Reference: Ephesians, Epistle to
Easton
was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles.
Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the church there, and indicative of his earnest desire that they should be fully instructed in the profound doctrines of the gospel. It contains (1) the salutation (Eph 1:1-2); (2) a general description of the blessings the gospel reveals, as to their source, means by which they are attained, purpose for which they are bestowed, and their final result, with a fervent prayer for the further spiritual enrichment of the Ephesians (Eph 1:3-2:10); (3) "a record of that marked change in spiritual position which the Gentile believers now possessed, ending with an account of the writer's selection to and qualification for the apostolate of heathendom, a fact so considered as to keep them from being dispirited, and to lead him to pray for enlarged spiritual benefactions on his absent sympathizers" (Eph 2:12-3:21); (4) a chapter on unity as undisturbed by diversity of gifts (Eph 4:1-16); (5) special injunctions bearing on ordinary life (Eph 4:17-6:10); (6) the imagery of a spiritual warfare, mission of Tychicus, and valedictory blessing (Eph 6:11-24).
Planting of the church at Ephesus. Paul's first and hurried visit for the space of three months to Ephesus is recorded in Ac 18:19-21. The work he began on this occasion was carried forward by Apollos (Ac 18:24-26) and Aquila and Priscilla. On his second visit, early in the following year, he remained at Ephesus "three years," for he found it was the key to the western provinces of Asia Minor. Here "a great door and effectual" was opened to him (1Co 16:9), and the church was established and strengthened by his assiduous labours there (Ac 20:20,31). From Ephesus as a centre the gospel spread abroad "almost throughout all Asia" (Ac 19:26). The word "mightily grew and prevailed" despite all the opposition and persecution he encountered.
On his last journey to Jerusalem the apostle landed at Miletus, and summoning together the elders of the church from Ephesus, delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge (Ac 20:18-35), expecting to see them no more.
The following parallels between this epistle and the Milesian charge may be traced:
(1.) Ac 20:19 = Eph 4:2. The phrase "lowliness of mind" occurs nowhere else.
(2.) Ac 20:27 = Eph 1:11. The word "counsel," as denoting the divine plan, occurs only here and Heb 6:17.
(3.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 3:20. The divine ability.
(4.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 2:20. The building upon the foundation.
(5.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 1:14,18. "The inheritance of the saints."
Place and date of the writing of the letter. It was evidently written from Rome during Paul's first imprisonment (Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), and probably soon after his arrival there, about the year 62, four years after he had parted with the Ephesian elders at Miletus. The subscription of this epistle is correct.
There seems to have been no special occasion for the writing of this letter, as already noted. Paul's object was plainly not polemical. No errors had sprung up in the church which he sought to point out and refute. The object of the apostle is "to set forth the ground, the cause, and the aim and end of the church of the faithful in Christ. He speaks to the Ephesians as a type or sample of the church universal." The church's foundations, its course, and its end, are his theme. "Everywhere the foundation of the church is the will of the Father; the course of the church is by the satisfaction of the Son; the end of the church is the life in the Holy Spirit." In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes from the point of view of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ; here he writes from the point of view specially of union to the Redeemer, and hence of the oneness of the true church of Christ. "This is 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;" and the fact that the apostle evidently expected the Ephesians to understand it is an evidence of the "proficiency which Paul's converts had attained under his preaching at Ephesus."
Relation between this epistle and that to the Colossians (q.v.). "The letters of the apostle are the fervent outburst of pastoral zeal and attachment, written without reserve and in unaffected simplicity; sentiments come warm from the heart, without the shaping out, pruning, and punctilious arrangement of a formal discourse. There is such a fresh and familiar transcription of feeling, so frequent an introduction of coloquial idiom, and so much of conversational frankness and vivacity, that the reader associates the image of the writer with every paragraph, and the ear seems to catch and recognize the very tones of living address." "Is it then any matter of amazement that one letter should resemble another, or that two written about the same time should have so much in common and so much that is peculiar? The close relation as to style and subject between the epistles to Colosse and Ephesus must strike every reader. Their precise relation to each other has given rise to much discussion. The great probability is that the epistle to Colosse was first written; the parallel passages in Ephesians, which amount to about forty-two in number, having the appearance of being expansions from the epistle to Colosse. Compare:
The style of this epistle is exceedingly animated, and corresponds with the state of the apostle's mind at the time of writing. Overjoyed with the account which their messenger had brought him of their faith and holiness (Eph 1:15), and transported with the consideration of the unsearchable wisdom of God displayed in the work of man's redemption, and of his astonishing love towards the Gentiles in making them partakers through faith of all the benefits of Christ's death, he soars high in his sentiments on those grand subjects, and gives his thoughts utterance in sublime and copious expression.
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And they arrived in Ephesus, and he left them there: and himself, having gone into the synagogue, spoke to the Jews. And they asking him to remain a longer time, he did not consent; read more. but having bidden them adieu; and saying, I will return unto you again, God willing; he embarked from Ephesus;
And a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came into Ephesus, being mighty in the scriptures. And he was instructed in the way of the Lord, and zealous in spirit, was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John; read more. and he began to preach boldly in the synagogue. But Priscilla and Aquila, having heard him, took him to themselves, and expounded unto him the way of the Lord more perfectly.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, that this Paul having persuaded them has turned away a great multitude, saying that there are no gods made with hands.
And when they came to him, he said to them, You know, that from the first day from which I came unto Asia, how I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all humility, and tears, and temptations, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews:
serving the Lord with all humility, and tears, and temptations, which came upon me through the plots of the Jews: how I omitted nothing of those things which are profitable, that I should not declare unto you and teach you publicly and from house to house,
how I omitted nothing of those things which are profitable, that I should not declare unto you and teach you publicly and from house to house, witnessing both to Jews, and to Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. read more. And now, behold, I go to Jerusalem bound in spirit, not knowing the things which shall come upon me in it: except that the Holy Ghost in every city witnesses to me, saying that bonds and tribulations await me. But I consider my life worthy of no consideration to myself, so as to finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear testimony to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I came preaching the gospel of the kingdom, shall see my face no more. Therefore I witness to you this clay, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I did not shrink to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
for I did not shrink to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves, and all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost has placed you shepherds, to shepherdise the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. read more. I know, that after my departure grievous wolves will rise up against you, not sparing the flock; and men from you yourselves will rise up, speaking perverse things, in order to lead away disciples after them. Watch therefore, remembering, that three years night and day I ceased not admonishing you with tears.
Watch therefore, remembering, that three years night and day I ceased not admonishing you with tears. And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, who is able to edify you, and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, who is able to edify you, and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, who is able to edify you, and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God and the word of His grace, who is able to edify you, and give you an inheritance among all the sanctified. I have not sought the silver, or gold, or raiment of any one; read more. you yourselves know, that these hands did minister to my necessities, and those along with me. I have shown you all things, that it so behooveth you laboring to assist the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
for a door is opened unto me great and effectual, and there are many antagonizing.
Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of transgressions, according to the riches of his grace,
in the economy of the fulness of the times, to rehead all things in Christ, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth; in him, in whom we were also chosen by lot, having been predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things within us according to the counsel of his own will;
who is the earnest of our salvation, unto the redemption of the possession, unto the praise of his glory. Therefore I also, having heard of the faith among you in the Lord Jesus, and your love which is toward all the saints,
the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone,
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling with which you are called,
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling with which you are called, with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in divine love;
with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in divine love;
with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in divine love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, as ye indeed are called in one hope of your calling;
There is one body and one Spirit, as ye indeed are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, read more. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and above you all, and in all. And to each one of you grace is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore he says, Having ascended upon high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to the people. But what is that which ascended, except that which descended into the lower parts of the earth? But the one having descended and the one having ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things, is the same. And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; unto the perfection of the saints, in the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ: until we may all come into the unity of the faith, and of the perfect knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, into the measure of the likeness of the fulness of Christ: in order that we may be no longer infants, tossed by the waves and carried about by every wind of teaching, in the caprice of the people, in their craftiness, pursuant to their method of delusion; but speaking the truth in divine love, let its grow up in him in all things, who is the head, Christ; from whom the whole body, being assimilated and knitted together through every joint of the supply, according to the working in each several part, makes increase of the body in the edification of itself in divine love.
from whom the whole body, being assimilated and knitted together through every joint of the supply, according to the working in each several part, makes increase of the body in the edification of itself in divine love.
that with reference to your former life, you are to lay aside the old man, who is corrupt in the lusts of deception; and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, read more. and to put on the new man, who has been created in harmony with God in the righteousness and holiness of the truth.
But be ye kind toward one another, merciful, forgiving one another, as indeed God in Christ forgave you.
Let no one deceive you with empty words: for through these the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore be not partakers along with them. read more. For at one time ye were darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord: walk about as children of the light,
Therefore see how you walk about circumspectly, not as unwise, but wise; buying in the opportunity, because the days are evil.
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Put on the panoply of God, that you may be able to stand against the methods of the devil, because there is not to us fighting against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the heavenlies. read more. Therefore take the panoply of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all things, to stand. Stand therefore, being girded about as to your loins with truth, and being invested with the breastplate of righteousness, and being shod as to your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all things taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit in every place, and watching unto this same thing in all perseverance and prayer for all the saints, and for me that the word may be given unto me in opening of my mouth, boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
and for me that the word may be given unto me in opening of my mouth, boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chain; in order that in it I may preach boldly, as it behooves me to speak.
for which I am an ambassador in chain; in order that in it I may preach boldly, as it behooves me to speak.
for which I am an ambassador in chain; in order that in it I may preach boldly, as it behooves me to speak. But in order that you may also know the things concerning me, how I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you: read more. whom I sent to you unto this same thing, in order that you may know the affairs concerning us, and he may comfort your hearts.
whom I sent to you unto this same thing, in order that you may know the affairs concerning us, and he may comfort your hearts. Peace and divine love to the brethren, with faith, from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. read more. Grace be with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with divine love in purity.
in whom we have redemption, the remission of sins:
and through him, to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross: through him, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
whose minister I became, according to the economy of God which was given to me unto you, to fulfill the word of God,
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you are also raised by the faith of the operation of God, who raised him from the dead: and you, being dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your depravity, has he created life in you along with himself, having forgiven us all transgressions,
and not holding the Head, from which the entire body, by joints and ligaments being supplied and knitted together, increases the increase of God.
through which the wrath of God comes. In which you indeed at one time did walk about, when you lived in them: read more. but you also lay aside all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, disgraceful talk out of your mouths: lie not to one another, having laid aside the old man with his habits, and having put on the new man, who is renewed into perfect knowledge according to the image of him who created him:
Therefore, as elect of God, holy and beloved, put on affections of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any one may have a quarrel against any one; as Christ also forgave you, so indeed do you likewise:
forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any one may have a quarrel against any one; as Christ also forgave you, so indeed do you likewise: and in all these things put on divine love, which is the bond of perfection. read more. And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, in which you are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another, in all wisdom, in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with grace making melody in your hearts to God;
at the same time also praying for us, in order that God may open to us the door of the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, on account of which I indeed am bound; in order that I may manifest the same, as it behooves me to speak. read more. Walk about in wisdom toward the aliens, buying in the opportunity.
whom I sent unto you for this same thing, in order that you may know the things concerning us, and he may comfort your hearts;
but God, in this wishing more abundantly to show forth to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Hastings
This Epistle belongs to the group of Epistles of the Captivity, and was almost certainly, if genuine, written from Rome, and sent by Tychicus at the same time as the Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (see Colossians).
1. Destination.
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because in everything you are enriched in him, in all speech and in all knowledge;
but we speak the wisdom of God having been hidden in a mystery, which God predestinated before the ages unto our glory: which no one of the princes of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. read more. But, as has been written, the things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and has not entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
But God has revealed them to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who of men knows the things of man, except the spirit of the man which is in him? so indeed no one knows the things of God, except the Spirit of God.
For we are God's fellow-laborers; ye are God's farm; ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given unto me, I as a wise architect, laid the foundation; and another builds on it. Let each one take heed how he builds. read more. For other foundation no one is able to lay beside the one which is laid, who is Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Because we, being many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of one bread.
then the end, when he may deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he may destroy all government, all authority and power. For it behooves him to reign until he may put all enemies under his feet. read more. Death the last enemy is destroyed. For, he has subordinated all things beneath his feet. But when he may say, that all things have been subordinated, it is evident that the One having subordinated all things to him is excepted. But when he may subordinate all things to him, then the Son himself will also be subordinated to him who hath subordinated all things to Himself, in order that God may be all things in all.
Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.
in the economy of the fulness of the times, to rehead all things in Christ, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth; in him,
in whom you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom, also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our salvation, unto the redemption of the possession, unto the praise of his glory. read more. Therefore I also, having heard of the faith among you in the Lord Jesus, and your love which is toward all the saints,
in order that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of the glory, may grant unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the perfect knowledge of himself;
which he has wrought in Christ, raising him from the dead, and seating him on his right hand in the heavenlies,
which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all things in all.
in order that he may show in coming ages the superabounding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Therefore remember, that when you were Gentiles in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, made in the flesh with hands; because you were at that time without Christ, being alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers of the covenants of the promise, having no hope and being atheists in the world.
and that he may reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity on in.
because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Then therefore you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow-citizens of the saints, and members of the household of God, read more. having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone,
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the entire edifice, being assimilated, increases into a holy temple in the Lord;
in whom the entire edifice, being assimilated, increases into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom also you are built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling with which you are called, with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in divine love; read more. endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, as ye indeed are called in one hope of your calling; read more. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and above you all, and in all. And to each one of you grace is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
And he gave some, apostles; some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; unto the perfection of the saints, in the work of the ministry, in the edification of the body of Christ: read more. until we may all come into the unity of the faith, and of the perfect knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, into the measure of the likeness of the fulness of Christ:
from whom the whole body, being assimilated and knitted together through every joint of the supply, according to the working in each several part, makes increase of the body in the edification of itself in divine love.
Therefore, having laid aside lying, speak the truth each one with his neighbors: because we are members of one another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your provocation: read more. neither give place to the devil. Let the one stealing steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his own hands doing that which is good, that he may have to give to the one having need. Let no corrupt communication go forth out of your mouth, but if anything is good unto edification of need, in order that he may give grace to those who hear. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and blasphemy, depart from you, with all evil. read more. But be ye kind toward one another, merciful, forgiving one another, as indeed God in Christ forgave you.
and walk about in divine love, as Christ also loved you, and gave himself for you, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweet savor.
and walk about in divine love, as Christ also loved you, and gave himself for you, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweet savor.
(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is also the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. read more. But as the church is submissive to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives with divine love, as Christ also loved the church with divine love, and gave himself for her;
Husbands, love your wives with divine love, as Christ also loved the church with divine love, and gave himself for her; in order that he might sanctify her, having purified her by the washing of water through the word,
in order that he might sanctify her, having purified her by the washing of water through the word, in order that he might present to himself the glorious church, having not spot or wrinkle or any of such things; but that she might be holy and blameless.
in order that he might present to himself the glorious church, having not spot or wrinkle or any of such things; but that she might be holy and blameless.
And, ye masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatening: knowing that their Master and yours is in the heavens, and that there is no respect of persons with him. Finally, be filled up with dynamite in the Lord, and in the power of his might. read more. Put on the panoply of God, that you may be able to stand against the methods of the devil, because there is not to us fighting against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the heavenlies. Therefore take the panoply of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all things, to stand.
Therefore take the panoply of God, that you may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all things, to stand. Stand therefore, being girded about as to your loins with truth, and being invested with the breastplate of righteousness, read more. and being shod as to your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all things taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit in every place, and watching unto this same thing in all perseverance and prayer for all the saints,
praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit in every place, and watching unto this same thing in all perseverance and prayer for all the saints,
But in order that you may also know the things concerning me, how I am doing, Tychicus, my beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you: whom I sent to you unto this same thing, in order that you may know the affairs concerning us, and he may comfort your hearts.
Only live worthily of the gospel of Christ: in order that, whether coming and seeing you or being absent, I hear those things concerning you, that you are standing in one spirit, with one soul contending for the faith of the gospel;
Only live worthily of the gospel of Christ: in order that, whether coming and seeing you or being absent, I hear those things concerning you, that you are standing in one spirit, with one soul contending for the faith of the gospel;
Therefore God has indeed exalted him, and given him a name above every name;
For we are the circumcision, who serve the Spirit of God, and boast in Christ Jesus, also having no confidence in the flesh:
For our citizenship is in the heavens; whence we are indeed looking for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Be solicitous about nothing; but in all prayer and supplication, let your request be made known to God.
But I have all things, and I abound: I am full, having received from Epaphroditus those things from you, an odor of a sweet savor, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
And when the letter may be read by you, cause that it may also be read in the church of the Laodiceans; and that you may also read the letter from Laodicea.
as also in all his epistles, speaking in the same concerning these things; in which there are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unestablished wrest, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
And all those who dwell upon the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world, will worship him.
Let us rejoice and be glad, and give glory to him! because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven from God,
And the wall of the city having twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.