In the foregoing section (Ephesians 1:3-14) we found a marvelous list of spiritual blessings that God has given us. But often Christians do not appreciate these spiritual blessings. Many church members actually appreciate material blessings (such as money) more than they do their spiritual blessings. But actually the spiritual blessings are greater than all others because they have the promise of both the life that now is, and that which is to come (1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:18). No person who seeks first the kingdom of heaven will lack any necessary thing in this life. And only those who seek first the spiritual things have the promise of salvation in the life to come.

In this section we therefore find Paul praying that his readers might know and appreciate the spiritual blessings. Paul prayed every day for this. Many church members today are lukewarm, unconcerned, and unmindful of spiritual things. We should pray for such people, even as Paul did.

Fact Questions

71.

What is the title of the section (Ephesians 1:15-23)?

72.

Why are spiritual blessings greater than material blessings?

73.

What three things did Paul pray that we would know?

Text (Ephesians 1:15-16)

15 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which ye show toward all the saints, 16 cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Thought Questions (Ephesians 1:15-16)

38.

For what cause was it that Paul did not cease to pray for them?

39.

Would you infer from the fact that Paul said he had heard of the faith of the Ephesians that (1) either Paul did not write the epistle, or (2) that it was not actually written to the Ephesians? Why or why not?

40.

What was the attitude of the Ephesians toward all saints?

41.

How regularly did Paul pray for the Ephesians?

42.

Did Paul pray for them by name? Give a reason for your answer.

Paraphrase

15.

For this reason, that ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit, and made recipients of many other blessings, I also, having heard of the commendable faith in the Lord Jesus which continues among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints, both Jew and Gentile,

16.

do not cease to be giving thanks in behalf of you, making mention of you by name in my daily prayers.

Notes (Ephesians 1:15-16)

The Interpreter's Bible says about Ephesians 1:15 that these words belong to the literary fiction by which the epistle is represented as a message from Paul. Such conclusions are not supported by any evidence, only by personal opinion.

The mere fact that Paul said that he had heard of the faith of the Ephesians, does not prove that he had never been with them, He wrote the same way to Philemon (Philemon 1:4-5), and similarly to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 3:6). Certainly Paul knew these people intimately. (See Introduction, sec. VIII for further information.)

Paul was glad to hear (perhaps from Tychicus) about the faith which the Ephesians had steadfastly held in the Lord Jesus, and their love for one another. The church at Ephesus was unusual in that it had both Jews and Gentiles in it, and they really loved one another. But Paul still prayed for them, thanking God for them, and asking God to further enlighten them.

Fact Questions

71.

What two things had Paul heard about the Ephesians?

Text (Ephesians 1:17)

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;

Thought Questions (Ephesians 1:17)

43.

What does the phrase, the Father of glory, mean?

44.

Did Paul pray that God would reveal His truth directly to the Ephesians? Would not such a prayer contradict Ephesians 3:3-4? What exactly did Paul want them to have that he calls a spirit of wisdom and revelation?

45.

Why is a spirit of wisdom and revelation needed by the saints who have all already accepted Christ?

46.

What is the significance of the spirit of wisdom and revelation being in the knowledge of Him? Who is the Him?

Paraphrase

17.

Requesting that God, the glorious Father in heaven, who is adored as God even by our Lord Jesus Christ, and who originates both the glory we now enjoy and that greater glory we shall have hereafter, that He may give unto you a wise spirit and a spirit of revelation, that is, a disposition which will make you able and ready to receive that which He has revealed concerning the precise knowledge of Himself.

Notes (Ephesians 1:17)

See notes on Ephesians 1:3 concerning the expression, God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The apostle did not pray that God would give to all the Ephesians the knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel by an immediate revelation made to themselves, But that he would enable them to understand the revelation of these doctrines which was made to the apostles, and which they preached to the world. (Macknight)

The spirit of wisdom and revelation is described in Ephesians 1:18 as having the eyes of your heart enlightened. How greatly Christians need to have a heart which is responsive to God and spiritual things: Many are like blind men standing in a lovely park in broad daylight. All around them lie riches of beauty, but they cannot see, There are treasures of wisdom and knowledge revealed in Christ (Colossians 2:3). But many cannot see. They need to be taught the first principles over and over. Oh God, grant that throughout our churches a spirit may sweep which will cause our brethren to grasp the riches of Thy revelation.

God is not interested in anyone being wise and receptive to revelations unless they are revelations that are in the knowledge of God Himself. If He felt otherwise, He would have to deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Fact Questions

72.

How does Paul describe God in Ephesians 1:17?

73.

What did Paul pray that God would give to the Ephesians?

74.

In what must this spirit of wisdom and revelation rest?

Text (Ephesians 1:18-19)

18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might

Thought Questions (Ephesians 1:18-19)

47.

What connection is there between the spirit of wisdom and revelation mentioned in Ephesians 1:17, and the phrase having the eyes of your heart enlightened in Ephesians 1:18?

48.

So the heart has eyes! What is this heart that has eyes?

49.

What is the hope of his calling that we are to know? Who is being called? By whom? How is the calling done? Doesn-'t every person who knows enough to accept Christ know the hope of His calling?

50.

Who has an inheritance in the saints? What does He inherit? Why does this inheritance contain riches of glory?

51.

What will be the benefit of knowing the exceeding greatness of God's power toward us?

Paraphrase

18.

I pray that you may have a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that the eyes of your heart (mind and understanding) may be enlightened with lasting illumination. Being thus enlightened, you may know what blessings are contained in the hope to which God has called you by the Gospel, and may know what are the riches of the glory of God's inheritance, which is His saints,

19.

and that you may also know what is the exceeding greatness of the power which God employs toward us who believe, that power which is so great that it can be described only by saying that it is according to the working of the power of His strength.

Notes (Ephesians 1:18-19)

There is a great need for all of us to have the eyes of our hearts (understanding) enlightened. Many people are like Adam and Eve. They have had their eyes opened to sin by disobeying God. But it is usually much harder to have our eyes opened to good than to evil. We must learn fully about God's promises, glory, blessings, etc. Then we must live by what we know. Head knowledge without heart enlightenment is not good enough.

Paul lists three things we need to know through having the eyes of our heart enlightened:

The hope of His calling. This refers to that living hope which we have in Christ of a heavenly inheritance that fades not away (1 Peter 1:3-4), God called us by the gospel, that good news about Christ which was preached to us (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Some people accept Christ much as they buy fire insurance, as a matter of protection. Christ is truly your protection. Nonetheless we do not follow Christ just because we must, but because we cherish and seek after the hope of His calling.

The riches of the glory of His (God'S) inheritance in the saints.

As stated in Ephesians 1:11, the saints (Christians) are God's inheritance, His heritage. Naturally this brings great benefits to the saints, as well as pleasure to God. It is a rich and glorious arrangement. Christians can well apply Moses-' words to themselves:

The eternal God is thy dwelling place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms;
Happy art thou, O Israel (O church of God);
Who is like unto thee, a people saved by Jehovah?

(Deuteronomy 33:27; Deuteronomy 33:29)

The exceeding greatness of His power toward us that believe.

God's people often act like they think that God cannot or will not do anything for them, We need the eyes of our heart enlightened to grasp the truth that the same power that God used for Jesus, He can and does put to work for us. This thought almost staggers the imagination. But it is true, Study the notes on Ephesians 1:20-22 to see how God used His power in the life of Jesus, and remember that this is an illustration of the power he uses to deliver us from evil, rule providentially in our lives, and to raise us from the dead.

Fact Questions

75.

According to Ephesians 1:18, what needs to be enlightened?

76.

What are the three things Paul prayed that we would know?

77.

In what is God's inheritance?

Ephesians 1:18-19

PAUL PRAYED THAT WE WOULD KNOW

THE HOPE OF GOD'S CALLING.

THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS.

THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US.

DO YOU KNOW THESE THINGS?

Text (Ephesians 1:20-23)

20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit 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 world, but also in that which is to come; 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Thought Questions (Ephesians 1:20-23)

52.

What is that which God wrought in Christ? (See Ephesians 1:19).

53.

Why is the mighty power which God wrought in Christ described here?

54.

What is shown about God's power by the fact that his power raised Christ from the dead?

55.

Who will have the most honored name even in the world that is to come?

56.

How can God have put all things in subjection under Christ's feet when the majority of humankind are in rebellion against Him? (Psalms 2:1-12 can help answer this question.)

57.

Note that Christ is head over all things to the church. Name three areas of church affairs over which Christ is head.

58.

What is the implication of the fact that the church is Christ's body? Does that suggest that the church exercises the authority of Christ? Or that the church is subject to Christ? Or that it is intimately joined to Christ?

59.

To whom does this refer: Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:23; cf. Ephesians 4:10)?

60.

What does the fact that the church is the fulness of Christ mean?

Paraphrase

20.

(praying that you may know) that power which God put to work in the life of Christ, and will employ toward us that believe, when He raised Christ from the dead, and gave Him the honor of sitting at His own right hand in heaven as chief governor of the universe,

21.

having seated Christ there by His power in spite of the efforts of wicked men, the devil, and death itself to destroy Christ. There Christ was seated far above all the ranks of authority held by men or spiritual creatures, whether they be first rulers, or authorities, or mighty powers, or lordships, yea above every name that is named, not only in this world, but even in that which is to come;

22.

and further demonstrating His great power in the life of Christ, God did subject all things in the universe under his feet, and appointed Him supreme Lord and head over all things pertaining to the church,

23.

which (the church) is His (Christ'S) body and His fulness, that which is filled by Him who verily filleth all things in all places.

Notes (Ephesians 1:20-23)

Ephesians 1:20-23 are an elaboration of Ephesians 1:19. Paul prayed that we would know what is the exceeding greatness of God's power toward us. This power is described as being the power that God used for Jesus. It is almost staggering to think that we have available unto us the same power that God used for Christ. But that is true. Note what God did for Jesus:

He raised Him from the dead. Ephesians 1:20. If we believe that God raised up Jesus from the dead, we ought to have strong confidence, for God will use this same great power by which He raised up Jesus to help us.

God exalted Jesus by seating Him at His right hand in heaven (Mark 16:19; Psalms 110:1). God exalted Jesus far above all principality, power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but in that which is to come. The principalities, powers, might, and dominions mentioned here seem to refer to ranks and degrees of power among angels and spiritual beings, both good and bad (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 6:12).

God put all things beneath the feet of Christ; He is Lord of all heaven, earth, hades, hell, angels, governments, and all (Matthew 28:18).

God made Christ to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all things in all places.

The word fulness etymologically has a passive sense (Thayer), signifying that which is filled. This is a wonderful thought, The church is filled (not just allotted a sample) by Christ with blessings and salvation. The church is to be filled for Christ with holiness, service, and worship.

Note that there is only one head over the church, and that Christ is that head. He is head over all things to the churchits worship, its laws, its plan of salvation, its moral standards, etc. No pope, bishop, church council, convention, synod, prophet, preacher, or anyone else dares to rob Christ of any of the authority God gave to Him.

Note that the church is Christ's body. In the context here the principal suggestion is that Christ is the ruler (or head) over the church. He directs the church as a human head directs the body beneath it.

Christ has only one body, one church. Can you imagine a freak with one head, but a hundred bodies attached to the head? Surely such a monstrosity could not make any progress in any direction. Yet we must assume that such a monster exists today, if we assume that all the denominations are divine. Christ has only one church. (See Ephesians 4:4.)

There have been false applications made of the fact that the church is the body of Christ. It would be wrong to reason that since the church is the body of Christ, and is in a sense an extension of Christ Himself, that the church therefore exercises the authority of Christ on earth. This is the Roman Catholic position.

Ephesians 5:24 makes it very plain that the relationship of the body to the head is that of SUBJECTION. The church is subject to Christ the head in everything, and does not exercise authority for the head. The church cannot make laws for Christ. Neither can it accept nor reject any persons whom Christ has rejected or accepted.

Concerning the heavenly places, see note on Ephesians 1:3.

We ought to pray, as Paul did, that we ourselves and all our brethren may have the eyes of our heart enlightened about these things.

Fact Questions

78.

Name the four things God's power did for Christ.

79.

Why are these demonstrations of God's power in the life of Christ mentioned?

80.

What are the rule, authority, power, and dominion of Ephesians 1:21?

81.

What is the sense and meaning of the term fulness?

82.

What is the body of Christ?

83.

Who is the head of the church? Over what things in the church is He the head?

84.

Why does the fact that the church is the fulness and body of Christ not give it the authority of Christ on earth?

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

Ephesians 1:15-23

Old Testament

New Testament