How does Paul announce the theme of his letter? Ephesians 1:9-10.

How can the message of Ephesians be summarized? From prison, Paul sets forth a vision of God’s Christ-centered plan for the fullness of time and the church’s role in it.

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God has acted in Christ to initiate His plan “to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10, ESV), and He did so by creating the church as an entity composed of one new humanity of both Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14). Believers are called to act in concert with this divine plan, signaling to the evil powers that God’s ultimate purpose is underway (Ephesians 3:10).

As Ephesians 1:9-10,  proclaims, the unity God has in mind is centered in Christ. So it is no surprise to discover that Ephesians is a Christ-drenched letter that everywhere praises the actions of God in Christ and celebrates the access of believers to the spiritual resources offered them in Christ. Paul employs the phrase “in Christ” and similar phrases more than thirty times, and everywhere lifts up Jesus. As you read the letter, watch for these phrases and stay alert to the many ways Paul focuses on Jesus.

Paul seeks to reignite the spiritual commitment of believers in Ephesus by reminding them that they are part of the church, which is at the heart of God’s plan to unify all things in Christ. When he uses the word “church” (Greek, ekkl�”sia) in the letter, he means the “universal” church or the church at large (rather than a local congregation).

A principal strategy he uses is to talk about the church, and he does so using vivid metaphors, four of which he develops in some detail:

1. The church as a body (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:1-16, Ephesians 4:25; Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 5:29-30).
2. The church as a building/temple (Ephesians 2:19-22).
3. The church as a bride (Ephesians 5:22-27).
4. The church as an army (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Each one of these images, in its own way, reveals what God’s purpose and intention for His church is.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this quarter’s author, , as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYKLlTsOmkQ&w=560&h=315]

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You can view an in-depth discussion of Paul and the Ephesians in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQvlt8k9Tg]

With thanks to

Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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How does Paul begin and end his letter to the believers in Ephesus? What do we learn about his deepest desires for them? See Ephesians 1:1-2; Ephesians 6:21-24.

At the outset of the letter, Paul identifies himself as the author (Ephesians 1:1). Near the middle of the letter, Paul again identifies himself by name, labeling himself “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles” (Ephesians 3:1, NKJV), which introduces a personal reflection on his work as an apostle (Ephesians 3:1-13).

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Near the end of the letter, he again refers to his imprisonment (Ephesians 6:20) and concludes with personal words (Ephesians 6:21-22). While some scholars deny that the letter was written by Paul, it is important to note that the epistle clearly lays claim to Paul as its author. Most Christians accept, and rightly so, Paul as the author.

How does Paul worry about the effect his imprisonment will have on believers in Ephesus? See Ephesians 3:13.

Ephesians seems to share the same general timing and circumstances with other letters Paul writes from prison, Colossians (see esp. Colossians 4:7-8) and Philemon. Also, considerable time seems to have passed since Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:15; Ephesians 3:1-2). Paul probably composed Ephesians in a prison in Rome about A.D. 62.

In Ephesians, Paul offers few specifics about the situation of his audience in Ephesus. The scope of his attention is wide. He deals with a grand span of time, beginning with God’s decisions made “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), and reflects broadly on grand themes of God’s salvation offered in Christ. In doing so, the letter exhibits an exalted, literary style, with long sentences, repetitive expressions, and developed metaphors. Paul can use such a style elsewhere (e.g., Romans 8:31-39), but it is concentrated in Ephesians, which features a great deal of praise, prayer, and worship language (Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 3:14-21) and offers carefully crafted, highly rhetorical passages (e.g., Ephesians 4:1-16, Ephesians 5:21-33, Ephesians 6:10-20).

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

The Book of Ephesians

I am so happy we will be studying Ephesians, one of my favorite books of the Bible, this quarter. There are many things I love about the book. I love how Paul teaches in Ephesians 1:1-6 that we are accepted in the Beloved and destined by God’s grace to be formed in His image. I love how Ephesians 1:6 and Ephesians 2:6  brings out that we are justified in Christ and how Ephesians 3:14-21 teaches how we are sanctified by Christ being in us. I love how Ephesians 2:1-10 shows how grace saves us from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. I love how Ephesians Chapters 4-6 shows us the obedient lifestyle of a grace-filled Christian. I could go on and on, but you probably have your own favorite passages in Ephesians as well which brings me to my challenge for all of us this quarter.

Our weekly Sabbath School lessons are designed to explore different ideas in the book of Ephesians as well as covering those same ideas elsewhere in Scripture. This approach is very beneficial. I also believe since Paul wrote this book as a letter, He intended for it to be read verse by verse as  a whole and complete message within itself, just like we read a letter today.  Therefore I would like to encourage all my friends and fellow Bible students around the world to take some time to read the book of Ephesians from beginning to end just like when you receive a letter today or a personal e-mail. The book or letter is only six chapters and could be read in one sitting, but I do not want to encourage you to rush through. Take your time and let Paul’s ideas soak into your mind and heart. I appreciate how our lesson authors have divided the lesson topics, but I also believe a rich blessing is in store for those who read Ephesians verse by verse as a whole passage, just the way it was written. 

Will you join me in reading the entire book of Ephesians verse by verse from beginning to end this week? 

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