Ephesians 1
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- Ephesus was the capital of Procounsular Asia. The city was considered second only to Rome.
- Consecrated to the goddess Artemis also known as Diana. The temple of Artemis was a building that had 127 56’ columns which were 4x larger than the Parthenon.
- Paul had spent a short time in Ephesus on his way back to Antioch from his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19-22).
- On his third missionary journey he stayed in Ephesus three years (Acts 20:31) where he baptized a dozen of John the Baptist’s followers (Acts 19:1-7).
- He had discussions in the hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10).
- Unusual miracles occurred (Acts 19:11-12),
- Strange events took place (Acts 19:13-16),
- Even sorcerers were converted (19:17-20).
- The city rioted over the silversmith Demetrius who lost of business because of people who turned to Christ from worshiping the great Ephesian goddess Artemis (Acts 19:23-41).
- On Paul’s return to Jerusalem from his third missionary journey he gave a farewell address to the Ephesian elders at the coast of Miletus (Acts 20:13-35).
- That was his last time to see them (Acts 20:36-38), unless Paul visited Ephesus after he was in Rome (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3 with 3:14).
- Ephesians was probably written between 60 and 62 A.D. shortly after Colossians. One of the “Prison Epistles” (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon).
- Key phrase – in Christ (or in Him)
Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus – In several ancient manuscripts, the words “in Ephesus” do not appear. So many believe this was a circular letter intended for all the churches in that area.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – Paul’s usual greeting. Charis and eirēnē, the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew shālôm.
In the Greek, verses 3-14 are one long sentence and encompass the past, present, and future of God’s eternal purpose for the church.
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 – not with material blessings, but “with every Spiritual blessing” Cf. 1Tim 6:3-8.
“Heavenly realms” occurs five times in this letter:
1) Believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the “heavenly realms” (1:3). 2) Christ is seated at God’s right hand in the “heavenly realms” (1:20).
3) We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the “heavenly realms” (2:6). 4) God is being made known to the rulers and authorities in the “heavenly realms” (3:10). 5) We struggle against the spiritual forces of evil in the “heavenly realms” (6:12).
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight – The Doctrine of Election Cf. (Rom. 8:29; 9:11; 1 Thess. 1:3-4; 1 Pet. 1:2). Eklegō (chose) indicates God’s totally independent choice. Yet man also has free choice: Cf. John 3:16; 11:26; Josh. 24:15; Isa. 55:1; Matt. 3:1-2; 4:17; 11:28-30; John 5:40; 6:37; 7:37-39; Rev. 22:17. Cf. Deut 7:6-8.
In love(agapē) 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ – Paul used the noun (agapē, “love”) 10 times in Ephesians compared with 65 times in all his other epistles combined. Cf. Rev 2 “forsaken your first love”.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood – Redemption apolutrōsis means “To loose away from something. To Ransom.”
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ – Mustērion – something that was previously hid but is now revealed.
“Mystery” in the N.T.
- Of the kingdom of Heaven Matt 13:5-50
- Of iniquity 2Thess 2:7
- Of Babylon Rev 17-18
- Of the church as one body Eph 3:1-12
- Of the church as Christ’ bride Eph 5:23-32
- Of the in-living Christ Gal 2:20; Col 1:26-27
- Of the fullness of Godhead 1Cor 2:7; Col 2:2,9
- Of Godliness 1Tim 3:16
- Of the Rapture 1Cor 15:51-52; 1Thess 4:13-17
- Of Israel’s present blindness Rom 11:25
- Of the will of God Ephesians
- Of the Seven Stars Rev 1:20
We are stewards of these mysteries 1Cor 4:1
13 Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory – The word “seal” indicates: 1)) security (Matt. 27:66; Eph. 4:30), 2) authentication and approval (John 6:27), 3) certification of genuineness (John 3:33), 4)identification of ownership (2 Cor. 1:22; Rev. 7:2; 9:4).
18 I pray also 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 the saints – We are HIS inheritance. Cf. Deut 32:8-9.
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms – 1. dunamis (his incomparably great power), from which we get dynamite and dynamo. 2. energeia (working, exerted), the energizing force of the Spirit that empowers believers to live for the Lord. 3. ischus (mighty), which carries the idea of endowed power or ability. 4. kratos (strength), which may also be translated “dominion” (1 Tim. 6:16) or “power” (Heb. 2:14). “power that overcomes resistance.”
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