Frameworks:
Ephesians chapter 1
Why
Read Ephesians:
The simple answer is that Ephesians contains some of the most
subline theology written by Paul. In chapter
1, verses
4-12 stand out with their descriptions of what Christ has done
for us, every verse need chewing over (that's meditation). Indeed
verses 17 to 21 set goals for us in the Christian life. In chapter
2 the
contrast between what were once were (v.1-3) and what and where
we now are (v.4-10) should, we suggest, evoke praise and thanksgiving
in us. In chapter
3 there
is the revelation of what had been a mystery, that Christ was
for the whole world, Jew and Gentile; it is all-embracing.
In that same chapter, verses 16-19 is another goal setting passage.
This is expounded in chapter
4 when
he talks of the ‘body of Christ' with the famous verses 11-13
and the gifts of ministries to equip and build the rest of the
church to do the work of Christ. From verse 22 to the end of the
chapter and into chapter
5 are
clear ‘out-off' and ‘put-on' guidelines about what is and what
is not acceptable in the Christian life, concluding with what
consider contentious teaching about attitudes within families
but which simply need greater understanding and more care in reading.
In chapter
6 , the
famous armour of God teaching is a must to understand the basics
of spiritual warfare. As a book it is essential reading for every
believer. Rather than say read it
at one sitting, we would suggest read two chapters at a time –
slowly, making notes of the gems that stand out to you.
FRAMEWORKS:
Ephesians 1
In
this ‘Framework' we use our usual text PLUS comment style to enable
you, as simply as possible, to catch the sense of his writing.
For the alternative 'light-weight' paraphrase version of this
chapter, please CLICK
HERE
[Note:
Bible verse
numbers and chapter divisions first appeared in the 1400's and
1500's. Mostly in our modern translations these numbers come at
the beginning of a sentence but sometimes, as in parts of this
letter from Paul, sentences flow over several verses. Where that
happens we have omitted the numbers within the sentence for clarity
sake, but it does mean there are a number of very long passages
in this letter. We should also note that sometimes (not in this
letter) because of occasional uncertainties, a verse may appear
missing.]
[Chapter
Synopsis: In this first chapter Paul greets the Ephesians
with a reminder of what God has done for us, having chosen us
from before the world began with a salvation that is now being
worked out in us, and for this he continually gives thanks for
them]
v.1-2
Greetings
v.3-14
The Wonders of what Christ has done for us
v.15-23
Thanksgiving and Prayer
v.1-2
Greetings
v.1
(Paul, Christ's
apostle by God's will to the faithful saints in Ephesus)
Paul,
an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people
in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
v.
2 (receive
grace and peace from the Godhead) Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
v.3-14
The Wonders of what Christ has done for us
[Passage
Synopsis: All
God's blessing come to us through Christ, having been chosen by
Him before the world began (when He saw how we would respond to
the gospel) to become His children, holy & blameless, having
been redeemed (forgiven through the work of Christ on the Cross),
and indwelt by His Spirit, all in accordance with His pre-Creation
plan]
v.3
(praise God
who has blessed us with so much in Christ) Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
v.4-6
(He chose who
we would be before the foundation of the world) For
he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy
and blameless in his sight. In love
he
predestined us for adoption to sonship through
Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the
praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in
the One he loves.
v.7-10
(Christ's act
on the Cross provided redemption & forgiveness & abundant
grace for us) In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace that
he lavished on us. (He
revealed the long-held mystery of Christ now revealed)
With all wisdom and understanding, he
made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good
pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when
the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things
in heaven and on earth under Christ.
v.11,12
(He looked into
the future and saw who would believe and said, “They're mine!”)
In
him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the
purpose of his will, in
order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might
be for the praise of his glory.
v.13,14
(This includes
you, once you believed and received His Holy Spirit, a guarantee
to carry us to the end) And
you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of
truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were
marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who
is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption
of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
[Note:
For details of the ‘mystery' of Christ hidden for centuries, see
the meditation series “Focus on Christ” on the daily meditations
section of this site. There is, of course, also more about it
in Ch.3]
v.15-23
Thanksgiving and Prayer
[Passage
Synopsis: hearing
how they responded to the gospel, every time he has prayed for
them he has thanked God for them, and has asked for them to be
able to know Him better by the Spirit, who will open their eyes
to the wonder of who they have become]
v.15
(it's because
of this…) For
this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all God's people,
v.16
(I thank God
all the time for you) I
have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my
prayers.
v.17
(and I keep
asking Him to give you more and more understanding of your faith
in order to know Him better) I
keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that
you may know him better.
v.18-21
(I
ask that you can see and be assured about your future [that goes
on for ever] as well as your present resources, including the
power he used to raise and exalt Christ) I
pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that
you may know the hope to which he has called
you, the riches of his glorious inheritance
in his holy people, and
his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when
he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power
and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the
present age but also in the one to come.
v.22,23
(so Christ is
now ruling at the Father's right hand in order to bless the church)
And
God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head
over everything for the church, which
is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every
way.
(CONTINUE
to CHAPTER 2)