Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians
This
letter
to
the
Ephesians
did
not
address
any
particular
problem
in
the
church,
but
was
written
to
give
Paul’s
readers
a
deeper
understanding
of
God’s
eternal
purpose
and
grace
by
means
of
a
revealed
mystery,
and
of
the
high
standards
God
has
for
the
church.
Considered to be intended as a circular letter, it was written from his house arrest in Rome around A.D. 60.
God’s purpose in Christ
[Eph 1-3]
Spiritual blessings in Christ; A prayer
[Eph 1]
Following
a
brief
greeting,
Paul
speaks
of
God’s
blessings
in
Christ:
that
he
chose
us,
adopted
us
as
children,
brought
us
redemption
and
the
forgiveness
of
sins,
and
has
made
known
the
mystery
of
his
will,
that
in
the
fullness
of
time
we
will
receive
our
inheritance,
having the gift of his Spirit in our lives. All this is given unto the praise of his glory.
Paul
tells
of
how
he
always
gives
thanks
for
them,
mentioning
them
in
his
prayers
that
they
may
know
the
hope
of
God’s
calling,
understand
the
riches
of
their
inheritance,
know
the
power
of
God
in
their
lives,
and
the
power
that
resurrected
Christ
and
made
him
Lord over all things.
Salvation of individuals by grace; One in Christ
[Eph 2]
God’s
purpose
is
fulfilled
by
first
reconciling
individuals
to
himself.
We
were
dead
in
sin
and
lived
according
to
the
ways
of
the
evil
one,
but God’s love and grace give us a new life in Christ. We are saved through faith to do the good works God called us to do.
Secondly,
individuals
are
reconciled
to
one
another,
the
barriers
between
Jews
and
Gentiles
having
been
broken
down
through
Christ’s death. We have peace in Christ and with one another now we are all one in Christ, having access to God through one Spirit.
The ‘mystery’ revealed; A second prayer
[Eph 3]
The
mystery
Paul
spoke
briefly
of
earlier,
given
to
him
by
Christ
and
not
previously
known
by
man,
is
that
the
Gentiles
will
be
fellow
heirs, along with the Jews, all of the same body and partakers of God’s promise in Christ.
Paul’s
second
prayer
is
that
his
readers
be
strengthened
by
the
Holy
Spirit
in
them
and,
being
rooted
and
grounded
in
love,
be
able
to comprehend the depth of Christ’s love and be filled with all the fullness of God.
God’s purpose manifest in the Christian’s daily life
[Eph 4-6]
Towards maturity in the Spirit
[Eph 4]
Paul
calls
the
church
to
maintain
the
unity
that
the
Spirit
brings
to
the
church.
The
differing
gifts
of
the
Spirit
are
to
develop
maturity
in
the
saints,
preparing
them
for
ministry
and
for
building
up
the
whole
body
of
the
church
in
love.
The
old
way
of
life,
when
they
were
alienated
from
God,
is
put
aside
for
a
new
life
in
Christ.
The
evil
things
of
the
Devil,
such
as
all
manner
of
lasciviousness,
greed,
dishonesty
and
anger,
are
replaced
by
a
new
nature
that
is
the
renewal
of
the
mind
by
the
Spirit,
manifest
in
holiness,
love
and
forgiveness.
Renewal of personal life; Relationships; The armour of God
[Eph 5-6]
Do
not
be
deceived
by
false
teaching,
for
those
who
live
in
any
of
the
ways
of
the
old
self
will
not
have
inheritance
in
the
kingdom
of
God.
Walk
as
children
of
light
in
all
goodness,
righteousness
and
truth,
having
no
fellowship
with
the
disobedient,
but
rather
reprove
them
by
the
example
of
your
own
lives.
Constantly
give
praise
to
God,
thanking
him
for
all
things,
and
submitting
yourselves
to
one
another in fear of him.
The
relationship
between
husbands
and
wives
is
to
reflect
that
of
Christ
and
his
church.
Children
must
honour
their
parents
and
parents
must
nurture
their
children
in
the
ways
of
the
Lord.
Servants
should
serve
knowing
that
Christ
came
to
serve,
and
masters
should remember they have a Master in heaven that is no respecter of persons.
Finally,
we
are
to
be
strong
in
the
Lord
as
our
real
enemy
is
not
flesh
and
blood
but
the
influence
of
the
evil
one.
It
is
a
spiritual
conflict
in
which
we
must
use
all
the
armour
that
God
provides,
which
includes
truth,
righteousness,
faith
and
the
word
of
God,
all
of
which is underpinned with prayer.
Paul concludes his letter with words of peace, love and grace.
Hierarchical Précis