Ephesians chapter 01

Introduction.

Ephesians chapter 1

Was it written to the Ephesians or is it a copy of a circular letter sent to several churches?

• It is the only letter which does not address particulars in the church addressed. Is this significant?
• BUT does it address matters of common concern to all, especially converts, especially converted gentiles? Does it address matters of concern to us?
• What does Ephesians 1:1 tell you? See also the footnote (some early manuscripts do not haver in Ephesus).
• What does Ephesians 6:21-22 tell you? (See Colossians 4:7,14.) 
• What does 2 Timothy 4:12 tell you?
• “The first three chapters are doctrinal, chapters 4-6 deal with practical Christianity”. Do you agree with this?

When was Paul in Ephesus? (Autumn of 54 A.D.)

• What did he do there? (Acts 18:19-21)
• Where did he go next? (Acts 18:23)
• Who else visited Ephesus? (Acts 18:24-26)
• Did Paul keep his promise to return to Ephesus? (Acts 19:1)
• What did he discover and what did he do about it? (Acts 19:2-7)
• How long did he stay? (Acts 19:10)
• Was it a productive time? (Acts 19:17-20)
• Where did he go next? (Acts 19:21)

Ephesians 1:1-2

• With what authority does Paul write the letter? (Ephesians 1:1)
• How do you define an Apostle? Who appoints them? What authority do they have? Who appointed Paul (according to Ephesians 1:1)?
• One who is sent.  Messenger. Commissioned

The person had to have been an eyewitness to Jesus after his resurrection (1 Corinthians 9:1); had to have been chosen by the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:15); and had to have ministered with miraculous signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; 2 Corinthians 12:12)

• To whom does he write it? Does that include us? Are we “the faithful in Christ Jesus”?
• How often is Christ referred to in verses 1-14?  Why do you think this is?
• Grace is referred to 12 times in this letter, Peace 8 times.  What do these words mean in the context of their use? How important are they? Are they something Paul can confer? (can you?) What is the value and significance of verse 2?

Ephesians 1:3-14

• Verses 3-14 are one sentence in the Greek - read it without the full-stops. How does it come across to you then? (Can you see why it has been referred to as a doxology?)
• These verses are trinitarian. Look for what God the Father has done.  Look for what Jesus Christ the Son has done. What is the work of God the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 1:3

• How does Paul start this section? Do we do this? How? Here in our meetings? Does he mean now?
• When do/did the blessings start? Where are they? Can they be lost (See Ephesians 3:11)? Are there any missing? Who has them? Where is Jesus now (see Ephesians 1:20)?
• Where are we (Ephesians 2:6.  John 14:1-3)?
• What do the blessings include?
• For example, from verses 3-14, do they include chosen, predestined, holy, blameless, love, adopted, praise for grace, God’s pleasure and will, freely given, redemption, forgiveness, Jesus’ blood, grace, wisdom, understanding, know the mystery, purpose, unity, included, sealed, Holy Spirit, inheritance, guarantee, possession? And…?

Ephesians 1:4

• What has God the Father done? Who has he chosen (see also 2 Thessalonians 2:13)? Does that include you? When did it happen?
• Why did he do this? What was the outcome? Are you holy and blameless in [God’s] sight?

Ephesians 1:5

• Predestined or preordained - the source of much theological debate.  How comfortable are you with these ideas? (See Romans 8:28-30. Ephesians 1:11. Colossians 3:12. 1 Thessalonians 1:4)
• Who decided to do this? (See 1 Corinthians 1:21)
• What is the significance of adoption to sonship? (See Romans 8:23. Romans 8:14-15. Galatians 4:3-7. Hebrews 9:16-20)

• Sonship: a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. To what does this entitle you? (See John 3:3) Romans 8:17 says we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. What will Christ inherit (Colossians 3:24. 1 Peter 1:4. Philippians 2:9-11. )?  
• What will we inherit or should we ask what have we inherited (Colossians 3:1. Ephesians 2:6. Romans 6:4)?

Ephesians 1:6

• Who gets the credit here?
• What does grace mean to you?
• God’s empowering, unearned and beneficial kindness and favour.
• How is God’s grace described in verse 6?
• How is God’s grace described in verse 7?
• How is God’s grace described in verse 8?
• How do you get it (in verse 6)?

Ephesians 1:7

• What comes with God’s grace (in verse 7)?
• Redeem: To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum
• See Romans 3:23-25.  Titus 2:13-14.
• Who has recovered ownership? Of what (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)? At what price (Ephesians 2:13. 1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 1:14)?
• What did this purchase bring you (in verse 7)?

Ephesians 1:8-10

• When God lavished his grace on us he also gave us what? Do you have wisdom and understanding now that you didn’t have before?
• What has he made known to us? What is the mystery? Why is it kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown. (See Acts 28:26-27.  Luke 8:9-10. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 2:10, 14-16)?  How is this an example of grace?
• When did God come up with this plan (verse 9. Colossians 1:23, 26-27)?
• Has the plan been completed?
• Yes: Hebrews 9:23-26, 10:10-14
• No: verse 10. How will we know when the plan is fulfilled (in verse 10)?

Ephesians 1:11-14

• Can Christians claim to be holier than others? If not are they more clever than others? How are we reminded God is in charge of everything (in verse 11)?
• This has come about because God loves us (see verse 4, John 3:16). But WHY (see verse 12)?
• What did you do about it? What do these words (in these verses) mean to you: chosen, heard, believed, hoped, included, salvation, marked, sealed, promised.
• What promise have you already received (see verse 3 and verse 14)?
• How have you been marked with a seal? 
• Is that related to Revelation 7?
• What deposit has God given you, what guarantee, guaranteeing what (see Romans 8:10-11, 15-17)?

Ephesians 1:15-16

• What has Paul heard about?
• How might he have received the information? 
• Do these verses indicate this is a circular letter? (See Colossians 1:4)
• What is the indication their faith is real and practical?
• What two responses does Paul make?
• Thoughts and prayers and remembering are pretty common nowadays.  What’s the difference?
• Who could you write to with these words?

Ephesians 1:17-23

• Read it all at once.  How would you describe this passage?
• Does this look to you like one long prayer?

V17:

• What does Paul ask for in V17? How is this related to V3?
• Who would grant the prayer?
• What is wisdom? (See Isaiah 11:2. Proverbs 1:7. 1 Corinthians 1:30. James 1:5. Ephesians 5:15. James 3:15-17)

The ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight. accumulated knowledge, erudition, or enlightenment.

• Where does revelation come from? (Revelation 1:1. 2 Corinthians 4:4)
• How are you better off when you get wisdom and revelation?

V18

• What does it mean to be enlightened? (Rational, modern and well-informed…)
• What does Paul ask for the enlightenment to be? (2 Corinthians 4:6. Hebrews 6:4-6)
• As a result, what might we know? (Romans 5:5. See V3. Hebrews 6:17-20. Hebrews 11:1. Romans 15:13)
• How do we know God wants us to have this kind of hope? (Romans 8:28. 2 Timothy 1:9. Romans 8:26)
• What riches are involved? (Romans 2:4. Ephesians 1:7)
• Who benefits from the glorious inheritance? (Colossians 1:12. Isaiah 53:10. Ephesians 5:5. Romans 8:17. Galatians 3:29)

V19-21

• What also does Paul ask for?
• Does that include for us? Have you been prayed for about this? Have you prayed for it? Have you experienced it?
• What power compares to this?
• What difference does it make to us? (Philippians 2:13,3:10. Colossians 1:29, 2:12. Ephesians 3:7,20. Ephesians 6:10. 2 Timothy 1:7. Romans 8:11)
• What is the clearest demonstration of this power? Do we really appreciate this power?
• Where is Jesus now - what’s the significance of this? (Mark16:19. 1 Peter 3:22. Hebrews 1:3. Revelation 19:16. Colossians 1:16)
• How long will Jesus Christ hold this position? (V22. Hebrews 10:13. Philippians 2:9-11.)

V22-23

• Over whom does Jesus rule? (Psalm 8:5-6. Hebrews 2:6-9. See V10.)
• What particular place does he hold? (Ephesians 4:15. Colossians 1:18, 2:19. 1 Corinthians 12:27)