Ephesians

INTRODUCTION:

The ancient city of Ephesus, located in western Asia Minor at the mouth of the Cayster River, was an important ______. Ephesus had excellent access to both river valleys that allowed it to flourish as a commercial center. Due to the accumulation of silt deposited by the river, the present site of the city is approximately five to six miles inland. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is an anthem to the sovereign ______of God displayed toward sinners in Christ. It contains some of the worst news (“you were dead in your trespasses and sins”) and best news (“but God . . . made us alive with the Messiah”) in all of Scripture. In view of this grace, Paul calls believers to “walk ______of the calling” we have received.

PURPOSE

Paul wrote this epistle while in ______( 3:1 ; 4:1 ; 6:20 ). Disagreement exists concerning whether Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea ( Ac 24:22 ) around A.D. 57–59 or in Rome ( Ac 28:30 )

Some claimed that it was written sometime A.D. 60–62.

Paul most likely wrote Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians during the same time of his imprisonment. Tradition suggests that Paul wrote the letter from Rome around 60–61, which would have transpired while Paul was under house arrest in guarded rental quarters ( Ac 28:30 ).

Relatively, little is known about the recipients of the letter called Ephesians) The letter was carried to its destination by Tychicus, [Eph. 6:2; Col. 4:7]. The epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians probably were delivered at the same time since in both letters the apostle noted that Tychicus would inform the churches concerning Paul’s situation.

The apostle taught that Jewish and Gentile believers are ______in Christ. This oneness was to be demonstrated by their ______one for another. Ephesians begins with love ( 1:4-6 ) and ends with love ( 6:23-24 ).

Paul implicitly addressed matters raised by the mystery religions in the Lycus Valley. The letter has much to say about ______( 1:7 ) and the divine intention for the human race ( 1:3-14 ). Additional themes include grace ( 1:2 ), predestination ( 1:4-5 ), reconciliation, and union with Christ ( 2:1-21 ).

Central to the message of Ephesians, is the re-creation of the human family according to God’s original intention for it. The new creation ______the misguided view that God accepts the Jew and rejects the Gentile.

The letter to the Ephesians was probably a circular letter, with Ephesus being the primary church addressed. Paul stayed at Ephesus, the capital city of the province of Asia, for almost ______years (see Ac 20:31 ).

The fact that it was a circular letter helps explain the absence of ______names of Ephesian believers. From its inception Paul intended for the letter to gain a ______audience than that which would be found in Ephesus alone. After the Ephesians read it, the letter would have been routed to Colossae, Laodicea, and other churches in the area. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Colossians 4:16

There are______verses in Ephesians, over half contain identical expressions with those in Colossians. Colossians, however, is abrupt, argumentative, and seemingly compressed. Ephesians presents a bigger, finished picture that is meditative, instructive, and expansive.

Though Ephesians and Colossians contain many similarities, it is important to observe the distinctive of Ephesians. When the content of Ephesians that is common to Colossians is removed, there remain at least seven units of material unique to Ephesians

Chapter One

Introduction.

1:1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:.

Apostle:-An apostle is a person who had been ______and sent on special service, and who was gifted by the Holy Spirit for that service. (Gk.Apostolos):-Envoy, ambassador, or messenger commissioned to carry out the instructions of the commissioning agent.

Recipients.

The saints in Ephesus. It may have been written about the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon, while he was in ______, most likely in Rome. Ephesus (present day -Turkey) was a very prosperous commercial city in the Roman province of Asia Minor. It conducted international trade, a very thriving ______business, and a theater that seated 20,000 people. Ephesus had a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess ______( Ac 19:23-41 ). The church there apparently flourished for some time, though not without need for additional exhortation.

The faithful in Christ Jesus: The are saints who ______with being faithful. They acknowledge Jesus as their Lord, and their ______shows how faithful they were to their Lord.

The word Faithful means loyal, constant, steadfast, trusted, reliable. A person who is not trust worthy with their own property, will not be trustworthy with someone else property. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. [11] So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? [12] And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? Luke 16:10-12

Many claim to have unfailing love, but a ______person who can find? Proverbs 20:6

Greetings:

1:2. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace:- that which affords joy, ______, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech.

Peace:-Shalom was the common friendly greeting, used in asking after the health of anyone; also in farewells (Genesis 29:6, "Is it well with him?" ("Is there peace to him?"); 43:23, "Peace be to you"; 43:27, "He asked them of their welfare (of their peace)";Judges 6:23,

1:3. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Blessings include:

Union with Christ;

Being ______with Him in the heavenliness;

Our adoption,

Redemption,

Election.

Paul reminded the saints that God has already bless them with every Spiritual ______in Christ, and because of that, every thing they needed in Christ was in the Heavenly Realms.

Heavenly Realms:-The phrase “heavenly places” or “heavenly realms” is used several times in the book of Ephesians (1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). This phrase is translated from the Greek wordthat means “the sphere of spiritual ______.” “Heavenly realms” can refer to both angelic and demonic activity.Ephesians 1:20says that God “raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” ButEphesians 6:12speaks of evil forces in the same realm: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

This is called “the doxology” because it recites what God has done and is an expression to Him of worship, praise, and honor. Paul also wrote about the blessings that belong to the saints through Christ. God has blessed us with all of the blessings in the heavenly realms.

All spiritual gifts and service abilities also flow out of these ______blessings that God gives to every believer at the time of salvation.

1:4. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

God who is omniscient, whose wisdom is past finding out spoke through Paul saying.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! [34] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” [35] “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” [36] For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36.

Nothing surprises God, he knew that man would not remain pure as he intended, and because he is a Holy God, and nothing impure cold be in his presence, he provided a way that man would be accepted, and that is “in Him”. He chose us “in him”. To become holy and blameless cold only be done through him. 2Cor.5:17.

1:5-6. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--- [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Predestined:-God had determined beforehand that those who believe in Christ will be ______into his family and conformed to His son. (Rom.8:29-30). For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

This involves a ______on His part and it is done through “Love”. It is based on the good pleasure of His perfect will (vv.5,9,11). It’s purpose is to glorify God. V.14. But it does not relieve man of his responsibility to ______the gospel in order to bring to pass personally God’s predestination. v13.

1:7-8. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace [8] that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

Redemption in Him means that mankind have been bought with the price of Christ’s ______( 1Co 6:20 ; 1Tm 2:6 ; 1Pt 1:18-19 ) and have been redeemed from sin, Satan, and the misery of sinful self. The result of redemption is a sending away or banishment of our sin debt, resulting in complete ______.

1:9. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment---to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Mystery:-this is something that which has been formerly been kept in secret in the unposed of God, but has now been disclosed. Col.1:27.

1:10. To be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment---to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

The goal of history is based upon God’s divine purpose concerning the our Lord Jesus Christ, for whom, through whom, and whom all thingsexists.. The goal is to establish a new world order of which Jesus Christ is the acknowledged Head (v. 22). He is the head of a reunited universe. He now ______and reigns from God’s right hand; one day He will ______His kingdom and bring in the new heavens and the new earth, fulfilling and finalizing God’s redemptive purpose. This is what is involved in bringing together things in heaven and things on earth in Him.

1:11. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Paul discusses the end result of redemption from a standpoint that stretches from eternity past to eternity future. The recipients of this inheritance are people whom God has chosen and predestined. They come to faith in Christ, not by not by chance, coercion, But by the enabling of God’s Spirit. Building on OT themes, Paul envisioned those who have received this ______as standing in continuity with the covenant people of OT times.

1:12.in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

The gift of the Holy Spirit was ______by the prophets and by our Lord Jesus ( Joel 2:28-29 ; Jn 14:15-26 ; 16:5-16 ). The Holy Spirit is described as both a ______showing ownership, and as a pledge pointing to future redemption. Though believers have not yet experienced redemption in full, God will bring about final redemption (life in His immediate presence) for all who have received the Spirit.

1:14. Ephesians 1:13-14.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession---to the praise of his glory.

False Security

All who will be saved forever are saved because of Christ’s work on the cross and God’s power to keep them saved. Known as ______security, this truth is often stated as, “Once saved, always saved.” Unfortunately, many people think that simply making a confession at some point in their lives means they are saved even if their lives bear no Christian fruit. Some even think they can live like the Devil and yet be safe because of their earlier ______. But genuine faith requires genuine repentance ( Mk 4:12 ; Ac 2:38 ; 20:21 ).

True Security

Genuine believers continue in the faith and good works throughout their lives. One basis for this conclusion is Jesus’ parable of the sower ( Mt 13:3-23 ; Mk 4:3-20 ; Lk 8:4-15 ). Only the fourth soil type bears fruit even though the second and third types show life (belief) for a short while. The fourth soil symbolizes a genuine believer. The bearing of fruit (continuing in the faithand good works) is also the evidence of genuine belief named in John 15 , where Jesus said only the branch that bears fruit is saved (v v. 5-6).

The Source of Security

Believers do not continue in the faith by their own strength. Rather, each member of the Trinity works to preserve them. In the first place our salvation completely ______on Jesus’ work, not on our merit (cp. Rm 3:21-26 ; 4:5-8 ; 8:1 ; Eph 2:8-9 ). Romans 8:30 is to the point: “And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” So sure is our salvation that Paul speaks of our future glorification in the past tense!

Believers also continue in the faith because they are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment ( Eph 1:13-14 ) of the blessings promised by God, including eternal life. Paul had this in mind when he said: “And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were ______by Him for the day of redemption” ( Eph 4:30 ). God the Spirit assures us of salvation at the beginning of our spiritual life and keeps us in the faith to the end of our earthly life ( Jn 10:27 ; Rm 8:16 ; 1Jn 2:20 , 27 ; Jd 24 ). {Commentator by Daniel B Wallace}

1:15-16. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, [16]I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Although Paul may not have known these believers personally, it is possible he may have heard of their ______in the Lord Jesus and the ______they have for each other fromEpaphras, just as the brethren in Colossae. Whatever the relationship he had with these believers, whenever he thought about them it caused him to pray for them. His prayers were continuous and intense characterized by thanksgiving.

His prayer requests.

For the believers to know that God has called them to a great ______. V18. He emphasized the origin of their calling and urged them to take part in it.

That they my know the ______and extent of their blessings n Christ. V18. He had already describe the blessings they had in Christ as an inheritance.V14. That they are an inheritance emphasizes the fact that they are received as a gift and already Guaranteed even though they are not yet fully bestowed upon believers.

That they may ______and experience the power of God. V19.God’s power is unlimited. He wanted to convey to them that God is at work in the life of every believer in a powerful way.

1:17-18. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

His prayer was address to God in His relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ, as in 1:3. He father described him as the “father of Glory” meaning the glorious father.

In this prayer, three objects of knowledge can be clearly seen. He introduced the content of each request with the words “what is” or “what are”.

1:19-19. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.

Synonyms for Power. V19.

ENGLISHGREEKMEANING

P______DunameousInherent ability, ability to perform

anything

W______EnergeianThe effectual working of ability

M______KratousStrength to a relation to an end to be gained or dominion to e exercised.

St______IschuosStrength that a person has; power in possession, or latent power.

1:20-23. He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. [22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.