Table of Contents
Ephesians
Paul writes Ephesians as a prisoner in Rome (3:1, 4:1, 6:20), yet it is the most exalted of his letters — less a response to one crisis than a sweeping view of what God has done in Christ. The first three chapters are almost entirely praise and doctrine: believers chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, saved by grace through faith and not of works, and Jew and Gentile made “one new man” with the middle wall of partition broken down. The last three turn that doctrine into daily life — unity in the body of Christ, walking as children of light, marriage as a picture of Christ and the church, and the whole armour of God for a battle “not against flesh and blood.”
This series reads Ephesians chapter by chapter, immediately following this site’s own studies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians — the fifth epistle on the site. Where Galatians defended the gospel of grace against those who would add to it, Ephesians shows what that same grace builds: a church that is Christ’s own body, called to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith it is called, and standing firm in the great controversy between Christ and Satan until He comes.
List Of Articles
Chosen In Him Before The Foundation Of The World
one unbroken sentence of praise — chosen in christ before creation, accepted in the beloved, redeemed through his blood, sealed with the holy spirit of promise — then paul's prayer that believers' eyes be opened to what they already have, and christ raised far above every power as head over all things to the church
Ephesians 1By Grace Are Ye Saved Through Faith
from dead in trespasses and sins to seated with christ in heavenly places — saved by grace through faith, not of works, yet created unto good works — and the middle wall of partition, a real stone barrier in the temple, broken down to make jew and gentile one new man and one holy temple in the lord
Ephesians 2The Love Of Christ, Which Passeth Knowledge
paul, the prisoner of jesus christ for you gentiles, unfolds the mystery hidden for ages — gentiles made fellowheirs in one body, the church displaying god's manifold wisdom to the powers in heavenly places — then bows his knees to pray that believers may know a love too large to be known
Ephesians 3Grieve Not The Holy Spirit Of God
the letter turns from doctrine to daily walk — keeping the unity of the spirit, one lord one faith one baptism, the gifts christ gave till we all come to the fulness of christ, putting off the old man and putting on the new — and a warning that only makes sense of a person: grieve not the holy spirit of god
Ephesians 4This Is A Great Mystery
walk in love, walk as children of light, redeem the time — then two relationships woven together: husbands and wives, submitting one to another, and christ the bridegroom who gave himself for his bride, the church, to present her to himself holy and without blemish
Ephesians 5Put On The Whole Armour Of God
the spirit-filled life reaches children and parents, servants and masters — then paul, chained to a roman soldier, reveals the battle behind it all and hands believers god's own armour from isaiah, to stand in the heavenly places where the whole letter began
Ephesians 6