LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS. Compiled By Donald Townsley

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS Compiled By Donald Townsley

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS INTRODUCTION: 1. The beginning of the church at Ephesus: LESSON ONE (1) Paul's first visit was brief, at the closing portion of his second journey (A.D. 53) -- Acts 18: 18-21. (2) At this time he left Priscilla and Aquila (their work is recorded in Acts 18: 18-21). (3) Paul returned on his third journey ( Acts 19: 1-20:1). 1. He spent three years preaching here ( Acts 20:31). (4) On the return of the third journey, at Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church and addressed them ( Acts 20: 17-38). This was 58 A. D. 2. In 64 A.D. Timothy was "located" with this congregation ( I Tim. 1:3). He was located with Ephesus about four years ( I Timothy was written about 64 A. D., and Timothy stayed until Paul sent for him in 68 A. D. ( 2 Tim. 4:9). 3. In 96 A. D. Jesus Himself wrote a letter to this church by John (Rev. 2: 1-7). (1) At this time the church was about forty (40) years old. (2) The church, at this time, had left its first love (Rev. 2:4). 4. The city of Ephesus: (1) Location: 1. Situated in Asia Minor, on the west coast. 2. It lay at the mouth of the river Cayster, and a mile from the Aegean Sea. (2) On of the greatest seaports of the ancient world. (3) It was a city of great commercial importance. (4) It was a city of greatest political importance. 1. It was what was known as a "free city". 2. Rome had granted to it the right of self-government within its own limits. (5) It was a city of the greatest religious importance. 1. Its greatest glory was the temple of Diana ( Acts 19: 26-27). 2. This temple was one of the seven wonders of the world. (6) The character of the people was notoriously bad. 2

I. THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER 1. This letter falls into two divisions: (1) The first three chapters are a study of Christ and the church in the eternal purpose of God. (2) The last three chapters deal with the duties of Christians -- practical teaching. 2. A Quick Look at the First Three Chapters: (1) Greeting: Eph. 1: 1-2 (2) God's eternal purpose for human redemption in Christ and in the church (Eph. 1: 3-23). (3) Once dead in trespasses and sins, now alive with Christ (Eph. 2: 1-10). (4) The scheme of redemption for all humanity provides for no distinction between Jew and Gentile in the body of Christ ( Eph. 2: 11-22). (5) The revelation of the mystery of God's plan for the Gentiles (Eph. 3: 1-21). 3. A Quick Look at the Last Three Chapters: (1) The church -- its unity and growth (Eph. 4: 1-16). (2) The Christian -- his character and behavior in Christ. 1. Putting off the old man, no longer walking as the Gentiles walk (Eph. 4: 17-32). 2. Walking in love, as an imitator of God (Eph. 5: 1-2). 3. Warning against many sins (Eph. 5: 3-14). 4. Walking wisely, redeeming the time (Eph. 5: 15-21). 5. The husband and wife relationship a type of the union of Christ and His church (Eph. 5: 22-33). 6. The relationship of parents and children (Eph. 6: 1-4). 7. Slave and master (Eph. 6: 5-9). 8. The whole armor of God and the fight against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6: 10-20). 9. Conclusion: Eph. 6: 21-24 1. Tychicus sent (Eph. 6: 21-22). 2. Blessing -- (Eph. 6: 23-24). 3

QUESTIONS ON THE INTRODUCTION AND CONTENTS OF THE LETTER 1. When did Paul first visit Ephesus? 2. Who did Paul leave at Ephesus on his first visit? and 3. How long did Paul spend in Ephesus on his third journey? 4. On the return of the third journey, where was Paul when he called for the elders at Ephesus? 5. How many years was Timothy "located" with the church at Ephesus? 6. How old was the church at Ephesus when Jesus wrote them a letter by John? 7. What did Jesus say was wrong with the church at this time? 8. Where was the city of Ephesus located? 9. Why was Ephesus a city of great political importance? 10. Why was Ephesus a city of great religious importance? 11. How many divisions does the Ephesian letter fall into? 12. What are the first three chapters a study of? 13. What is discussed in the last three chapters? 14. Who was the Ephesian letter addressed to? and 15. Is there any distinction between the "saints" and "the faithful" in verse one? 16. What does "saint" mean? 17. What does it mean to be "faithful in Christ"? 18. What does the word "grace" mean? 4

19. What is the theme of chapter one? 20. Is there now any distinction between Jew and Gentile? 21. What is the theme of chapter three? 22. What is discussed in the first sixteen verses of Ephesians 4? 23. What is discussed in the last half of Ephesians 4? 24. What is discussed in chapter five? 25. What is discussed in chapter six? 5

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS LESSON TWO I. THE DISTINCTIVE THEMES OF THE BOOK 1. The general theme of the book is Christ and the church. 2. In the book of Ephesians the church is set forth as: (1) The body of Christ (1: 22-23). (2) The temple of God (2: 19-22). (3) The household of God or family of God (2:19). (4) Fellow citizens or Kingdom of Christ (2:19). (5) The bride of Christ (5: 22-32). (6) The church, which is His body, is the fullness of Christ (1: 22-23). 3. The Ephesian letter sets forth seven "walks" ("walk" denotes a cause of conduct, or way of life): (1) "In time past ye walked according to the course of this world" (2:2). (2) Walk in good works (2:10). (3) "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (4:1). (4) "Walk not... in the vanity of mind" (4:17) (5) "Walk in love" (5:2) (6) "Walk as children of light" (5:8). (7) "Walk circumspectly" (5:15). 4. In the Ephesian letter, the expression "in Christ" is used over and over: 1. (1) Eph. 1:1 (2) Eph. 1:3 (3) Eph. 1:4 (4) Eph. 1:7 (5) Eph. 1:9 (6) Eph. 1:10 (7) Eph. 1:20 (8) Eph. 2:10 (9) Eph. 2:13 (10) Eph. 2:21 (11) Eph. 2:22 (12) Eph. 3:6 6

(13) Eph. 3:11 (14) Eph. 3:12 2. The expression "in Christ" as it is commonly used, denotes relationship; to be "in Christ" (Eph. 2:13) is to be in the spiritual body of Christ, the church (Eph. 2:16). 5. The expression "heavenly places" is an expression used only in Ephesians. (1) Eph. 1:3 (2) Eph. 1:20 (3) Eph. 2:6 (4) Eph. 3: 10-11 (5) Eph. 6:12 (NKJV and ASV). 6. Passages that show the necessity of praising God: (1) Eph. 1:6 (2) Eph. 1:12 (3) Eph. 1:14 (4) Eph. 3:21 (5) Eph. 5: 19-20 7. The subject of unity. (1) The distinction and enmity between Jew and Gentile destroyed by the death of Christ (Eph. 2:15). (2) "Reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross," (Eph. 2:16) (3) "Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Eph. 2:18). (4) The temper in which unity is to be achieved and maintained (Eph. 4:1-3). (5) The basis upon which unity rests (Eph. 4: 4-6): 1. One body -- one church (Eph. 1: 22-23). 2. One Spirit -- the Holy Spirit; one giver of revelation (Eph. 3:5). 3. One hope -- The hope we have because of our calling (Eph. 4:1); Our desire and expectation is heaven (John 14: 1-6). 4. One Lord -- The Christ, the head of the church (Eph. 1: 22-23); one lawgiver (James 4: 12). 5. One Faith -- one system of salvation; one body of revelation -- the gospel. 6. One Baptism: (1) One element -- water (Acts 10: 47; 8: 36-39). (2) One authority -- Christ ( Acts 2: 38; Matt. 28: 18-19) 7

(3) One action -- immersion, a burial ( Rom. 6: 3, 4; Acts 8; 38-39). (4) One design -- the salvation of the soul ( Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:27; 2 Tim. 2:10). 7. One God and Father of all: (1) The author of every spiritual blessing (1:3). 1. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17) (2) He is the object of worship (John 4:24). (3) The Father "is above all" (Eph. 4:6. He is in control. (4) He is "through all"; no barriers limit His power. (5) He is "in you all" -- He dwells in His people (Eph. 2:22; 2 Cor. 6:16) by faith (Eph. 3:17). QUESTIONS ON "THE DISTINCTIVE THEMES OF THE BOOK" 1. What is the general theme of the book of Ephesians? 2. List the different ways the church is set forth in the book of Ephesians. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 3. List the seven "walks" of the Ephesians: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) 8

(7) 4. What does the expression "in Christ" mean? 5. Is the expression "heavenly places" used anywhere else in the New Testament besides Ephesians? 6. Is the praise of God emphasized in the Ephesian letter? 7. In what are both Jew and Gentile reconciled unto God? 8. What is to be the temper of mind in which unity can be achieved and maintained? 9. Name the seven bases upon which unity rests: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) 9

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS EPHESIANS CHAPTER ONE LESSON THREE 1. Who wrote the Ephesian letter? 2. What does the word "apostle" mean? 3. Paul was an apostle by whose will? 4. Is this letter addressed only to the people at Ephesus? 5. What does the phrase "heavenly places" (verse 3) refer to? 6. Name the spiritual blessings which God has blessed us with in Christ (1: 3-14): (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) 7. Define the word "saint": 8. Define the word "grace": 9. Are there any spiritual blessings outside of Christ? 10. Were we "chosen" as individuals before the foundation of the world as the Calvinists teach? 10

11. Give scriptural reasons why God did not "choose" and "predestinate" certain individuals to go to heaven and other to go to hell: 12. Did God choose us as individuals or as a class of people? 13. What class of people did God choose to be His people? 14. What does "foreordain" or "predestinate" mean? 15. What does "redemption" mean? 16. In whom do we have the "forgiveness of sins"? 17. Why is God's will called a mystery? 18. What does the word "heritage" or "inheritance" mean? 19. In verse 13 what two things did the Ephesians do before they were "sealed" by the Holy Spirit? The word "believed" many times includes obedience in the New Testament: (1) John 3:36 (read ASV) (2) Rom. 13:11 (3) Acts 13: 38-39 (4) Acts 13:12 (5) Acts 16:34 (6) Acts 17:12 20. How is the word "believed" used in verse 13; in a generic or specific sense? 11

21. What does "earnest" mean? 22. What two things had Paul heard about the Ephesians? 23. What did Paul pray for on behalf of the Ephesians (1: 16-21) 24. Where is Christ now sitting? 25. What example does Paul use to show the greatness of God's power toward His children? 26. What does the expression "hath put all things under his feet" mean? 27. Who is the head of the church? 28. Over what things in the church is Christ head? 29. Does the church have two heads? 30. What does the fact that the church is the "fulness" of Christ mean? 31. Is the church and the body one and the same? 32. What does the word "church" mean? 33. What is the body of Christ? 12

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS EPHESIANS CHAPTER TWO LESSON FOUR 1. What does "quickened" (KJV) mean? 2. Were the Ephesians dead because of some "original sin" or because they had done something wrong themselves? 3. When were they made alive after being dead in trespasses and sins? (Col. 2: 11-13) 4. What does it mean to walk "according to the course of this world"? 5. Who is the "prince of the power of the air"? 6. List all the names you can find that Satan is called in the New Testament: 7. Who are the "children of disobedience"? 8. What kind of spirit worked in children of disobedience? 9. How were these people "by nature" the children of wrath? 10. In verse three, what two desires do the "children of wrath" fulfill? 11. What is God rich in? 12. In verse five, how did Paul say they were quickened or made alive? 13. What does "heavenly places" refer to in verse 6? 13

14. What would God show "in the ages to come"? 15. In verse eight, how does Paul say we are saved? 16. Whose part is grace in man's salvation? 17. Whose part is faith in man's salvation? 18. What kind of "works" is verse 9 talking about? 19. How is God's love for us described? (verse 4) 20. Look up the different ways the word "works" is used in the New Testament: 21. Whose "workmanship" are Christians? 22. For what purpose were they created in Christ Jesus? 23. What was the condition of the Gentile in time past? 24. How is the Gentile, who was "far off", made nigh? 25. What was broken down that was between Jew and Gentile? 26. How was the law abolished? 27. How are both Jew and Gentile reconciled unto God? 14

28. How can Christ be said to have preached to the Ephesians? 29. How do both Jew and Gentile have access unto the Father? (verse 18) 30. The Gentiles that were in Christ were no more strangers and foreigners, but " ". 31. What is built upon the "foundation" of the apostles and prophets? 32. What is the purpose of a "chief cornerstone"? 33. What are the "walls" which are united by the chief cornerstone? 34. What is the church called in verse 21? 35. How does God inhabit His temple? 15

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS EPHESIANS CHAPTER THREE LESSON FIVE 1. Of whom was Paul a prisoner? 2. Read the 21st chapter of the book of Acts and briefly tell of Paul's arrest: 3. What does the word "dispensation" as it is used in verse two (2) mean? 4. Who does the word "you-ward" refer to in verse two (2)? 5. How did Paul get the message that he preached? 6. What does the word "revelation" mean? 7. What does the word "mystery" mean? 8. What must we do to have the same understanding of the will of God that Paul had? 9. To what two groups of men has God revealed the mystery of Christ? 10. According to verse 6, do the Gentiles have the same standing in the gospel that the Jew does? 11. According to verses 7 and 8, was Paul self-chosen for the work of revealing and preaching among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ? (Also read Acts 9:15; Gal. 2:7; Rom. 11:13). 12. What was Paul to make all men see according to verse 9? 16

13. According to verse 10, what does the church make known? 14. Was the church according to the eternal purpose of God? 15. In whom can we have boldness in approaching the Father? 16. Was Paul more concerned about himself, or about his brethren? 17. Does "for this cause" in verse 14 go back to Eph. 2: 11-22 and refer to the glorious fact that the Gentiles are now accepted as fellow-citizens and are made into one temple of God with the Jews? 18. Does the Spirit strengthen the inner man apart from the word of God? 19. List some passages that show the Spirit imparts strength to the inner man by the word: 20. What is the "inner man"? 21. How does Christ dwell in our hearts? 22. Being rooted and grounded in love comes as a result of what? 23. How does Paul describe the love of Christ? 24. What is God able to do? 25. Unto God be glory in by. 17

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS EPHESIANS CHAPTER FOUR LESSON SIX 1. Paul said he was whose prisoner? 2. How were the Ephesians to walk? 3. What type of life is "worthy of the calling"? 4. By what are we called? (2 Thess. 2:14) 5. Should a Christian have an attitude of superiority? 6. What kind of attitude should a Christian have? 7. What does "forbearing one another in love" mean? 8. Define: (1) Lowliness - (2) Meekness - (3) Longsuffering - 9. Do Christians have to work to have unity? 10. What does the word "endeavoring" mean? 11. What does the word "unity" mean? 12. Can we have unity without peace? 13. Describe the kind of unity indicated by the phrase "unity of the Spirit": 14. Is it necessary to invent methods of achieving unity? 15. In what "bond" are we to keep the unity of the Spirit? 18

16. What is the "one body"? 17. What has the one Spirit given us by the apostles and prophets? 18. What is the "one hope"? 19. Who is the "one Lord"? 20. What is the "one faith"? 21. Why cannot the "one baptism" be Holy Spirit baptism? 22. Who is "above all, and through all, and in you all"? 23. Who has "ascended up on high"? 24. When did Christ give "gifts unto men"? 25. What do the upright curves (parentheses) mean at the beginning of verse 9 and the end of verse 10? 26. Read verse 8; omit the parenthetical statement in verses 9 and 10; then read verse 11 and list what gifts Christ gave: 27. Name the five classes of teachers that Christ gave to be in the church in the beginning: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 28. Which of the teachers were temporary? Which were permanent? 19

29. Can one be a scriptural elder and not be able to teach? 30. What was the purpose of these gifts (or teachers)? (verse 12) 31. What was to be the duration of the gifts? (verses 13-14) 32. Will there ever be a time when all Christians have reached maturity? 33. How are we to speak the truth? 34. What is the difference in an evangelist and a pastor? 35. What is the gist of verse 16? 36. How were the Ephesians forbidden to walk? 37. Did God excuse the sins of the Gentiles committed in ignorance? 38. Who is the "old man"? 39. What had been done to the "old man"? 40. Who is the "new man"? 41. What is lying? 42. Can one be angry and not sin? 43. To whom are we not to "give place to"? 44. Are we to help those in need? 45. How are we to get our money? 46. What kind of communication is not to come out of our mouths? 20

47. How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? 48. What are we to put away from us? (verse 31) 49. How are we to treat one another? 21

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS EPHESIANS CHAPTER FIVE LESSON SIX 1. The Ephesians were to be followers of whom? 2. What does it mean to "walk in love"? 3. What did Christ do for us because He loved us? 4. Define the word "fornication" : 5. What is "coarse jesting" (NKJV)? 6. Paul said that a covetous man is an. 7. Can people who live in sin go to heaven? 8. Those who would argue in defense of immoral practices are said to use what kind of words? 9. Upon whom will the wrath of God come? 10. What is the warning in verse 7? 11. Before they were "light in the Lord", they were what? 12. What kind of fruit does the Spirit bear in the life of a Christian? 13. What are Christians to have no fellowship with? 22

14. What are Christians to do to the unfruitful works of darkness? 15. What did Paul say about things which were done in secret? 16. What manifests the true nature of sin? 17. How are Christians to walk? 18. What are Christians to do with "the time"? 19. Can man understand the will of the Lord? 20. With what are we to be filled, rather than being filled with wine? 21. What kind of music is authorized in verse 19? 22. What kind of songs are we to sing in worship? 23. With what are we to sing and make melody? 24. To whom are we to give thanks? 25. In whose name are we to pray to God? 26. Are wives to submit to their husbands? 27. Who is the head in the marriage relationship? 28. Who is the head of the church? 29. Can one be saved outside the body of Christ? 30. Is the church subject to Christ in everything? 31. How are husbands to love their wives? 32. How is the church sanctified and cleansed? 33. What is the church not to have when it is presented to Christ? 23

34. Are husbands to love their wives as their own bodies? 35. What two things does a man do for his own flesh that he should do for his wife? 36. In marriage are husbands and wives "one flesh"? 37. Are Christ and the church one? 38. What does Paul mean when he says that the wife is to "reverence" her husband? 24

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX LESSON SEVEN 1. What does "obey... in the Lord" mean? 2. Children are to obey their parents for this is. 3. Does the command to "Honor thy father and mother" include taking care of them in old age? (Read Matt. 15:44; I Tim. 5:4) 4. What is the two-fold promise to those who obey their parents? (1) (2) 5. Discuss how obedience to parents makes it "well" with the child throughout life : 6. What are fathers told not to do concerning their children? (also reach Col. 3:21). 7. How are fathers to bring up their children? 8. Be prepared to discuss in class the instruction of children: (1) "From a child" - 2 Tim. 3:15 (2) Gradually - Deut. 6: 6-9 (3) Lovingly, without favor - (Esau and Jacob - Gen. 25: 28) (4) Prayerfully 25

9. Be prepared to discuss the discipline of children in light of these passages: Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; Heb. 12: 9-10; Prov. 15:1; Prov. 13: 24; Prov. 19:18; Prov. 22:15. 10. What are servants in Ephesians 6:5? 11. Who was the servant serving when he served his master well? 12. What is "eyeservice, as men-pleasers"? 13. They were to do the will of God. 14. Who will reward the "good thing any man doeth"? 15. What was to be the servant's attitude in rendering his service according to verse 7? 16. How were masters to act toward their servants? 17. Where do Christians get their strength? 18. For the Christians to have strength to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, what must he put on? 19. Can the Christian oppose evil by his own strength? 20. What are "the wiles of the devil"? 21. Who are Christians wrestling against? 22. Is this battle with the devil and his agents a constant battle? 26

23. According to verse 13, why should a Christian put on the whole armor of God? 24. Must a Christian take a stand for truth and right, and stand at all cost against the wiles of the devil? 25. Describe the whole armor of God that the Christian is to put on: 26. What is the only weapon the Christian is to fight with? 27. Does the sword denote a struggle at close contact with the enemy? 28. For the Christians is to win victory over the devil, he must put on the whole armor of God and constantly (verse 18-19): 29. What is the meaning of the word "ambassador"? 30. Who are the "ambassadors" for Christ? 31. How are we to love Jesus Christ? (verse 24) (The material for these lessons and questions were gleaned from many sources. No originality is claimed. Compiled by Donald Townsley) 27