AN INTRODUCTION OF
THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS
The epistle to the Ephesians is divided into two major sections. The first section tells you what you need to KNOW. The second section tells you what you need to DO about what you know.
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1:1 |
1:15 |
2:1 |
3:1 |
4:1 |
4:17 |
5:17 |
6:10 |
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Wealth of the Christian |
Walk of the Christian |
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Praise |
Paul's prayer |
Past versus present |
Paul's prayer |
Call for unity |
Call for new walk |
Call for new armor |
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Blessings in Christ |
Experience of salvation |
Growth |
Christian Conduct |
Armor |
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We in Christ |
Christ in us |
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Work of God |
Walk of the Christian |
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Heavenly Standing |
Earthly Walk |
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Know |
Remember |
Grow |
Walk |
Stand |
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The first three chapters describe the WEALTH of the Christian. Paul speaks seven times of the "riches" and the "inheritance" that we have in Christ.
1:7 "according to the riches of His grace"
1:11 "we have obtained an inheritance"
1:14 "a pledge of our inheritance"
1:18 "the riches of the glory of His inheritance"
2:7 "the surpassing riches of His grace"
3:8 "the unfathomable riches of His grace"
3:16 "the riches of His glory"
Chapters 4-6 give the WALK of the Christian. We are exhorted five times to walk in a proper way (in chapter 6 this is changed to "stand firm."
4:1 "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called"
4:17 "walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk"
5:2 "walk in love"
5:8 "walk as children of light"
5:15 "be careful how you walk"
6:11 "stand firm against the schemes of the devil"
6:13 "stand firm"
6:14 "Stand firm"
Ephesians is a letter about the CHURCH - the body of Christ. The church is described here as...
PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE
This means that Ephesians covers the whole realm of grace in the Christian life. It covers grace for salvation and it covers grace for living.
Christianity is not a big "DO." Christianity is a big "DONE." God has done the work of bringing you into His family. You cannot add to that work in any way. The only thing you are called to do is to live as is appropriate for a member of that family.
The first three chapters will deal with who we are in Christ. They deal with the problem of identity crisis. Only after you find out who you are can you understand how you ought to live.
Thus, for the first three chapters of this epistle there will not be a single command given. It will not be until chapter four that we read resulting commands on how we ought to conduct our lives.
KEY WORDS IN THE EPISTLE
God never deals with believers apart from grace. Charis was used in the ancient world to describe a favor that one did for a friend. But charis in the New Testament takes an infinite leap forward. God has shown grace toward us when we were His enemies.
This epistle speaks of revealed truth which had previously been hidden.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EPISTLE
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Ephesians 1:3-14m
Ephesians 1:15-23m
Ephesians 3:1-7m
Ephesians 3:8-12m
Ephesians 4:11-16Most translations have broken these up into several sentences, but in the original Greek text they are one continuous sentence.
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Ephesians 1:15-25m
Ephesians 3:14-21
THE MOOD OF THE EPISTLE
No one reading this epistle would ever guess that Paul was in prison at the time of writing. Indeed, he had spent several years in prison by this time.
Paul refers to himself as "the prisoner of Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:1). He calls himself "an ambassador in chains" (Ephesians 6:20). However, in each of these references, there is a mood and an atmosphere of victory.
CONTENT AND OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE
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Chapters 1-3 |
Wealth |
The Christian in Christ |
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Chapters 4-5 |
Walk |
Christ in the Christian |
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Chapter 6 |
Warfare |
Christ & the Christian versus Satan and his hosts |
EPHESIANS AND OTHER NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS
1. Ephesians and the Epistles of Paul.
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1&2 Thessalonians |
1&2 Corinthians Romans Galatians |
Ephesians Philippians Colossians Philemon |
1&2 Timothy Titus |
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Prophetical |
Polemical |
Philosophical & Personal |
Pastoral |
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Hope |
Faith |
Love |
Church order |
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Christ & second coming |
Christ & the cross |
Christ & the church |
Christ & the congregation |
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Perfecting salvation |
Plan of salvation |
Privileges of salvation |
Purpose of salvation |
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Consolation |
Conflict |
Conquest |
Consistency |
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Eschatological |
Soteriological |
Christological |
Ecclesiological |
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Future |
Past |
Present |
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Anticipative |
Controversial |
Contemplative |
Administrative |
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Conflict |
Conquest |
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2. The Prison Epistles.
Four of the epistles of Paul were written while he was in prison. Ephesians is one of those epistles.
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Place of Writing: Rome Date: 61-63 A.D. |
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Colossians |
Ephesians |
Philemon |
Philippians |
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Local assembly letter |
Circular letter to be distributed |
Private personal letter |
Local assembly letter |
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Doctrinal |
Ethical |
Social |
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Christ is the head of the church |
The Church is the body of Christ |
Master and slave |
An apostle's gratitude |
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Christ in all |
All in Christ |
Christ in the home |
Christ in the assembly |
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Paul's mind |
Paul's heart |
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Apologist |
Theologian |
Gentleman |
Saint |
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Discussion |
Reflection |
Motivation |
Friendship |
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Asia |
Europe |
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Carried by Tychicus and accompanied by Onesimus (Col 4:7; Eph 6:21) |
Carried by Onesimus (Philem 12-14) |
Carried by Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25) |
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The first three of these epistles were apparently written and delivered at the same time. In spite of that, there are some major differences.
3. Colossians and Ephesians Compared.
Both epistles were written for the same general purpose - to show the relationship between Christ and his church.
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Colossians |
Ephesians |
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Christ and the Cosmos |
Christ and the Church |
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Emphasis on Christ as the head of the church |
Emphasis on the church as the body of Christ |
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Mor personal - local |
Less personal - lofty |
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Combats error directly |
Combats error indirectly |
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Tone: Intensity & tumult of a battlefield |
Tone: Calmness of surveying the field after victory |
Colossians is to Ephesians
what
Galatians is to Romans