθνος, Ethnos) – literally nations, i.e., non-Jewish.

He reminds them they were once separated from God, not only by their sin, but from the direct knowledge and advantages that had been available primarily to the Jews.

• Most major Roman cities incorporated a minority of Jews who were mostly Hellenized.

The Jews were God’s people in the Old Testament.

• They were identified by the sign of circumcision, given to Abraham, the founder of the Jewish people, who also received the covenant of salvation through Messiah.

• Circumcision pictured the removal of dirty flesh that would occur when Messiah would come to save the Jews from their sin.

• The Gentiles, all nations apart from the Jews, were the “uncircumcision” and were outside the commonwealth of Israel.

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Paul indicates God has made peace between Jews and Gentiles.

• Peace (Greek, εἰρήνη, Eirene) in the Greek definition is much like we use in English: peace of mind, peace between people, nations or peace with God.

• The same Greek word for peace is used throughout the New Testament.

• The Jews historically thought of Gentiles as barbarian, not worthy of attention or a relationship with God.

• Through Christ, God has bought both Jews and Gentiles together with the same rights and access to God.

God made peace by destroying the “middle wall of partition”.

• This relates to the spiritual division between the Jews and the Gentiles historically.

  • However, it also might relate figuratively to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. There was a wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles, where non-Jews could enter, from the inner portions where Gentiles were not allowed.

• Destroying this wall indicates that Gentiles have equal and full access to God, in the same manner as Jews, through Christ.

Ephesians 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

This verse associates the word ‘peace’ with the concept of reconciliation and the previous enmity between us and God before we were saved from our sins (see Verse 16).

Peace (Gr, εἰρήνη, Eirene):

• It is a general word for peace.

• Always the same word in the New Testament.

• It can mean peace between: men, men to God, country to country, and peace of mind.

This verse reiterates that God reconciled us and brought peace to us.

Both Jews (those who were near) and Gentiles (those who were far off) possess the same access.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

At the end of this chapter Paul begins a discussion about the church.

• As believers, we are reconciled to God through Christ, and are placed in the church, which is the spiritual structure in which we live out our conversion on a daily basis.

This verse quotes a messianic prophecy from Isaiah 28:16.

• This is one of three key prophetic verses in the Old Testament naming Christ as the “cornerstone” (see also Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 8:14).

The cornerstone of a building is the first stone laid, which gives direction to the foundation on which a complete structure is built.

• As opposed to other building blocks, Christ is the chief stone, which lays out the promises made by God to mankind and fulfillment of all history in Himself (Ephesians 1:10).

The foundation of the apostles and prophets emanates from the Christ the cornerstone.

• The apostles are the 12 who were personally taught by Christ and led the early church.

• The prophets are those in the Bible who prophesied about the coming Messiah and His Kingdom.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to Ephesus about AD 60. Ephesians is important because:

• It is an epistle and so is in the part of the Bible addressed to the church specifically (Romans to Revelation 3).

• It is a compact efficient guide to knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ (Chapters 1-3) and the Christian life (Chapters 4-6).

Paul notes his authority as an apostle.

• Apostles were the 12 who were taught in person by Christ and governed the early church, passing down the information they learned from our Savior to subsequent generations.

Paul greets specifically the Christians at Ephesus.

• Saint (Greek, hagios) – a holy person, that is forgiven of their sins by faith (the faithful) by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one.

• Christ (Greek, christos) – he received an office or commission [Messiah in the Old Testament] to save us from our sins and bring salvation.

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

God chose us to come to faith before this current world was founded.

• He did this out of His wonderful grace as none of us would have come to faith by our own choice, being depraved (Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

As a result of His divine choosing, through Christ’s death and resurrection (from which the blessings are derived in Verse 3), we are now holy and blameless (i.e., forgiven of our sins). This is a great promise!

God’s attitude – He chose us, sent Christ to die for us, and made us blameless out of an attitude of love.

• Love (Gr, agape) is a very important word. It means a giving, selfless love with the good of the other person in mind.

• Christian love is out of knowledge (i.e., God’s word) and obedience to God (Philippians 1:9; 1 John 5:2-3).

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

​Redemption (Greek, ἀπολύτρωσις, Apolutrosis) – release by payment of ransom.

• Christ by His death on the cross paid the price we owe for our sins and took our punishment to satisfy a just and holy God (Romans 3:24-25; Colossians 1:4).

Grace (Greek, χάρις, Charis) – good will, loving-kindness, favor.

• God saved us by His grace (unmerited favor) and not by any work we did ourselves.

• Our sins are forgiven completely: past, present, and future (Romans 3:23-26; Colossians 1:4, Hebrews 10:18).

The only way to access this forgiveness for our sins is by faith in Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-26).

• Every individual must believe that Christ’s death was for their sins.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Dispensation (Gr, οἰκονομία, Oikonomia) – The management of a household or of household affairs; specifically, the management, oversight, administration, of another’s property.

• Otherwise, God manages His people in different ways at different times though salvation is always by grace.

• e.g., God managed the Israelites differently than in the current times when he manages His people through the church.

Fulness of times = Christ’s second coming.

Gather together in one

• (Gr, ἀνακεφαλαίομαι, Anakephalaiomai) – To sum up (again), to condense into a summary.

• Otherwise – God has history under management and all things will be concluded in Christ at the end of history.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Gospel (Gr, εὐαγγέλιον, Euaggelion) – meaning ‘good news’.

• • We access the gospel by hearing and then believing. Individuals need to say the gospel to indicate belief (Romans 10:15).

• • Truth from God provides salvation, not the ways of society which tries to shame us into silence about this truth.

Holy Spirit (Gr, σφραγίζω, Sphragizo) – He sealed us  until the day we are fully redeemed in Christ at the end of all time.

The term ‘Spirit of promise’ relates to the promise of a Savior given to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and later specified to be part of the church by the prophet Ezekiel and Christ Himself (Ezekiel 37:26, John 14:16).

Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Paul is thankful in a continual way for the Ephesian believers.

• Good example to us as our mental attitude generally should be thankful for other Christians.

• We should tell people the specific reasons we are grateful for them.

Paul also states he is praying for them on a continual basis.

• This is a good example to us to pray routinely for fellow Christians.

The verses to follow are a model prayer for what God desires for believers regardless the specific situation they may face.

Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Paul continues his marvelous prayer for the Christians in Ephesus, asking God for them to know the power of God:

• Three separate Greek words are used for power:

• • • δύναμις, Dunamis

    • κράτος, Kratos

    • ἰσχύς, Ischus

• Each is a general word for power with essentially the same meaning.

• Greek often repeats a concept using a different word for emphasis as opposed to using adjectives and adverbs as in English.

Power is vital in the Christian life!

• There is often confusion among believers about how to obtain spiritual power.

• A good integrated passage explaining how a Christian is empowered is the ‘armor of God’ section in Ephesians 6:13-17.

Hang with this study long enough and we will discuss it!

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Upon the resurrection of Christ, God placed all things under our Savior as described in Verse 21.

• The verse indicates Christ’s authority.

• The phrasing is taken from the important prophesy in Psalm 110:1 speaking of the coming Messiah.

Christ in His current role also heads the church:

• The church is defined as the total membership of all true believers by faith in the world over all times (sometimes called the universal church).

• We are placed in the church by the Holy Spirit at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13).

• God now manages His people through the church in the time between Christ’s 1st and 2nd comings (Acts 2:1-13; Revelation 4:1; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the LORD Jesus Christ.

Paul offers grace and peace.

• Potentially a spiritual blessing or greeting (grace in Greek, shalom in Hebrew) since both groups were represented in the Ephesian church.

Grace (Greek, charis)

• Usually means ‘unmerited favor’ and applies most often in scripture to our salvation.

• As a less common meaning to the Greeks, it meant ‘strength’ and is used of Christians in this manner in 1 Timothy 2:1.

Represents the unity between God and Christ.

• Defines God as our Father.

  • This role is new and wonderful to Christians in the New Testament compared to Old Testament believers.

• Christ as our Lord (Greek, kurios)

  • ‘in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor’

  • Both are a source of grace and peace.

V.2 completes the greeting by Paul to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

As in V.4, Paul also mentions God chose us:

• Again, He did this out of His grace as none of us would have come to faith by our own choice, being depraved (Romans 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:1-3).

• In V.5, Paul uses the word ‘predestinate’ (Greek, Proorizo – determine beforehand) where as in V.4 he used ‘choose’ (Greek, Eklegomai).

Adoption represents a position, like blameless in V.4, that we have before Christ as believers:

• In the Greco-Roman world, as in many countries today, once adopted legally, the child has all the rights and privileges as the natural born offspring and cannot be removed from the family.

• So it is with Christians in the family of God!

God’s attitude – Paul notes God gave us this great salvation by ‘His pleasure’ which adds to the attitude of ‘love’ noted in V.4.

Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

God has provided this great salvation for us with much wisdom.

• Wisdom (Greek, sofia, σοφια) – Indicates both knowledge of the topic as well as an ability to practically apply what is known.

  • A short definition might be ‘the practical application of knowledge.’

Prudence (Greek, Phronesis, φρόνησις) – Intellectual or moral insight.

• Derived from the Greek word for diaphragm, which Greeks believed to be the moral and knowledge basis for a person’s heart (their core nature) since the heart rests on the diaphragm in normal anatomy.

Therefore, God’s plan for redemption (salvation) was done in the utmost of moral integrity, knowledge and wisdom, and accomplished correctly.

Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Inheritance (Gr, κληρόω, Kleroo) to allot that is (figuratively) to assign (a privilege): obtain an inheritance.

• This is a general Greek word for inheritance but in scripture it always means our salvation.

Predestined (Gr, προορίζω, Proorizo), used also in Verse 5, chosen beforehand to salvation.

…according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

• This phrase indicates that God alone determines the outcome of history (Verse 10) and our salvation is according to His own purpose and will.

• The Greek words for “counsel of His own will” essentially mean “will of His will” (Greek often uses repetition for emphasis)

The Apostle Paul moves from the beginning (history – Verse 4) to the end of salvation (future – Verses 10-11) and from everything (all history) to us as individual believers.

• The individual is important to God and unique in Christianity compared generally to other religious or statist/socialist regimes where the collective group is the primary important unit.

Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory

Holy Spirit – one of the vital roles of the Spirit is to act as a seal to our salvation.

• • Earnest (Gr, ἀῤῥαβών, Arrhabon) – This verse also refers to the Spirit as a down payment. In Roman time, like today, this was understood to be like earnest money typically deposited in a real estate transaction which guarantees the intention or the purchaser to complete the deal.

• • Inheritance (Gr, κληρονομία, klēronomia) – Taken from the secular meaning, in the epistles refers to our salvation.

Believers are held secure until their redemption will be completed at the glorious return of Christ.

Believers now belong to God as His possession which cannot be taken away from Him or Christ (John 10:27-30).

Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Paul prays for the Christians in Ephesus that they would have a spirit (spirit may mean here a mentality or qualities derived from the Holy Spirit):

Wisdom (Gr, Σοφία, Sophia)

• • Used in Verse 8 of God, now used as a quality God wants us to have.

  • A practical application of knowledge – the Greek term includes being able to use knowledge as opposed to the English term which might describe only a high mental ability.

Revelation (Gr, ἀποκάλυψις, Apokalupsis)

• • A general Greek word used in scripture to indicate information revealed, associated with the 1^st or 2^nd coming of Christ. The epistles reveal the information associated with Christ’s 1^st coming.

  • Therefore, Paul prays they will have a mentality based on the information in the epistles.

Knowledge (Gr, ἐπίγνωσιs, Epignosis)

• • A strengthened form of knowledge which is adapted by Paul and Peter to indicate a special perception or knowledge of God that only Christians have, derived from His word.

  • Otherwise, as believers, who possess both the Spirit and the Bible, we can know God much better than pre-resurrection saints.

Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Paul finishes his dynamic prayer with praise (commending God’s actions).

God’s power (wrought) was demonstrated in the resurrection (please see also Romans 1:16-17).

• The resurrection is key to our eternal life because it created in us a new person, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 6:2-12).

• This same power is available to us in our daily Christian life (V.18).

After Christ was raised He ascended to heaven and sat down to the right hand of the father.

• The fact Christ sat indicated He was finished with His sacrificial work, making forgiveness available through faith for all sins for all time.

• That He sat at God’s right hand meant Christ was placed at the position of honor and power.

• From this position he currently heads and nourishes the church.

Ephesians 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

‘Body’ refers to the church (Verse 22) which Christ leads (Colossians 1:18).

• This phrase refers to the “universal church” which includes all born-again believers everywhere throughout all time.

• God manages His people in this age before His second coming through the church.

Fill (Gr, pleroo, play-ro’-o) – commonly used in scripture and literally means ‘to fill’.

• However it had a secondary abstract meaning of ‘mature’ or ‘complete’.

• Therefore the phrase could read ‘the church represents the maturity of Christ which matures all’.

• The phrase therefore represents Christ’s headship and maturing action in the lives of believers