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THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS |
J. Deering, AncientPath.net
God proclaims us faithful if we are in His Son Jesus. In response to this proclamation, we must walk in faith responding to His love with faithful actions.
One of Paul's major thrusts in the book concerns being "in" something. He refers to being "in Christ," "in the saints," or "in all power and wisdom." One technique that will help us to understand these concepts is to try to make language three dimensional in our minds. Take a moment and look at the diagram about prepositions on the following graphic. This diagram tries to visualize the relative placement of situations that prepositions describe.
When someone says, "Take him away from here," visualize the distance involved between "here" and "away from here." When someone says, "Stand beside me," visualize "beside me," etc. With these two examples under your belt, now try to visualize, "I was in the car." Can you picture yourself "in" a car? Now think about all the ramifications of being "in" a car (The space within, the features inside, the accessories, the controls, etc.). Now, take it a step further and think about the laws of physics that are effective on a car, that is, acceleration, friction, and gravity. Then, consider the laws of the state that are in effect, that is, speed laws, courtesy laws, safety laws, etc. Now being in a car is becoming a complicated affair, much more than just our original thought of sitting in a car. So is the biblical concept of being "in" something. Paul introduced the Ephesians to the concept of being "in Christ." This concept may seem simple, but in reality is quite elaborate and complex. Being "in Christ," entails all the rights, laws, benefits, responsibilities, and inheritances of Jesus Christ. When we are "in Him," we share in every aspect of Him.
It also should be noted that Paul took this idea of being "in Christ" to an even greater level of understanding. It was so very important to Paul that the Ephesians understand that their position was to be into Christ, and not to return to a position that was "in" the nation of Israel.
Take some time and try and visualize the prepositions on the above chart, and consider possible meanings and ramifications of these words in a relationship to Jesus Christ (i.e., "in Him," "through Him," "to Him," "before Him," etc.). This could be one of the most important concepts to know in understanding the book of Ephesians. The preposition "in" is used more than 120 times in Ephesians alone. "In" is the most used word in this book, and thus, it becomes one of the most important words to study.
The Complete text with IN HIM marked in red.
Eph 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in
Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us
in Him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He
predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to
the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which
He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
8 which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the
mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed
in Him 10
with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is,
the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon
the earth. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been
predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of
His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope
in Christ should be
to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message
of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed
in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our
inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the
praise of His glory.
1:15-19a For this reason I too, having heard
of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the
saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my
prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray
that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who
believe.
1:19b-23 These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
CHAPTER TWO:
2:1-10 And you were dead in your trespasses
and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now
working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in
the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and
were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in
mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were
dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you
have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the
heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might
show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us
in Christ Jesus. 8
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it
is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 10 For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
2:11-13 Therefore remember, that formerly
you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called
"Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- 12 remember
that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without
God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have
been brought near by the blood of Christ.
2:14-22 For He Himself is our peace, who
made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments
contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man,
thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God
through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND
PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then
you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the
saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21
in
whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple
in
the Lord; 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in
the Spirit.
CHAPTER 3:
3:1-13 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner
of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the
stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation
there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 And by
referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery
of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men,
as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6
to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the
body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7
of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was
given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of
all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable
riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the
mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in
order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church
to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in
accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out
in Christ Jesus our
Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith
in Him. 13
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for
they are your glory.
3:14-19 For this reason, I bow my knees
before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its
name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; 17 so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded
in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth
and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do
exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works within us, 21 to Him is the glory in the church and
in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER FOUR:
4:1 I-6, therefore, the prisoner of the
Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have
been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing
forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as
also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
4:7-16 But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, "WHEN HE
ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."
9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had
descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also
He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and
some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of
service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to
the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a
result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and
carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness
in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body,
being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to
the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for
the building up of itself in love.
4:17-32 This I say therefore, and affirm
together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk,
in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding,
excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because
of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given
themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with
greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have
heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is
in Jesus, 22 that, in
reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is
being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be
renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the
likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS
NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. 26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do
not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an
opportunity. 28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor,
performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something
to share with him who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your
mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of
the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let
all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice. 32 And is kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving
each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
CHAPTER FIVE:
5:1-14 therefore are imitators of God, as
beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave
Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 3 But
do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is
proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse
jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know
with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an
idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for
you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children
of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and
righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11
And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even
expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done
by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the
light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,
"Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
5:15-21 Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the
days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the
Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be
filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20
always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God,
even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
5:22-33 Wives, be subject to your own
husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband are the head of the wife, as Christ
also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But
as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their
husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved
the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having
cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to
Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such
thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to
love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves
himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourish and cherishes it,
just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31
FOR THIS CAUSE A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS
WIFE; AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am
speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each
individual among you also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife
see to it that she respect her husband.
CHAPTER SIX:
6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the
Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first
commandment with a promise), 3 THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY
LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger;
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
6:5-9 Slaves, be obedient to those who are
your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity
of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as
slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render
service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each
one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And,
masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both
their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and
in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be
able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the
world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
heavenly places.
6:13-18 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
6:19-22 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be
given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery
of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it
I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. But that you also may know about my
circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful
minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 And I have sent him
to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may
comfort your hearts.
6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love
with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all
those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.
1
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE,
© Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988.
Used by permission."
The Book of Ephesians, Bible Study, J. Deering, AncientPath.net, study materials are a ministry of AncientPath.net, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them. No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of AncientPath.net. ©2009 AncientPath.net, All rights reserved.
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2023-04-18
2023-09-04 update