EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:1 Introduction. Paul greets the believers in Ephesus (vv. Ephesians 1:1) and offers praise to God (vv. Ephesians 1:3). He expresses the letter’s two main themes: Christ has reconciled all of creation and has united the church in himself. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.g [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:3 In the original Greek, this section is one long, elegant sentence. Paul shows that the triune God began and completed reconciliation and redemption of the world for the praise of his glory. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=im... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:4 HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. God’s decision to redeem believers from sin and death was planned all along “in Christ.” HOLY AND BLAMELESS BEFORE HIM. Holiness here describes moral purity while blamelessness expresses the idea of freedom from g... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:5 PREDESTINED. Previously ordained or appointed. ADOPTION AS SONS. See v. Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:29. All Christians, male and female, are “sons” of God. They are all adopted heirs who will inherit blessings from their Father in heaven. ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:6 God’s ultimate purpose is the PRAISE of his glorious name through redemption (see vv. Ephesians 1:12, Ephesians 1:14). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:7 REDEMPTION means ransoming from captivity or slavery. The supreme OT example was the exodus, where God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt (see Deuteronomy 7:8; 2 Samuel 7:23). FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES. Christians are freed from slavery to sin and guilt by Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:9 In Scripture, MYSTERY refers to the revealing of something previously hidden (see note on Col. 1:26–27). The mystery of God’s will, now revealed IN CHRIST, is “to unite all things in him” (Ephesians 1:10; see also Ephesians 3:3). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:10 FULLNESS OF TIME. The time for the fulfillment of God’s plan. UNITE. God has reconciled all creation in Christ. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:11 HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE means being assured of eternal life. PREDESTINED. God is firmly in control of history. This is in sharp contrast with the pagan gods of the time, who were often viewed as inconsistent or unable to act. WHO WORKS ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO TH... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:12 PRAISE. See note on v. 6. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:13 SEALED may mean that the Holy Spirit protects and preserves Christians until they receive their inheritance (see Ephesians 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Revelation 7:2). It could also mean the Spirit “certifies” them as genuine believers; they bear the “royal seal” (see... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:15 Paul’s Prayer of Thanksgiving. This section, like vv. Ephesians 1:3, is a single sentence in the original Greek. Paul prays that the church will gain deep insight into the Lord’s powerful working and rich gifts in Christ. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTag... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:16 DO NOT CEASE... IN MY PRAYERS. See note on 6:18. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:17 To name THE FATHER OF GLORY as THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST is not to deny Christ’s deity. Rather, it affirms Christ’s true humanity. SPIRIT OF WISDOM refers to the Holy Spirit giving Christians insights into God’s Word and saving KNOWLEDGE OF HIM (see 1 Corinthi... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:18 Paul prays that believers will understand the blessings that are theirs in Christ: (1) their future HOPE; (2) God’s INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS; and (3) their “power” in Christ. The “inheritance” here is not the Christian’s inheritance; it is HIS (God’s). God looks for... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:22 PUT ALL THINGS. Paul quotes Psalms 8:6 as being fulfilled by Christ’s authority over all creation and as head over the church. HEAD. See note on 1 Cor. 11:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 1:23 Christ has so identified himself with his church that it is called his BODY—in much the same way that husband and wife are “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; see note on Eph. 5:28–30). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length,... [ Continue Reading ]