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THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS |
J. Deering, AncientPath.net
The Book of Ephesians, Text (NASB) 1,With Built-In Outline:
CHAPTER ONE, 1:1-23
Introduction, 1:1-2
From: Paul the Apostle, 1:1a
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To: The Faithful
Ones in Ephesus, 1:1b
to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ
Jesus:
Grace and Peace, From: God and The Lord Jesus Christ, 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN-CHRIST, 1:3-2:22
The Triune Blessing, 1:3-14
Blessed by The Father's Gift of Every Spiritual Blessing to Every Believer,
1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Blessed by The Father's Choosing of Every Believer In Christ the Beloved,
1:4
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love
Blessed as The Father Predestined Every Believer to be an Adopted Son,
1:5-6
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of
the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Blessed by The Son's Redemption for Every Believer, 1:7-8a
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon
us.
Blessed by the Revelation of His Will to Every Believer, 1:8b-10
In all wisdom and insight 9 He made
known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which
He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the
fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ,
things in the heavens and things upon the earth.
Blessed In the Inheritance given to Every Believer, 1:11-12
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been
predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the
counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in
Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Blessed by The Spirit of God's Sealing of Every Believer, 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the
gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him
with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our
inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the
praise of His glory.
Paul's Prayer List for Every Believer, 1:15-19a
Paul's Prayer List, Part 1, 1:15-17
Thanks for you Faith, 1:15
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord
Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints,
Mentioning you in Prayer, 1:16
do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you
in my prayers;
Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of The Father, 1:17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of
Him.
Paul's Prayer List, Part 2, 1:18-19a
Knowing God's Calling, 1:18a
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that
you may know what is the hope of His calling,
Knowing God's Inheritance, 1:18b
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints,
Knowing God's Power toward us who believe, 1:19a
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who
believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His
might
The Workings of God's Might In Christ, 1:19b-23
God
Raised Christ from the dead, 19b-20a
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead,
God
Seated Christ at His Right Hand, 1:20b
and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
God
Subjected all things to Christ, 1:21-22a
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet,
God
Made Christ Head over all things to the Church , 1:22b-23
and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Salvation, 2:1-10
You Were Dead, and Among the Dead Without Christ 2:1-3
You
were Dead in Trespasses and Sin 2:1
And you were dead in your
trespasses and sins,
You
Walked According to the Prince of the Power of the Air 2:2
in which you
formerly walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
We
All Lived in the Lusts of Our Flesh 2:3
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the
desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even
as the rest.
But Now God made You Alive Together With Christ 2:4-10
God Loved Us 2:4-6
Being Rich in Mercy 2:4
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
"Even When" We Were Dead 2:5a
even when we were dead in
our transgressions,
He
Made Us Alive 2:5b
made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved),
He
Raised Us Up 2:6a
and raised us up with
Him,
He
Seated Us with Him 2:6b
and seated us with Him
in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,
God Showed the Surpassing Riches of His Grace to Us 2:7-10
In
Kindness Toward Us In Christ Jesus 2:7
in order that in the ages
to come He might show the surpassing riches of His
grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
By Grace You Have Been Saved as the Gift of God 2:8-10
By Grace 2:8a
For by grace you have been
saved
Through Faith 2:8b
through faith;
As The Gift Of God 2:8c
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God;
Not As the Result of Works 2:9
not as a result of works,
that no one should boast.
We Are God's Workmanship 2:10a
For we are His
workmanship,
We Were Created For Good Works 2:10b
created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Unity (of the Jew and the Gentile), 2:11-22
Therefore REMEMBER You were Excluded 2:11-12
You Were Formerly Gentiles 2:11
Therefore remember, that
formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision"
by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human
hands --
You Were Separate From Christ 2:12
remember that you were at that time separate
from Christ, excluded from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
to the covenants of promise, having no hope
and without God in the world.
But Now You Are Brought Near In Christ (All believers are Included) 2:13-22
You Were Once Far Away 2:13a
But now in Christ Jesus you who
formerly were far off
You Have Been Brought Near By The Blood Of Christ 2:13b-17
He Brought You
Near, 2:13b
have been brought near by
the blood of Christ.
He Is Our Peace 2:14a
For
He Himself is our peace,
He Made The Jew and The Gentile One 2:14b-22
He Made Both Into One 2:14b
who
made both groups into one,
He Destroyed the Dividing Wall of Hostility 2:14c
and broke down the
"barrier of the dividing wall,"
This Was His Purpose � To Reconcile Them Both in One Body 2:15-17
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in
ordinances, that in Himself
He might make the two into one new man,
thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both
in one body to God through the cross, by it having put
to death the enmity. "AND HE CAME
AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;"
You Have Access To The Father 2:18
Jew or Gentile - Immediate Access To Him 2:18a
for through Him we both have
our access
By God's One Spirit 2:18b
in one Spirit to the
Father.
But Now You Are Part of God's City 2:19-22
You Are No Longer Strangers and Aliens to God 2:19a
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
You Are Now Fellow Citizens 2:19b
but you are fellow citizens
with the saints,
You Are Now Members of God's Household 2:19c
and are of God's household,
Built Upon A Strong Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets 2:20a
having been built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ is The "Cornerstone," "Capstone," "Keystone" 2:20b-22
In Him - The Key
2:20a
Christ Jesus Himself being the keystone,
In Him the Whole Building is being Fitted Together 2:21a
in whom the whole building,
being fitted together
In Him the Whole Building is Growing Into A Holy Temple 2:21b
is growing into a holy temple in
the Lord;
In Him You are being Built Together Into A Dwelling In Which God Lives
By His Spirit, 2:22
in whom you also
are being built together into a dwelling of God in the
Spirit.
"Why You Have It" - The Mystery of The Church Revealed, 3:1-21
Introduction to the "Mystery," 3:1-5
For this reason I, Paul, the
prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles
� if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given
to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in
brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my
insight into the mystery of Christ,
which in other generations was not made known
to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and
prophets in the Spirit;
The "Mystery" Itself, 3:6
to
be specific, that the
Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers
of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
Paul's Ministry, 3:7-12
of which I was made a minister,
according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the
working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace
was given, to preach
to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light what is the administration of
the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who
created all things; in order that the manifold
wisdom of God might now be made known through the church
to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in
accordance with the eternal purpose
which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
Paul's Request, 3:13
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my
tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Paul's Prayer, 3:14-19
For this reason, I bow my knees
before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its
name, that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded
in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth
and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which
surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Paul's Benediction, 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do
exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
"How You Respond," 4:1-6:9
Through Unity, 4:1-6
I, therefore, the prisoner of the
Lord, entreat you to
walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
with all humility and
gentleness, with patience,
showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace. There is
one body and one Spirit,
just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over
all and through all and in all.
Through Christ's Gifts, 4:7-16
Grace comes with each Gift, 4:7
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Christ has Filled All Things, 8-10
Therefore it says, "WHEN HE
ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED
CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE
GIFTS TO MEN." (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean
except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He
who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He
might fill all things.)
Full Gifts to make the Body Full, 4:11-13
And He gave some as apostles, and
some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to
the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs
to the fullness of Christ.
Therefore, We Are To Grow-Up, 4:14-16
As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by
the trickery of men, by
craftiness in deceitful scheming;
but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him,
who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes
the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Through Our Walk, 4:17-32
Stop walking the Gentile Walk, 4:17-19
This I say therefore, and affirm
together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as
the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in
them, because of the hardness
of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over
to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
Lay aside the Old Self, Take on the New Self, 4:20-24
But you did not learn Christ in this way,
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth
is in Jesus, that, in
reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside
the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance
with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in
the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of
God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Speak Truth, 4:25
Therefore, laying aside falsehood,
"SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE" of
you, "WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another.
Be
Angry apart from sin, 4:26a
"BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN;"
Let Anger Go, 4:26b
do not
let the sun go down on your anger,
Don't give the Devil opportunity, 4:27
and do not give the devil an
opportunity.
Stop Stealing and Work, 4:28
Let him who steals steal no
longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his
own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him
who has need.
Stop Verbal Offence and give Grace, 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from
your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the
need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Stop Grieving the Holy Spirit of God, 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Stop Bitterness, Wrath, Anger, Clamor, Slander, and Malice 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be
put away from you, along with all malice.
Instead - Be Kind to one another, Tender, Forgiving - Just As Christ has
Forgiven You, 4:32
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving
each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Be Imitators of God, as beloved Children, 5:1-17
5:1-2 You - be imitators of God
Therefore be imitators of God, as
beloved children; 2 and walk in love,
just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God
as a fragrant aroma.
5:3-6 You - do not conform to the marks of the un-believer
But do not let immorality or
any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is
proper among saints; and there must be no
filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which
are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous
man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes
upon the sons of disobedience.
5:7-17 Therefore do not be partakers with them
Therefore do not be partakers with them;
for you were formerly
darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness
and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is
pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate
in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even
expose them; for it is
disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible
when they are exposed by the light,
for everything that becomes visible
is light. For this
reason it says, "Awake,
sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine
on you." Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men, but as wise,
redeeming your time,
because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ, 5:18-33
5:18 A Matter of the Spirit
And do not get drunk with wine, for
that is
dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
5:19-20 The evidences of the Spirit filled life
speaking to one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the
Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ to God, even the Father;
5:21-33 Be Subject to One Another
5:22-24 Wives subject to Husbands
Wives, be subject to your own
husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is
the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to
their husbands in everything.
5:25-31 Husbands subject to Wives
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved
the church and gave Himself up for her; that He
might sanctify her, having
cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
that He might present to Himself the church in all
her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be
holy and blameless. So husbands ought also
to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who
loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever
hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,
just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.
"FOR THIS
CAUSE A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE;
AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."
5:32-33 Reference to Christ and His Bride
This mystery is great; but I am speaking with
reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each individual among you also love
his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see
to it that she respect her husband.
6:1-3 Children subject to Fathers
Children, obey your parents in the
Lord, for this is
right. "HONOR YOUR
FATHER AND MOTHER" (which is the first commandment with a promise), "THAT IT
MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."
6:4 Fathers subject to Children
And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger;
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction
of the Lord.
6:5-8 Slaves subject to Masters
Slaves, be obedient to those who
are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the
sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as
men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one
does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
6:9 Masters subject to Slaves
And, masters, do the same things to
them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and
there is no partiality with Him.
6:10-18, The Matter of Fully putting on God's Armor, Be Strong - in the
Strength of His Might - The Elements of Faith Strength
Finally, be strong in the Lord,
and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God,
that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God,
that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to
stand firm. Stand firm therefore,
6:14b With Truth
"HAVING
GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,"
and
6:14c With Righteousness
"HAVING PUT
ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," and
6:15 With Preparation
having shod
"YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL
OF PEACE;"
6:16 With Faith
in addition to all, taking up
the shield of faith
with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil
one. And
6:17a With Salvation and The Word of God
take "THE
HELMET OF SALVATION," and
6:17b with The Word Of God
the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God.
6:18 with Prayer
With all prayer and petition pray at all times
in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert
with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Paul's Salutation, 6:19-22
6:19 The Ministry of the Gospel
and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my
mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
6:20 An Ambassador for Christ, and the Gospel, in Chains
for which I am an ambassador in
chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
6:21 Paul's Circumstances
But that you also may know about my
circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved
brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
6:22 Knowledge and Comfort
And I have sent him to you for this
very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your
hearts.
Paul's Benediction, 6:23-24
6:23-24 Peace and Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ
Peace be to the brethren, and love
with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all
those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.
The Book of Ephesians, Bible Study, J. Deering, AncientPath.net, study materials are a ministry of AncientPath.net, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them. No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of AncientPath.net. © 2014 AncientPath.net, All rights reserved.
1
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE,
© Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988.
Used by permission."
49_eph_OutTxt.htm
2023-04-18
2023-09-04 update