EPHESIANS

Author: Apostle Paul

Date of Writing: Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about A.D. 60-63
Purpose:

 For those who long for Christ-like maturity

 Enclosed within is the discipline needed to develop into true children of God
 Will help fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfill the purpose and calling
God has given.
 To conform and equip a maturing church
 Presents a balanced view of the body of Christ and its importance in God’s economy
 Wrote Ephesians to the churches of Ephesus to display the scope of God’s eternal plan
for all humanity – for Jews and Gentiles alike.

BRIEF SUMMARY:
Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the book of Ephesians.
This chapter emphasizes the warfare or the struggle of the saints.

Chapters 1-3 – focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God’s
grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation “by grace... through
faith” (2:8)
Chapters 4-6 – explain the implications of God’s grace for the church, for individuals, and for
families.
This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against
the devil.
Connections:
The Israelites who were true followers of God always believed they alone were God’s chosen
people (Deuteronomy 7:6), accepting Gentiles on an equal status in this new paradigm was
extremely difficult and caused many disputes among Jewish believers and Gentile converts.
Application:
Paul argues that theology is practical. In order to live out God’s will for us in our lives practically,
we must first understand who we are in Christ doctrinally.
CHAPTER NOTES:
Chapter 1 (23 verses)

 Paul- author
 Written for the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful to Christ
 The Lord predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the
purpose of his will.
 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace.
 We were sealed with the promise of Holy Spirit when we heard
o The word of truth
o The gospel of salvation
o And Believed in Him
 Church – Christ’s body

Chapter 2 (22 verses)

 And we were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the
course of this world following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at
work in the sons of disobedience.
 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even
when were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you
have been saved, and raised us up with him and seated us with him in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus.
 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the
gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.(Ephesians 2:8-10)ESV
 Gentiles- called “the uncircumcision” one time because the called circumcision that
time is done in the flesh by hands.
 Gentiles are alienated and separated by Christ because of ordinances, but they are
brought near by the blood of Christ divide the wall of hostility, abolishing the law of
commandments. So then we are no longer strangers and aliens but you are now…

Fellow citizens with saints, members of the household of God built on the foundation
of the Apostles and Prophets

 Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone in whom the whole structure, being joined
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Chapter 3 (21 verses)

 The Mystery of Christ-the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and
partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.
 Prayer for Strength – Ephesians 3:14-21

Chapter 4 (32 verses)

 We are urge by Paul to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been
called with
o All humility and gentleness,
o With patience, bearing with one another in love
o Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
 One body, One Spirit, One Lord, One faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
(Ephesians 4:7-8)
 The Lord gave the…
o Apostles
o Prophets
o Evangelists
o Shepherds
o Teachers
…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we
attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to mature
manhood, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and
carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning by craftiness in deceitful
schemes.
 We must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.
o Put away falsehood-speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of
another.
o Be angry and do not sin; do nor let the sun go down on your anger.
o Let the thief no longer but rather let him labor
o Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths
o Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God

 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you
along will all malice.
 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave
you.
Chapter 5 (33 verses)

 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love.

 Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk nor crude joking but there be thanksgiving.
 Do not get drunk with wine for that is ‘debauchery’ but be filled with the spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody to the Lord with your heart.
 Ephesians 5:22-32 about Wives and Husbands
 Ephesians 5:22 says Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
 Ephesians 5:25 says, Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her.

Chapter 6 (24 verses)

 Ephesians 6:1-4 about Children and Parents

 Ephesians 6:1 says Children obey your father and mother(this is the first commandment
with a promise)
 Ephesians 6:4 says Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in
the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
 Ephesians 6:5-9 about Bondservants and Masters
 Ephesians 6:5 says Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling,
with a sincere heart, as you would Christ
 Ephesians 6:9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that
he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with
him.
 Ephesians 6:10-20 about The Whole Armor of God
 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of
the devil.
 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but…
o against the rulers,
o against the authorities,
o against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
o against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
 Figure 1: Full Armor of God

 According to Paul, a beloved brother named Tychicus, a faithful minister in the Lord will
tell everything what he did to encourage the hearts of the people of Ephesus.