The Prison Epistles: Ephesians

EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS:
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2017

(This is one of four posts, each studying one of the four epistles the apostle wrote while in prison in Rome.)

Outline:

I. Paul addresses the Ephesian church (Ephesians 1:1-23).

A. He extends a greeting (vv. 1-2).
B. He voices some praise (vv. 3-10).
C. He acknowledges their election (vv. 11-14).
D. He reveals his prayer (vv. 15-23).

Application: Although salvation is free, it is not automatic, and obtaining it takes initiative on your part (Rom 10:13).

II. Paul recounts the believers' redemption (Ephesians 2:1-22).

A. He describes their reconciliation to God (vv. 1-10).
B. He describes their reconciliation to others (vv. 11-22). 

Application: The joining of believing Jews and gentiles is part of God's plan, so you should become familiar with it (Gal 3:26, 28).

III. Paul reveals the gentile inclusion (Ephesians 3:1-21).

A. He presents the gospel's expansion (vv. 1-13).

1. It is his message (vv. 1-6).
2. It is his mission (vv. 7-13).

B. He prays for their comprehension (vv. 14-2 1).

Application: The redemption Christ has accomplished means that you, as a gentile, are immediately part of God's people (Rom 10:12).

IV. Paul reflects on their progress (Ephesians 4:1-32).

A. He contrasts their situation (vv. 1-13).
B. He recognizes their growth (vv. 14-19).
C. He advocates their change (vv. 20-28).

Application: Because sin starts inside you then spreads outside you, it is important to nip it quickly, even before it occurs (Eph 4:27).

V. Paul instructs about being moral (Ephesians 5:1-6:9).

A. He applies it to general interactions (vv. 1-7).
B. He applies it to confronting evil (vv. 8-14).
C. He applies it to spirit-filled living (vv. 15-20).
D. He applies it to close relationships (5:21-6:9).

1. The married must relate properly to their spouses (vv. 21-23).
2. The children must relate properly to their parents (vv. 1-4).
3. The slaves must relate properly to their masters (vv. 5-9). 

Application: As you have opportunity to "contend for the faith" (Jude 3), you are not left to your own devices.... Are you availing yourself of what God provides?

VI. Paul gives some closing remarks (6:10-24).

A. He prepares for battle (vv. 10-18).
B. He solicits their prayers (vv. 19-20).
C. He commends an individual (vv. 21-22).
D. He extends a benediction (v. 23).

Application: By using the equipment God provides you will be able to withstand the devil's onslaught and move forward to advance God's agenda (2 Cor 10:4).

Addendum: The Mystery of the Gospel

Paul's letter to the Ephesians (62) was one of four epistles he composed from a Roman prison after his third missionary journey to Asia Minor.¹ The missive was in response to a visit from Tychicus, who then returned to Ephesus with this letter from Paul:

Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing (Eph 6:21).

I. Paul addresses the Ephesian church (Ephesians 1:1-23).

A. He extends a greeting (vv. 1-2).

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:² 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul's ministry is not self-appointed; neither is his position the designation of any particular church.³ As is true of all spiritual gifts, apostleship is a divine designation:⁴

In the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (1 Cor 12:28).

When Paul identifies himself this way, as in most of his letters,⁵ he traces his apostolic authority directly to God.

B. He voices some praise (vv. 3-10).

Eph 1:3 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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery⁶ of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

God takes a long view of history. His omniscience and His foreknowledge enable Him to plan (elect and foreordain) far in advance, even "before the creation of the world" (v. 4). He operates with a goal in mind, including what the finished product of His people will be: "holy and blameless" (v. 4). This specific result is part of a much larger objective that involves a much larger representation of creation, "all things" (v. 10) in fact.

C. He acknowledges their election (vv. 11-14).

Eph 1:11 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, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.⁷

Two theological terms describe different aspects of God's all-knowing character:

• Foreknowledge means that God is conscious of events ahead of time.
• Predestination means that God causes events ahead of time (also v. 5).

Although both concepts are true of God, they are not the same. In other words, God knows everything that will happen, but He does not make everything happen, as if there is no room for variation in His grand scheme.⁸ While the larger aspects of His plan are fixed, the lesser aspects of His plan are flexible.⁹ Nevertheless, because He is omniscient, He knows the outcome even of possible (flexible or contingent) events. Moreover, events that were flexible can become fixed, when early choices, once made, have later consequences. For example, the Ephesians' initial response to the gospel was uncertain. Would they receive or reject the message? Now, however, having accepted it, their future is fixed, and they have a guaranteed "inheritance" (v. 14).

D. He reveals his prayer (vv. 15-23).

Eph 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,¹⁰ 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.¹¹ 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,¹² so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also 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 the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given,¹³ not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Paul's prayer is not for his release or even for relief from the harsh conditions of imprisonment. He makes no mention of himself at all. Rather, he prays for the spiritual growth of his readers. He also turns attention to Jesus, vv. 20-22 being a clear statement about the savior's post-resurrection exaltation and session, topics Paul rarely addresses in other letters.¹⁴ That "God placed all things under his feet" (v. 22) refers to Jesus' conquest over his enemies,¹⁵ a victory he will confirm upon his return:

Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." [Ps 2:9a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (Rev 19:15)¹⁶

This triumph will include a "glorious inheritance" (v. 18) for "us who believe" (v. 19) and who have remained loyal to him.¹⁷

Application: God knew you would fail. God knew that however hard you might try (or not) to live a good life you would fall short of His perfect standard. God knew you would fail. That outcome is easy to predict because no one passes the final exam; everybody fails. You might say, the result is rigged. Condemnation is the default setting.

More difficult to predict is who will accept His offer of salvation, which He makes to all but which all do not receive. God issues an invitation through Isaiah: "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other" (Isa 45:22).¹⁸ What makes the outcome difficult to predict is that God is a gentleman and does not force anyone into the kingdom who will not go. Quoting the prophet Joel (2:32), Paul writes, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom 10:13). In other words, although salvation is free, it is not automatic, and obtaining it takes initiative on your part. You must accept the forgiveness God offers. Some people will choose to refuse, and they will remain condemned (the default setting). Equally important, God knew before you did that you would accept His offer. He did not decide for you, but He knew how you would decide for yourself of your own volition. ....

For the remainder of this study with its Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here (28 pages).