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 ‘cut-off' and ‘put-on' guidelines about what is and
what is not acceptable in the Christian life, concluding with
what some 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.
[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.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 more on the ‘mystery' of Christ see 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)