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EphesianS
Overview
■ Authorship: Apostle Paul
■ Recipients: The Church in Ephesus
■ Ephesus:
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Political center – Capital of Asia Minor
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Commercial center
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Religious center – Temple of Diana (Roman name) [Greek name – Artemis], one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (cf. Acts 19:35)
■ Date: ~ A.D. 60-61
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Paul visited Ephesus in his 2nd Missionary Journey
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Paul stayed at Ephesus for 3 years during his 3rd Missionary Journey
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Paul wrote the four Prison Epistles during his Roman imprisonment – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
■ Theme: The Church as the Body of Christ
■ Purpose: To prevent problems in the church as a whole by encouraging the body of Christ to mature in Him, to make believers more aware of their position in Christ, thus, encourage them to live in accordance with their heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
*Charts modified from Talk thru the Bible by Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa
Ephesians 1
God has blessed us so that we could bring praises to His name.
Which part of Ephesians 1 inspires you the most?
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God’s Spiritual Blessings: God’s blessings have come to us through all three persons of the Trinity. We have been elected by the Father (vv.4-6), redeemed by the Son (vv.7-12), and sealed by the Holy Spirit (vv.13-14) for one purpose — “to the praise of his glory” (vv.6, 12, 14). In what way you could bring glory to God?
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Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer: Paul prayed that the Ephesians might know God better (v.17). “This knowing refers not to abstract knowledge of God or objective facts about Him, but knowing Him personally and intimately. It includes an intimate awareness of God's character and will.”* In what way that you could know God more personally and intimately? What adjustments do you need to make in your daily living in order to make that happen?
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Reason for Paul’s Prayer: “Paul prayed that believers would come to know God intimately (v.17) in order that they might know three facts: (1) the past call of salvation that produced hope (v.18), (2) the future inheritance that God has in His saints (v.18), and (3) the present power of God that is available to believers, which (a) was manifested in the past in Christ's resurrection and Ascension, (b) will be manifested in the future in Christ's headship over Creation, and (c) is presently manifested in Christ's headship over the church.”* Thank God that He has called you in the past, sustains you with His power in the present, and has installed for you a future inheritance.
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Your own insight: (fill in yourself)
Meditation and Application:
Meditate on the above questions along with the necessary actions. Thank God for all the spiritual blessings that He has bestowed upon you through each member of the Triune God.
*The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty