Paul likely wrote Ephesians around AD He was under house arrest in Rome at the

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 13: SURVEY OF PAUL S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK Section 1: The Human Author of the Book of Ephesians Paul (1:1; 3:1) Section 2: The Date and Setting of the Book of Ephesians Paul likely wrote Ephesians around AD He was under house arrest in Rome at the time he wrote the letter (3:1; 4:1; 6:20), but was able to receive visitors and preach without any restrictions (Acts 28:30-31). Paul also wrote Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon during this imprisonment. Ephesians has many similarities to Colossians, and the two were likely written extremely close together (see especially Ephesians 6:21-22 and Colossians 4:7-8). The cities of Ephesus and Colosse were about 100 miles apart. Paul s associate Tychicus carried the letter to Ephesus (6:21-22). Tychicus may have delivered Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon on the same trip. Ephesus was a center of commerce on the western shore of Asia, as well as a religious city (Acts 19:35). Paul briefly visited Ephesus at the end of his second missionary journey (around AD 52), and reasoned with the Jews in the Synagogue there (Acts 18:19-21). He visited Ephesus again on his third missionary journey (AD 53-57) and stayed there for three years. God enabled Paul to work many miracles while in Ephesus (Acts 19:11-12), and many people gave up their pagan beliefs (Acts 19:18-19). Paul met with the leaders of the Ephesian church at the end of his third missionary journey as he was on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:17-38). After Paul left, Timothy pastored the church at Ephesus, during which Paul wrote two letters to him. Jesus later gave John a message for church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7). 351

2 Section 3: The Key Word in the Book of Ephesians Edification Section 4: The Theme and Purpose of the Book of Ephesians The theme of the book of Ephesians is the believer s responsibility to walk in accordance with his heavenly calling in Christ. The purpose of the book of Ephesians is twofold: 1. To make believers more aware of what is true because they are in Christ. 2. To encourage the body of Christ to mature in him. Section 5: The Outline of the Book of Ephesians 1. The Position of the Christian (Chapters 1-3) 2. The Practice of the Christian (Chapters 4-6) 352

3 PART 2: CONTENT OF THE BOOK Section 1: The Position of the Christian Ephesians 1: Introduction (1-2) a. Author Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God (1a). b. Recipients The saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ (1b). c. Greeting Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus (2). 2. Praise for Christ s Blessings (3-14) a. Every Spiritual Blessing in the heavenly places (3). b. Election We have been chosen for holiness before Christ and predestined for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (4-6). c. Redemption (7-10) i. Our sins are forgiven according to his lavish grace (7-8a). ii. We have the mystery of his will to unite all things in him (8b-10). d. Inheritance so that we might be to the praise of his glory (11-12). e. The Holy Spirit seals us and guarantees our inheritance (13-14). 3. Prayer for Christ s Believers (15-21) a. That God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him (15-17). b. That you may know your hope and inheritance (18). c. That you may know his power (19-23). i. He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above every name that is named (19-21). ii. He put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body (22-23). 353

4 Ephesians 2:1-22 Transitions in Christ 1. From Death to Life (1-10) a. Our Problem (1-3) i. We were dead in sin, following the course of this world (1-2). ii. We were by nature children of wrath (3). b. God s Provision (4-6) i. He made us alive together with Christ (4-5). ii. He raised us up with him and seated us with him (6). c. God s Purpose To show the immeasurable riches of his grace (7). d. God s Plan (8-10) i. To save us by his grace to prevent boasting (8-9). ii. To prepare us to do good works (10). 2. From Hostility to Unity (11-22) a. Our Past We were separated from Christ having no hope (11-12). b. Our Present You who were once far off have been brought near (13). c. Our Peace (14-17) i. Christ broke down hostility to create unity (14-15). ii. Christ reconciled Jews and Gentiles to each other and to God (16-17). d. Our Position (18-22) i. We have access to the Father (18). ii. We are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone (19-21). iii. We are being built into a dwelling place for the Spirit (22). 354

5 Ephesians 3:1-21 The Glorious Purposes of God 1. The Mystery of Christ (1-13) a. Revealed to Paul The stewardship of God s grace was given to Paul for the Gentiles (1-3). b. Revealed to Apostles and Prophets It had not been previously known (4-5). c. Explained to the Church Gentiles are fellow heirs, members, and partakers (6). d. Ministered by Paul (7-10) i. He was made a minister according to God s grace, to preach Christ to the Gentiles and explain the mystery of God (7-9). ii. This was so the wisdom of God could be known through the church (10). e. Purposed by God (11-13) i. According to God s eternal purpose in Christ (11-12). ii. Intended to give confidence in the purposes of Christ (12-13). 2. The Ministry of Prayer (14-21) a. Address The Father, from whom every family is named (14-15) b. Requests (16-19) i. That he may grant you to be strengthened through his Spirit (16). ii. That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (17a). iii. That you may have strength to comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge (17b-19a). iv. That you may be filled with all the fullness of God (19b). c. Doxology According to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations (20-21). 355

6 Section 2: The Practice of the Christian Ephesians 4:1-24 How to Walk Part 1 1. Walk Worthy Unity in the Body of Christ (1-16) a. The Call to Unity Walk with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit (1-3). b. The Hope of Unity One body and one Spirit one hope one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (4-6). c. The Provisions for Unity (7-16) i. Grace We received the grace of God as Christ descended to earth, accomplished our salvation, and ascended back to Heaven (7-10). ii. Gifts (11-14) 1. What Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers (11). 2. Why To equip saints for edification, unity, and maturity (12-14). iii. Growth Christlikeness is the health that makes the body grow (15-16). 2. Walk Differently Separation from Former Ways (17-24) a. The Way of the World (17-19) i. Walking in the futility of their minds (17). ii. Darkened in understanding, alienated from God due to ignorance (18). iii. Becoming callous, given to sensuality, greedy of impurity (19). b. The Way of Christ (20-24) i. Put off the old self The truth of Christ overcomes our deceitful desires (20-22). ii. Be renewed in your minds (23). iii. Put on the new self godliness, righteousness, and holiness (24). 356

7 Ephesians 4:25 5:21 How to Walk Part 2 1. Walk in the Work of Christ (4:25-32) a. Speak truth; give no opportunity to the devil through unrighteous anger (25-27). b. Work to share instead of to steal; speak edification, not corruption (28-29). c. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who seals you (30). d. Trade bitterness, wrath, and slander for kindness and forgiveness (31-32). 2. Walk in the Love of Christ Imitate God s sacrificial love for his children (5:1-2). 3. Walk in the Light of Christ (5:3-14) a. Be Thankful Contentment in Christ eliminates the need to seek satisfaction from what is immoral, impure, covetous, filthy, foolish, and crude (3-5). b. Be Discerning (6-14) i. Do not be deceived by empty words (6). ii. Do not partner with disobedience We have been transformed from darkness to light to do what pleases the Lord (7-10). iii. Expose the works of darkness They are unfruitful and shameful, and need to be seen for what they are (11-14). 4. Walk in the Wisdom of Christ (5:15-21) a. Prioritize God s will Walk wisely, make the best use of your time, and understand the will of God (15-17). b. Prioritize God s Spirit (18-21). i. Address one another worshipfully (18-19). ii. Give thanks to God (20). iii. Submit to one another (21). 357

8 Ephesians 5:22 6:9 Relationships 1. Marriage (5:22-33) a. Wives Submit to husbands as the church submits to Christ as the head of the body (22-24). b. Husbands Love your wives (25-30). i. As Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her [and] present the church to himself in splendor (25-27). ii. As your own body, not hating it, but nourishing and cherishing it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body (28-30). c. Foundations (31-33) i. The Permanence of Marriage Leave parents and unite to a spouse (31). ii. The Profoundness of Marriage Refers to Christ and the church (32). iii. The Priorities of Marriage Husband: Love; Wife: Respect (33). 2. Parenting (6:1-4) a. Children (1-3) i. Obey your parents in the Lord (1). ii. Honor your parents that it may go well with you (2-3; see Ex. 20:12). b. Parents Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (4). 3. Service (6:5-9) a. Servants (5-8) i. Obey masters as obeying Christ in the will of God (5-6). ii. Work to serve the Lord rather than man to receive a lasting reward (7-8). b. Masters Imitate the impartiality of Christ (9). 358

9 Ephesians 6:10-24 Stand for Battle 1. Warfare (10-20) a. Our Admonitions Be strong, put on the whole armor of God, and stand firm against evil (10, 11a, 13). b. Our Adversaries The schemes of the devil; the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, spiritual forces of evil (11b-12). c. Our Armor (14-17) i. Fasten the belt of truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness (14). ii. As shoes put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace (15). iii. Take up the shield of faith (16). iv. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (17). d. Our Access Prayer (18-20) i. For all the saints, at all times, with all perseverance (18). ii. For Paul to proclaim the gospel boldly (19-20). 2. Wishes (21-24) a. Knowledge and encouragement (21-22) b. Peace, love, faith, and grace (23-24) 359

10 PART 3: CONCLUSIONS TO THE BOOK Section 1: Interesting Features of the Book of Ephesians 1. Ephesians does not address any particular doctrinal errors or false teaching. 2. There are no commands given in the first three chapters of Ephesians, which describe the blessings of those in Christ. There are about 35 commands in the last three chapters. 3. Ephesians gives more information about the church being the body of Christ than any of Paul s other letters (see 1:22; 3:1-13; 4:7-16; 5:23). 4. Ephesians has many similarities to the book of Colossians. Ephesians has 155 verses, 78 of which have similarities to phrases in Colossians. 5. The phrase in Christ (or equivalent phrases) is used about 35 times in Ephesians, more frequently than any other book in the New Testament. Section 2: Truths to Apply from Ephesians 1. Salvation is received through faith in Christ alone, apart from human effort (2:8-9). 2. We are saved to do good works (2:10). 3. God is worthy of our praise for his ability to do more than we can ask or think (3:20-21). 4. Every Christian is a minister (4:11-12). 5. We should live differently after salvation than before salvation (4:17-24). 6. Being controlled by the Holy Spirit is necessary to accomplish the will of God (5:18-21). 7. Salvation transforms every relationship (5:22 6:9). 8. Put on the armor of God prayerfully to stand against evil in the world (6:10-20). 360