Background
Act 19
- Temple of Artemis
- Goddess Diana is the Roman equivalent
- Paul baptizes 12 who were only baptized into the baptism of John
- Paul preached and reasoned the gospel in the Jews' sinagogue for 3 months. But when they refused he relocated in school of Tyrannus
- His preaching continued for 2 years until the gospel was heard in all of Asia
- Unusual Miracles from the handkerchief's of Paul
- Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to use the Name of Jesus. But they were overpowered by possessed man: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?
- A man named Demetrius created a commotion about the Way because many were leaving idolatory and going into Christianity and that represented a threat against their livelihood.
- Ephesus was a "melting pot" of people. There were many diverse people there
Epistle to the Ephesians Outline
- 1:1,2. The greeting, from Paul to the church of Ephesus.
- 1:3–2:10. A general account of the blessings that the gospel reveals. This includes the source of these blessings, the means by which they are attained, the reason why they are given, and their final result. The whole of the section 1:3–23 consists in the original Greek of just two lengthy and complex sentences (1:3–14, 15–23). It ends with a fervent prayer for the further spiritual enrichment of the Ephesians.
- 2:11–3:21. A description of the change in the spiritual position of Gentiles as a result of the work of Christ. It ends with an account of how Paul was selected and qualified to be an apostle to the Gentiles, in the hope that this will keep them from being dispirited and lead him to pray for them.
- 4:1–16. A chapter on unity in the midst of the diversity of gifts among believers.
- 4:17–6:9. Instructions about ordinary life and different relationships.
- 6:10–24. The imagery of spiritual warfare (including the metaphor of the Armor of God), the mission of Tychicus, and valedictory blessings.
Chapter Outline
- Chapter 1: Christ Blesses and Fills His Church
- He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love
- In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
- He might gather together in one all things in Christ, [c]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him
- you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[d] is the [e]guarantee of our inheritance
- Chapter 2: Christ Unites Humanity in His Church
- and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
- even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
- And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience
- Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
- For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
- create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity
- Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone
- Chapter 3: The Great Love of God in the Salvation of the Gentiles
- Mystery Revealed: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel
- and to make all see what is the [b]fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things [c]through Jesus Christ
- that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Chapter 4: Renewal and the Christian Behavior
- beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love
- And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry
- that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting
- but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
- But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption
- Chapter 5: Christian Behavior in the World
- Therefore be imitators of God as dear children
- But all things that are [d]exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
- See then that you walk [e]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord
- Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her
- So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies
- This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- Chapter 6: The Armor of God
- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh
- And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening
- be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might
- Put on the whole armor of God
Christ Our Cornerstone
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.