“Passage: Ephesians 1:1-2
Date: September 1, 2010
By: Grant Sather
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul around 62 A.D. during his imprisonment in Rome. Paul had visited the church in Ephesus twice, and four years prior to writing Ephesians he had met with the elders of the Ephesian church 35 miles from Ephesus, he thought it would be his last time interacting with these people he loved so much – he delivered a remarkable farewell charge, as seen in Acts 20.18-35:
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by [2] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
In order for us to understand what Paul writes we must understand his audience and their context. Paul, as we see in verse 1, is writing to the saints who are in Ephesus – believers, those who have trusted in Jesus Christ.
The letter, although addressed to the church in Ephesus, is most likely intended for churches throughout the region surrounding and within Ephesus. At the time Paul wrote Ephesians, Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the world. The city was known as the “first and greatest metropolis of Asia.” It contained many shrines and the massive Temple of Diana, as well as the largest theater in the world, capable of containing up to as much as 30-50,000 spectators.
Ephesus was an extremely difficult place to be a Christian, and Paul faced immense challenges in his ministry. The culture was extremely opposed to God, especially opposed to the God of grace – whom Paul represented. But, we will talk more about this later…
[[Let’s Pray]]
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul: Apostleship Dilemma
Paul, for those who don’t know wasn’t always Jesus’ child prodigy. In fact quite the opposite, Acts 7:54-8:3 shows us:
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together2 at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, z“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison
How can Paul, who approved the stoning of another man for the sole reason that he believed in Jesus, now speak for Jesus? Paul is an apostle, in other words an “appointed messenger.” This means that Paul not only belongs to Christ, but represents Him so definitely that Paul’s very message is Christ’s own message. Paul speaks, Christ speaks.
This has to bring some cause for questioning to our minds. How can a holy perfect God, who loves his people choose a man to speak for him who has murdered and abused his people for years?
Ephesians: Sainthood Dilemma
As I started to explain in the beginning, Ephesus was an extremely difficult place to be a Christian.
An example of this opposition was the Greek goddess Diana, worshipped throughout the nations around the Roman Empire. Ephesus was home to Diana’s most noted temple – it was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It took 220 years to build, supported by 100 massive columns and within it was a shrine to the ancient goddess. Daughter to Zeus, she is the mistress and protectress of wild life. This cult was a massive operation, had their own priests and was very much tied into the economics of the region. Any sort of ‘gospel’ message, speaking of one true God becoming man to be killed for the sins of the world would have been an absolute affront to the whole political system.
Paul doing ministry in Ephesus could be equated to Pastor Randy working for MTV, or taking a field trip as a youth group to Iran so that we can pass out Jesus suckers to little kids – most likely a very dangerous idea. Massive opposition from the Roman emperors, whose powers were often equated with that of a god. The culture was sexually perverse – still to this day, you could walk out onto the docks by the great port at the Aegean Sea and see signs directing you to brothels (houses full of women continually prostituting their bodies for sex).
John writes in Revelation about the church in Ephesus, mostly positive – but as we come to the close of his remarks chills should go from our head to our toes:
Revelation 2:3-5 (ESV)
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
On what grounds can Paul, speak for Jesus, call the Ephesian believer’s saints and faithful when we see them steeped and surrounded by such a wicked and cruel culture? We will see later in the book that Paul warns the Ephesians against sexual impurity, crude joking, bitterness, anger and slander. Obviously there is massive problems, however, Paul calls them Saints!
If we take a look further down in this same chapter, we see a good description of what it means to be a saint, Ephesians 1:4 says:
“4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
How do we know this helps us define what it means to be a saint? The Greek word for saint in verse 1, is hagios (hag-ee-os) appears 229 times in all – 61 of those occurrences its translated as ‘saints’, BUT it’s actually also translated as ‘holy’ 161 times – so, to say from verse 4: “…that we should be holy…” could also be said: “…so that we should be saints…” or if you take it back to verse 1: “…to the saints…” could also be read as: “to the holy…”
WHOA! How can he call these people holy? Set apart? The radiance of the glory of God?
You and Me: Sainthood Dilemma
From Paul to the Ephesians, it’s only natural to think of ourselves. Paul idolized power and control which brought him to afflict the church: throwing Christians into jail and stoning them to death, and the Ephesians worshipped man-made idols, such as Diana. They also worshipped sexual pleasure, and enlightenment of the mind.
Where are your idols? Are you really any different then Paul or the Ephesians? Be very careful how you answer this question!
What do you fantasize about? Getting that girl/guy? Winning the lottery and becoming a millionaire? Succeeding academically to please your parents? What do you give your time, money and energy towards? Football? Cheerleading? Working out to look good? Playing a guitar to be cool? Sometimes even good things can become idols: for example, maybe you read your bible or do bible quizzing in order to know more then everyone? You think it makes you better somehow? Maybe you raise your hands in worship because you think it makes you look more spiritual? Or… maybe you don’t move in worship or express any emotion, because you care too much about peoples opinion? Maybe your entire life is run based upon managing how others view you? Saying the right things, doing the right things, having the right clothes, hanging with the right friends, etc? Maybe you spend more time in front of the television then Jesus? What does your life look like when you’re alone? Answer that question, and I will tell you what you really worship! You may sit here and say you worship Jesus – but the moment you’re behind closed doors the things which you do and think about is what you worship – no question. Maybe all you do is workout, look at porn or read romance novels or flirt through texting, maybe you’re a glutton and you sit and eat and eat – or maybe you’re a control freak and worship yourself and your ability to control your own life and your destiny.
The reality is, I am not any different than Paul – the murderer of Christians, or the Ephesians – the idolatrous and sexually immoral. The hard truth is that you are not any different either. Those of you who as you hear that think in your heart – “oh no Grant… really – I promise, that’s not me… I mean I know I’m not perfect, but look at my life…” Those who feel that way, WATCH OUT! Satan loves to hear those words of self-reliance, words that communicate little to no trust in the cross. How can any of us have any hope at all of being in right standing with a holy God?
The Outrageous Grace of God is our only Solution
Ephesians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We see here, in verse 2, the solution to our dilemma!
The outrageous, extravagant, lavish, free, unmerited GRACE OF GOD
Romans 3:24-25 says:
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
[[improv via the Spirit]]
This grace that has come to us through Jesus’ death on the cross has brought with it amazing, unending, divine PEACE.
Ephesians 2:15-19 says:
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
[[improv via the Spirit]]
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Notes on Ephesians: Context, Author, Audience
Introduction & Context[1]
Context
· Paul is the author, as we see in Ephesians 1:1 and again in 3:1
· Paul, the first time he visited, sailed from Corinth to Ephesus with Prisca and Aquila. His first trip lasted only 3 short months. In Paul’s second visit to the church in Ephesus he remained there for three years. On Paul’s last journey to Jerusalem he landed at Miletus and brought together the elders from Ephesus and delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge in Acts 20:18-35
o 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by [2] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
Four years after Paul gave them this charge and ended up in jail for the first time he wrote this letter to the Ephesians, around 62 A.D.
Audience
· The Saints, the faithful, those who are in Christ – we see here that Paul is addressing all of those who believe in Jesus.
Ephesus
· Port City of Western Asia Minor, located on the Aegean Sea
· The church was founded by Paul
· Ephesians was written to a group of churches in the area surrounding Ephesus
· It was known as “the first and greatest metropolis of Asia.”
· Ephesus contained the massive Temple of Diana, containing her chief shrine
· Ephesus contained the largest theater in the world, capable of containing 50,000 spectators
· Paul saw Ephesus as strategic – he spoke of his opportunity to do ministry in Ephesus as having been the opening of “a great door and effectual.” Paul was correct, the gospel spread abroad from Ephesus almost to all of Asia.
· A part of the site of this once famous city is now occupied by a small Turkish village, Ayasaluk – the corruption of two Greek words meaning “the holy divine”
Themes
· It doesn’t seem to be written against a specific sin or problem within the churches, but simply out of Paul’s love for the church.
· The letter differs slightly from his letter to the Romans in how he describes the gospel. In Romans he speaks much of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ, in Ephesians however he writes specifically about the union to Jesus.
· One commentary said this of Ephesians, “this perhaps the profoundest book in existence.” It is a book “which sounds the lowest depths of Christian doctrine, and scales the loftiest heights of Christian experience”
· This epistle is referenced as key for establishing the truth of God’s complete sovereignty in our personal salvation[2]
Notes on Bryan Chapell, “Our Calling” – Ephesians 1:1-2, pp. 3-16
The Source of Strength
· Paul faces immense challenges: if being a chosen messenger isn’t difficult enough, the culture surrounding Ephesus is historically opposed to the message of God’s covenantal love, but the covenantal people who are there (the Jews) are opposed to the Gentiles receiving “their” message.
· Cultural, historical and racial differences confront the apostle – and what can he do? He’s in prison – quitting would be understandable, but he recognizes that his strength to face the obstacles lies in provisions beyond him: God’s Word and God’s will.
God’s Word (1:1)
· Apostle – “appointed messenger” – Paul has been called by Jesus to speak! Not noly that Paul belongs to Christ Jesus, but also that Paul represents Christ so definitely that Paul’s message is Christ’s own message. Paul speaks, Christ speaks.
o Opposition, affliction, imprisonment? What do these matter, HE SPEAKS FOR GOD!
· How does this help us? We have this inspired message from Paul/Jesus –therefore, when we speak faithfully the truths contained in this book – we speak for God. Rely upon the Word of God! His word is our source of strength.
God’s Will (1:1a)
· Paul’s confidence, his offense and his defense is found in that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus by “the will of God.”
· Remember this is the man who killed and tortured those who professed the name of Christ! How can he defend his right to speak? What right does he have? NONE! But Paul is not an apostle because of his merit, he is an apostle because of Christ’s redemption – Jesus corrected, claimed and commissioned him. He could speak for God, because it was God’s will.
o This should bring us great comfort – for what right do we have to speak for God? None, were my speaking based on my merit, I would be mute – BUT, JESUS! But, Jesus. Because God wants me and calls me to speak, I have right to speak.
· Paul could not only say he can speak, because God wants him to – he can say “and you must listen..” Not because of his own authority, but because of God’s.
· What effect should believing that God’s people are chosen for a divine purpose by the will of God? Confidence! Confidence that God has called for a purpose.
Acknowledge the Strength of Your Opposition (1:1b-c)
· Common day readers miss what Paul is saying, when he states the letter is “…to the saints who are in Ephesus…” This would be similar to saying his letter was to the Christians in Iran or the conservative evangelical working at MTV .
· Ephesus must have been an overwhelming city to minister in – fourth or fifth largest city in the world. Not merely because of size, however:
o Massive opposition from the Roman emperor cult: Still to this day, as you walk into Ephesus you can see the remnants of a great statue to the Roman emperor Trajan – who ruled after Paul’s time, but the statue still demonstrates the attitude of the Roman rulers Paul faced. The statue had Trajan with his foot upon the globe, equating his authority to that of a God.
o Sexual sin: Still to this day, one can make their way to the docks by the great port at the sea and a sign will emerge directing sailors to a brothel.
§ Ancient accounts demonstrates that the economy and culture of the entire region was lathered in materialism, sensuality, and idolatrous diversions as any modern city.
o Not more wicked than other cities, there were traces of desperate searching for the divine
§ Ephesus today, the most imposing building is the city’s library – representing the journey towards true enlightenment
o To call a “pagan-born” hearer a name such as “saint” (phrase of jewish origins: ‘set apart’ or ‘consecrated ones’) would have been unthinkable-even offensive- to the Jews of that time, it was a term reserved for special servants of God in Israel.
The Opposition Can Be Overcome (1:1c)
· Paul states both the physical and spiritual location of these saints:
o Physical: Ephesus/surrounding area
o Spiritual: in Christ Jesus
· When the culture surrounding us is full of sin and rebellion, we prevail not by our might but by virtue of the consecrating power of God that is ours by faith alone.
Recognize the Strength of Your Message (1:2)
· The salutation in verse 2 gives the reader the message Paul wishes to impart throughout the rest of the book: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” How can such hope be offered in the midst of such difficulty (sin culture in Ephesus)
o The Power of Grace (1:2a)
§ Grace is not of human origin, but from God – therefore has no limitations.
o The Power of Peace (1:2a)
§ The divine grace Paul received on the road to Damascus and the grace which he preaches to the Ephesians isn’t simply to produce hope – but peace, that God is no longer holding their sins against them. Amen! Peace!
“Peace is the evidence and expression of God’s power. Nothing in this world is more powerful than the peace that is the power of the gospel to them that believe. With such peace the gospel conquers challenges greater than we, and grants us the confidence and compassion to face them in Christ’s name and with his blessing.” –Bryan Chapell
Notes on John Stott, “Introduction to the Letter” – Ephesians 1:1-2, pp. 15-28
· John Calvin’s favorite letter…crown of St. Paul’s writings…the divinest composition of man…doctrine set to music
Message
· Letter focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and does through his Spirit today, in order to build his new society.
· Salutation: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
o Grace & Peace– God’s free, saving initiative and ‘peace’ what he has taken the intiative to do: reconcile sinners to himself and to each other in his new community.
· v 15 – Jesus made peace by the blood of his cross.
“For Paul the author is ‘an apostle of Christ Jesus’, the readers themselves in Christ Jesus, and the blessing comes to both them from God our Father and from… the Lord Jesus Christ... Thus the Lord Jesus Christ dominates Paul’s mind and fills his vision. He seems compelled to bring Jesus Christ into every sentence he writes…” –Stott, pp. 28
Grant’s Notes on Ephesians 1:1-2
Who is writing? Paul
Why is he writing? He is an apostle
An apostle of whom? of Christ Jesus
How can a man be God’s messenger? By the will of God
Who is Paul writing to? To those who are in Ephesus
Which people in Ephesus?
the saints
the Faithful
those in Christ Jesus:
Salutation:
What does Paul intend to demonstrate/communicate to the Ephesians?
‘The Free, initiating, new life producing…’ Grace
‘Which brings about, through the blood of the cross’ peace
‘Where does this grace and peace originate?
From God our Father
And the Lord Jesus Christ
V1 – The Letter opens with Paul identifying himself as the author, and as an apostle of Jesus Christ – not by his own doing, but by the will of God. He is writing to the saints, the faithful and those who are in Christ Jesus in Ephesus.
V2 – He greets them, and lays out the central theme for not only this book/text, but his life: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace? I know grace is unmerited favor, not only not receiving what one deserves but receiving good/blessing upon good/blessing.
According to, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, “Grace is the favor God is able to show to men because Christ died for them; ‘we are saved by grace.”
“an action which is beyond the ordinary course of what is expected, and is therefore commendable.”[3]
“By grace we are to understand the free and undeserved love and favour of God, and those graces of the Spirit which proceed from it; by peace all other blessings, spiritual and temporal, the fruits and product of the former. No peace without grace. No peace, nor grace, but from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ”.[4]
[1] Introduction and Context adapted from Easton’s Bible Dictionary all information taken from “Ephesus” and “Ephesians” sections unless otherwise noted.
[2] Chapell, Bryan. “Ephesians” page xvi.
[3]Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. Jud 17
[4]Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Eph 1:1
Context
· Paul is the author, as we see in Ephesians 1:1 and again in 3:1
· Paul, the first time he visited, sailed from Corinth to Ephesus with Prisca and Aquila. His first trip lasted only 3 short months. In Paul’s second visit to the church in Ephesus he remained there for three years. On Paul’s last journey to Jerusalem he landed at Miletus and brought together the elders from Ephesus and delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge in Acts 20:18-35
o 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by [2] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
Four years after Paul gave them this charge and ended up in jail for the first time he wrote this letter to the Ephesians, around 62 A.D.
Audience
· The Saints, the faithful, those who are in Christ – we see here that Paul is addressing all of those who believe in Jesus.
Ephesus
· Port City of Western Asia Minor, located on the Aegean Sea
· The church was founded by Paul
· Ephesians was written to a group of churches in the area surrounding Ephesus
· It was known as “the first and greatest metropolis of Asia.”
· Ephesus contained the massive Temple of Diana, containing her chief shrine
· Ephesus contained the largest theater in the world, capable of containing 50,000 spectators
· Paul saw Ephesus as strategic – he spoke of his opportunity to do ministry in Ephesus as having been the opening of “a great door and effectual.” Paul was correct, the gospel spread abroad from Ephesus almost to all of Asia.
· A part of the site of this once famous city is now occupied by a small Turkish village, Ayasaluk – the corruption of two Greek words meaning “the holy divine”
Themes
· It doesn’t seem to be written against a specific sin or problem within the churches, but simply out of Paul’s love for the church.
· The letter differs slightly from his letter to the Romans in how he describes the gospel. In Romans he speaks much of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ, in Ephesians however he writes specifically about the union to Jesus.
· One commentary said this of Ephesians, “this perhaps the profoundest book in existence.” It is a book “which sounds the lowest depths of Christian doctrine, and scales the loftiest heights of Christian experience”
· This epistle is referenced as key for establishing the truth of God’s complete sovereignty in our personal salvation[2]
Notes on Bryan Chapell, “Our Calling” – Ephesians 1:1-2, pp. 3-16
The Source of Strength
· Paul faces immense challenges: if being a chosen messenger isn’t difficult enough, the culture surrounding Ephesus is historically opposed to the message of God’s covenantal love, but the covenantal people who are there (the Jews) are opposed to the Gentiles receiving “their” message.
· Cultural, historical and racial differences confront the apostle – and what can he do? He’s in prison – quitting would be understandable, but he recognizes that his strength to face the obstacles lies in provisions beyond him: God’s Word and God’s will.
God’s Word (1:1)
· Apostle – “appointed messenger” – Paul has been called by Jesus to speak! Not noly that Paul belongs to Christ Jesus, but also that Paul represents Christ so definitely that Paul’s message is Christ’s own message. Paul speaks, Christ speaks.
o Opposition, affliction, imprisonment? What do these matter, HE SPEAKS FOR GOD!
· How does this help us? We have this inspired message from Paul/Jesus –therefore, when we speak faithfully the truths contained in this book – we speak for God. Rely upon the Word of God! His word is our source of strength.
God’s Will (1:1a)
· Paul’s confidence, his offense and his defense is found in that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus by “the will of God.”
· Remember this is the man who killed and tortured those who professed the name of Christ! How can he defend his right to speak? What right does he have? NONE! But Paul is not an apostle because of his merit, he is an apostle because of Christ’s redemption – Jesus corrected, claimed and commissioned him. He could speak for God, because it was God’s will.
o This should bring us great comfort – for what right do we have to speak for God? None, were my speaking based on my merit, I would be mute – BUT, JESUS! But, Jesus. Because God wants me and calls me to speak, I have right to speak.
· Paul could not only say he can speak, because God wants him to – he can say “and you must listen..” Not because of his own authority, but because of God’s.
· What effect should believing that God’s people are chosen for a divine purpose by the will of God? Confidence! Confidence that God has called for a purpose.
Acknowledge the Strength of Your Opposition (1:1b-c)
· Common day readers miss what Paul is saying, when he states the letter is “…to the saints who are in Ephesus…” This would be similar to saying his letter was to the Christians in Iran or the conservative evangelical working at MTV .
· Ephesus must have been an overwhelming city to minister in – fourth or fifth largest city in the world. Not merely because of size, however:
o Massive opposition from the Roman emperor cult: Still to this day, as you walk into Ephesus you can see the remnants of a great statue to the Roman emperor Trajan – who ruled after Paul’s time, but the statue still demonstrates the attitude of the Roman rulers Paul faced. The statue had Trajan with his foot upon the globe, equating his authority to that of a God.
o Sexual sin: Still to this day, one can make their way to the docks by the great port at the sea and a sign will emerge directing sailors to a brothel.
§ Ancient accounts demonstrates that the economy and culture of the entire region was lathered in materialism, sensuality, and idolatrous diversions as any modern city.
o Not more wicked than other cities, there were traces of desperate searching for the divine
§ Ephesus today, the most imposing building is the city’s library – representing the journey towards true enlightenment
o To call a “pagan-born” hearer a name such as “saint” (phrase of jewish origins: ‘set apart’ or ‘consecrated ones’) would have been unthinkable-even offensive- to the Jews of that time, it was a term reserved for special servants of God in Israel.
The Opposition Can Be Overcome (1:1c)
· Paul states both the physical and spiritual location of these saints:
o Physical: Ephesus/surrounding area
o Spiritual: in Christ Jesus
· When the culture surrounding us is full of sin and rebellion, we prevail not by our might but by virtue of the consecrating power of God that is ours by faith alone.
Recognize the Strength of Your Message (1:2)
· The salutation in verse 2 gives the reader the message Paul wishes to impart throughout the rest of the book: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” How can such hope be offered in the midst of such difficulty (sin culture in Ephesus)
o The Power of Grace (1:2a)
§ Grace is not of human origin, but from God – therefore has no limitations.
o The Power of Peace (1:2a)
§ The divine grace Paul received on the road to Damascus and the grace which he preaches to the Ephesians isn’t simply to produce hope – but peace, that God is no longer holding their sins against them. Amen! Peace!
“Peace is the evidence and expression of God’s power. Nothing in this world is more powerful than the peace that is the power of the gospel to them that believe. With such peace the gospel conquers challenges greater than we, and grants us the confidence and compassion to face them in Christ’s name and with his blessing.” –Bryan Chapell
Notes on John Stott, “Introduction to the Letter” – Ephesians 1:1-2, pp. 15-28
· John Calvin’s favorite letter…crown of St. Paul’s writings…the divinest composition of man…doctrine set to music
Message
· Letter focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and does through his Spirit today, in order to build his new society.
· Salutation: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
o Grace & Peace– God’s free, saving initiative and ‘peace’ what he has taken the intiative to do: reconcile sinners to himself and to each other in his new community.
· v 15 – Jesus made peace by the blood of his cross.
“For Paul the author is ‘an apostle of Christ Jesus’, the readers themselves in Christ Jesus, and the blessing comes to both them from God our Father and from… the Lord Jesus Christ... Thus the Lord Jesus Christ dominates Paul’s mind and fills his vision. He seems compelled to bring Jesus Christ into every sentence he writes…” –Stott, pp. 28
Grant’s Notes on Ephesians 1:1-2
Who is writing? Paul
Why is he writing? He is an apostle
An apostle of whom? of Christ Jesus
How can a man be God’s messenger? By the will of God
Who is Paul writing to? To those who are in Ephesus
Which people in Ephesus?
the saints
the Faithful
those in Christ Jesus:
Salutation:
What does Paul intend to demonstrate/communicate to the Ephesians?
‘The Free, initiating, new life producing…’ Grace
‘Which brings about, through the blood of the cross’ peace
‘Where does this grace and peace originate?
From God our Father
And the Lord Jesus Christ
V1 – The Letter opens with Paul identifying himself as the author, and as an apostle of Jesus Christ – not by his own doing, but by the will of God. He is writing to the saints, the faithful and those who are in Christ Jesus in Ephesus.
V2 – He greets them, and lays out the central theme for not only this book/text, but his life: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace? I know grace is unmerited favor, not only not receiving what one deserves but receiving good/blessing upon good/blessing.
According to, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, “Grace is the favor God is able to show to men because Christ died for them; ‘we are saved by grace.”
“an action which is beyond the ordinary course of what is expected, and is therefore commendable.”[3]
“By grace we are to understand the free and undeserved love and favour of God, and those graces of the Spirit which proceed from it; by peace all other blessings, spiritual and temporal, the fruits and product of the former. No peace without grace. No peace, nor grace, but from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ”.[4]
[1] Introduction and Context adapted from Easton’s Bible Dictionary all information taken from “Ephesus” and “Ephesians” sections unless otherwise noted.
[2] Chapell, Bryan. “Ephesians” page xvi.
[3]Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. Jud 17
[4]Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Eph 1:1
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