EPHESIANS by
Avon Malone
Avon Malone
Background - Paul is a prisoner (3:1; 4:1;
6:20) probably in Rome
(Ephesus and Caesarea
have been also proposed as the place
of writing). Ephesians belongs to the corpus of letters known as the prison letters which also includes Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These were written during the first
Roman imprisonment (about 60 or 61 to 62 A.D.) from which Paul seems to have
been released (Philippians 1:25, 26; Philemon 22. Quote from Clement of
Rome).
A. Destination and Identity -
Various Possibilities:
1.
The letter from
Laodicea (Colossians 4:14).
2.
E. Goodspeed's view -
a mosaic from other Pauline letters composed as a cover letter for the Pauline
corpus.
3.
A letter addressed
only to Ephesian Christians (Acts 19).
4.
A circular letter,
i.e., going to Ephesus and to a number of other churches in Asia Minor (1:1, 2;
1:15 and 3:1).
B. Tribute to Ephesians:
1.
"...the
most profound book in the Bible" - John Bannister, F.W.C.C. Lectures, 1961.
2.
"...the divinest
composition..." - Samuel Coleridge.
3.
"...an exalted
prose poem of Christ and the church."
C. Theme: The church in the eternal purpose.
Outlines:
Outlines:
A. R. C. Bell
1.
The calling of the church -
Chapters 1-3
2.
The conduct of the church - 4:1 - 6:9
3.
The conflict of the church - 6:10 - 6:24
B. W. Nee
1.
Sit - 1-3
2.
Walk - 4:1 - 6:9
3.
Stand - 6:10-24
C. The purpose of God - Chapter 1
The problem with man - Chapter 2
The problem with man - Chapter 2
The place of the church - Chapter 3
The plea for unity -
4:1-16
The practical section
- 4:17 - 6:24
D. An Extended
Outline (1:1 - 4:17) (Homer Hailey and Ed. C. Wharton are the compilers of the
following outline.)
I. GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN
CHRIST. EPHESIANS 1:3-14.
"The apostle
surveys in this thanksgiving the entire source of the revelation of grace.
Standing with the men of his day, the
newborn community of the sons of God in Christ, midway between the ages past and
to come, he looks backward to the source of man's salvation when it lay a silent thought in the mind of God, and
forward to the hour when it shall have accomplished its promise and achieved
our redemption." —G. B. Findlay, The Epistle to the Ephesians.
a.. God - the Architect and Fountain-head of all
blessings, vv. 3-6.
Verse 3.
"Every spiritual
blessing" - all blessings
are from God, and in Christ.
"Heavenly places, "en
tois erouraniois en Christoi." "This precise phrase (with en) occurs nowhere
else than in Ephesians in the New Testament" - A. T. Robertson, Word
Pictures.
"It is best therefore, to retain the simple
local meaning, and take it to describe the blessings which are stated to be in their nature spiritual,
further as being found in heaven. To that they belong, and from thence
it is that they come to us to be our present possession on earth. The choice of
the unusual form here may be due to the largeness of the idea. It is not merely
that the blessings with which God blessed us are blessings having their origin
in heaven, but that they are blessings which have their seat where God
himself is and where Christ reigns." Salmond, Expositor's Greek
Testament. See also Ephesians 1:20; 2:6; 3:10-11; cf. 6:12.
Verses 4-6.
He chose us, v. 4 (elected). (EklektosJ "picked
out, chosen." —Thayer. "Expresses the idea of selecting for oneself
out of a number... The foundation of the statement is the great Old Testament
idea of Israel as a nation chosen by the Lord to be a peculiar people unto
Himself, above all peoples that are upon the earth (Deuteronomy 14:2)... The immediate subject is not what we are made, but
what God does-His election and how it proceeds. And the idea is that
that election has its
ground in Christ and without respect to His special relation to us, and His forseen work, there would be no election
of us." Salmond, op. cit.
Before the foundation of the
world, v. 4
(Katabole) "a founding (laying down a
foundation, pro, John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20)."
-—Thayer "Lit., a casting down...(2)
(jrro, John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20; all other passages, a£0,
HH) The latter phrase (pro, the three passages just cited, HH) looks back to
the past eternity." W. E. Vine.
Having foreordained us into
adoption as sons, (prooridzo)
V. 5. oridzo. "To predetermine, decide
beforehand... to foreordain, appoint beforehand." —Thayer. "Denotes to bound, to set a boundary (English,
horizon); hence, to mark out definitely, determine, pro,
beforehand, to determine before, foreordain (Acts 4:28; I Corinthians 2:7;
Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5-11)." ~W. E. Vine.
But
the choosing, foreordaining, was in the purpose of God, see vv. 9-11. Keep this thought
before you in studying the passage.
Foreknowledge - study this also, prognosin,
noun form, two times in the New Testament; (proginosko) verb, 5 times;
Acts 26:5 2
Peter 3:17
Acts 2:23 1 Peter 1:2
Romans 8:29 Romans
11:2 1 Peter 1:20
Verb
form, purely classical,
"previous knowledge."
Wuest.
Noun
form, beyond purely classical meaning.
Verb
form, also beyond purely classical meaning.
b. Jesus Christ - the summing up of God's purpose
and the channel of His blessings, vv. 7-12.
Verse 7.
Redemption: explained as "the forgiveness of
trespasses." Through His blood - for both those of the Old Covenant and of the new, Hebrews 9:15,
22; 10:4. "That apart from us they should not be made perfect."
Hebrews 11:40.
Verses 8-10.
Mystery: (musterion) "1. A hidden or
secret thing, not obvious to understand. 2. A hidden purpose or counsel; secret
will." —Thayer
Dispensation - (oikonomia)
"administration, Dispensation." —Thayer, "arrangement or
administration" -- Vine. "The divine
ordering of the affairs of the world" - The New Century Dictionary.
Fullness of time - when the time should
be ready. When ready, Christ came, Galatians 4:4; Mark 1:14, 15. Thus began the
unfolding, the revelation of the mystery, the fulfilling
of the purpose of God. To sum up all things in Christ: i.e., the summing up of
God's redemption, thus uniting the family in heaven and on earth. See Ephesians
3:14.
Verse 11a.
In whom also we were made a heritage (Am S V); in
whom we have obtained an inheritance (KJV) (kleroo) "to make a
cleros, i.e. a heritage, private possession...the heritage of God, Ephesians
1:11 (In eccles, writ, it signifies to become a clergyman)." -Thayer.
Therefore, the Am S V is better, of 1:18.
Verses
llb-12.
A summary of the "purpose." Purpose -
"according to purpose," key to the passage, (protithemi)
"to set before, set forth," - W. E. Vine, (prothesis)
"The setting forth of a thing; placing it in view, 2. to set before one's
self, propose to one's self; to propose, determine." Thayer.
Therefore, purpose signifies God's plan
set before Himself from eternity.
Hence, God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, foreordained
us to adoption, according to purpose, in His plan.
c. The Holy Spirit - the earnest of our inheritance
vv. 13-14. You heard the gospel - you
believe - you v/ere sealed.
Verse 13.
Sealed: sphragidzo: "To set a mark upon
by impress of a seal, to stamp...respecting God, who by the gift of the Holy Spirit indicates who are his, pass.,
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30." —Thayer, "to seal, is used to indicate (d)
ownership and security, together with destination." —W. E. Vine.
"Holy Spirit of promise" - promise; Not
active, bringing or confirming the promise; but passive, promised; object or
content of the promise. Promises Joel 2:28-32; Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 26:26, 27; Zechariah 12:10; John 14-16; Acts
2:38-39; Galatians 3:26:27; 4:6-7. —Hence, it was the Holy Spirit himself who was promised.
Verse 14.
Earnest, (arrabon) "an earnest, i.e.
money which in purchases is given as a
pledge that the full amount will subsequently be paid." —Thayer. "Originally, earnest-money deposited by
the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed. In general usage
it came to denote a pledge or earnest of any sort; in the New Testament it is used only of that which is assured by God to
believers... 2 Corinthians
1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14" -W. E. Vine. Therefore, it is God's full
guarantee that the purpose will be consummated in our inheritance, in the
resurrection; the final work of Christ's
redemptive sacrifice, I Peter 1:5-9; •Hebrews 9:27, 28. This view of the purpose
extends from eternity to eternity.
II. THE CHURCH - IN THE
ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD: EPHESIANS 1:15 - 4:16.
In passing from the
book of Colossians to the book of Ephesians, one passes from a consideration of
"the fullness of Christ" to that of "the fullness of the
church." God in Christ - "Christ, the fullness of the Godhead."
Colossians 2:9. Christ in the church - "the church, the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all," Ephesians 1:22, 23.
The eternal purpose
of God has been considered; also it
has been shown that Christ is the summing up of all the purpose, wisdom and knowledge of God. In this section we
propose to show the place of the church in the eternal purpose of God, and that
in it are summed up all of God's provisions for man which He has made in
Christ.
1. The church - the fulness of Christ, Ephesians
1:15-23.
(1) In Christ: Every spiritual blessing,
1:3.
Redemption, the
forgiveness of sins, 1:7.
Summing
up of all things,
1:10.
God's
heritage, 1:11.
Sts. sealed unto the
inheritance, 1:13-14.
(2) Paul's prayer and desire for the
saints; that they may appropriate these blessings and the power which are at
the Christian's disposal, 1:15-20.
(3) But the church is the fullness of
Christ, 1:23. Therefore, all that God has provided in Christ is enjoyed by
those in Christ, who are the church, which is the fullness of Him that filleth all
in all. Every provision in Christ,
made by God for man, is realized in the church.
2. The church - the alive with Christ, 2:1-10.
(1) The former condition; dead in sins and trespasses, 2:1-3.
(2) But now raised up to sit with Him in heavenly places, and that by
the power exercised in Him when God raised Him 4, 10.
3. The church - the body of the reconciled, 2:11-18.
(1) Separated, alienated, and without
God, 2:11-12 (plus the enmity which existed between them and the Jews).
(2)
But
now made nigh in Christ,
by His blood,
13-15. One new man: the new
creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17; neither Jew nor Greek. The "one body"
is the church, made up of those new individuals.
(3) Reconciled in "one
body" - the church. Christ preached peace unto them; but when? In the Holy
Spirit through the gospel, John
14:18, 26; Acts 26:23; through the apostles, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; through Christians, Ephesians 3:17; Philippians 2:14-15; Revelation 22:17.
Therefore,
all the reconciled are those in Christ, in the
church; all outside of Christ are outside the church, the body of the
reconciled, and hence lost.
4. The church - a temple of God,
a habitation for God in the Spirit,
2:19-22.
2:19-22.
(1) Fellow-citizens - here in the kingdom idea - fellow-citizens
in the kingdom, though strangers in the world, 2:19; I Peter
2:11, 12. The kingdom and the church are one:
in the kingdom, though strangers in the world, 2:19; I Peter
2:11, 12. The kingdom and the church are one:
Church bought with
blood, Acts 20:28. Individuals bought with blood, I Peter 1:18, 19. The individuals bought with blood are the kingdom, Revelation
5:9, 10.
Since the individuals
bought with blood constitute the church -constitute the kingdom - the church
and kingdom are the same.
(2) Household of God - the family
idea - God's family, His sons and daughters, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 17; I Timothy
3:15.
(3) A temple of God - the worship
idea - a dwelling place for God in the Spirit,
vv. 20-22; see I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 17;
2 Corinthians
6:16-18; I Corinthians 6:19-20. The various congregations make up the church in
the aggregate.
5. The church - in the eternal purpose of God 3:1-13.
(1) The revelation of the
mystery, vv. 1-7.
The mystery: the place of the Gentiles in
the plan of God (see also Colossians 1:27; 2:3-4).
Fellow-heirs: Israel's God is our God; Abraham is our father, Galatians 3:7, 29;
Israel's experience our example, I Corinthians 10:6-11; their inheritance our
inheritance, Hebrews 9:15; Acts 20:32; both are heirs of the ages, I
Corinthians 3:21-23.
Fellow-members of the
body: one body, the
church, made up of Jews and Gentiles - now new - Ephesians 2:15, 17.
Fellow-partakers of
the promise: God's promise to
Abraham, Genesis 12:3; 22:18.
Its revelation: Through the apostles and
prophets (New Testament prophets, 4:11) by the Holy Spirit, John 14:26; 16:12-14; I Peter 1:3-4. Here is the Holy Spirit's work. (This forever answers the absurd claims of Mormonism and all
other modern revelationists, there
is nothing left to be revealed; there is no vacuum to be filled.)
(2) Paul's special mission, vv. 8-10.
Preach to the
Gentiles, v. 8. Whole plan of the
gospel. To make all men see - to bring them into fellowship with God through
the gospel, v. 9.
Through which
unfolding in the church angels were being instructed, v. 10. See I Peter
1:10-12.
And
now, fulfilled in the
church, hence the church was as much a part of that eternal purpose of God - the
body of reconciled and redeemed men - as any other part. This forever answers the claims and foolishness of premillenialist on the church as a substitute or an after-thought.
6. Therefore - unto Him be glory
in the church, 3:14-21.
(1)
Paul's prayer for the church that they faint not, but
they be strengthened in Christ, vv. 14-19.
(2)
"Unto
Him be glory.in the church and in Christ Jesus for
ever and ever." 3:20-21. Here
is God's great and eternal purpose finding its
fulfillment and unfolding - glorified in the church.
THE HOLY SPIRIT - HIS WORK.
1. The mission of the
Holy Spirit as
promised by Jesus.
(1) To be with the apostles as a
"Comforter," i.e., an aider, succorer, helper. To be with them in the
stead of Christ, 14:16-18. Comforter: parkletos: "3. In the widest
sense, a helper, succorer, aider, assistant." --Thayer. So used of the Holy Spirit who was to be with the disciples
in the stead of Christ.
Another: alios: "another, other." —Thayer. "Alios
expresses a numerical difference and denotes another of the same sort." W.
E. Vine.
Jesus: "I come unto you." He
came in the person of the Holy Spirit.
(2) To teach the apostles all things, to guide them into all
truth: 14:26; 16:13, 14.
truth: 14:26; 16:13, 14.
At this point He has
borne witness to Jesus: as He guided the apostles into all truth. This evidence is offered below.
(3) Declare things to come, 16:13.
At this point also
the Spirit has borne witness: all the church knew then and knows now about
things to come, the Holy Spirit revealed it.
One prophecy is
sufficient: Paul's declaration of the
apostasy, 2 Thessalonians 2. Continues to be fulfilled.
(4) Convict of sin, righteousness, judgment, 16:8.
This work He began on
Pentecost, through the preaching of the gospel, the resurrection of Christ,
Acts 2:37.
(5) Bear witness of Christ, 15:26-27.
This witness He has borne:
Abiding with them as
their helper, aider, succorer. Guiding them into all truth. Confirming that truth with signs that followed. Convicting the world of sin,
righteousness, judgement.
The completed work of the Holy Spirit in the complete revelation.
(1) He revealed the mystery, God's
purpose in Christ, Ephesians 3:3-5; I Corinthians 2:7-13.
(2) He made known the grace of God:
The grace has appeared, Titus
2:11-14.
The grace
has been preached by the Spirit, I Peter
1:10-12.
That grace has been
written, I Peter 5:12.
(3) The faith has been once delivered: 2 Peter 1:1-2. Jude 3:
The faith - the
organized body of truth.
Once for all - complete, not to be repeated or added to.
Delivered - revealed, not
discovered.
Since
the apostles completed their work, not one line of truth has
been added to that faith once for all
delivered. This is the Spirit's
testimony to the truthfulness and omniscience of Jesus.
(4) Man made partaker of the Divine nature.
By
the work of the divine power -
the Holy Spirit - man is made
partaker of the divine nature, 2
Peter 1:4. The divine power granted the things pertaining to godliness (v.
3); through this man becomes partaker of the
divine nature (v. 4); but such
could come only by the Holy Spirit, and did
so come. The transformation of sinners into the likeness of God, and their partaking of the divine
nature is the Spirit's testimony to Christ's deity.
(5) Apostles made sufficient as ministers of a new covenant.
A word ministry given
to the apostles who ministered terms of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19);
which ministry was "sufficient" to provide the New Covenant (2
Corinthians 3:5-6). Cf. 2:14-16.
a. Jesus died dedicating for us the new covenant,
Hebrews 9:15-20 (which is the "new and living
way," Cf. 10:19-20).
b. Which covenant was delivered to us by the apostles, 2
Corinthians 2:14-16; 3:5-6.
c. Who received such "knowledge of a new covenant
and the authority to minister it once for all
time through the promised Holy Spirit,
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (Cf. 2:14, 16; 3:5-6; Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:1-13).
(6) Men thoroughly furnished unto every good work, 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
Thoroughly furnished
by the scriptures; therefore, the Scriptures would have to be complete. Peter
considered Paul's writing as scripture, hence that by the New Testament writers
now makes man complete, II Peter 3:15-16.
Since by the Holy Spirit the mystery is revealed, the grace
of God is made known, :.he faith
has been once for all delivered, man is made partaker of divine nature, has knowledge of the new
covenant through the complete word and thoroughly furnished unto all good
works, we conclude that all truth is
now revealed, complete, and thereby the Holy Spirit
has borne and bears testimony today to Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God.
IV. THE CHURCH - ITS UNITY AND
GROWTH: 4:1-16.
1. The unifying spirit
- the temper in which unity is to be achieved and maintained, vv. 1-3.
(1) A proper sense of our Christian calling, v. 1. This carries one back to
the first three chapters; God's
purpose. Called according to His
purpose, Romans 8:28. Heavenly calling, Hebrews 3:1, into fellowship with Christ, I
Corinthians 1:9. The walk must be worthy of the calling, and of God, I Thessalonians 2:12; and of the gospel of Christ, Philippians 1:27.
(2) Lowliness and meekness. Lowliness
is deep humility; meekness, that disposition which readily submits to God, James 1:21; it does not avenge
itself. Both are exemplified in Jesus, Matthew 11:29 and commanded of Christians, I Peter 5:5-7.
(3) Longsuffering - that disposition
that leads to suppression of anger - opposed to short temper.
(4) Forbearing...love
- the spirit in which
longsuffering is exercise; spirit of unselfishness, in love, I
Corinthians 13:4-7.
5. Diligence...spirit...peace
- Diligence:
"steady application...
constant care...due
attention, industry; assiduity."
Web.
2. The unifying facts - the basis upon which unity rests, 4-6.
(1) One body - organism,
organization.
(2) One spirit - The Holy Spirit by which led. Oneness of life.
(3) One hope -
the hope wrought in you by your calling.
(4) One Lord - the Christ, around
whom all revolves. One head.
(5) One faith - One belief, having Christ as its object; one system of salvation, the result of one message, Jude 3; Romans 10:17; I
Peter 4:11.
(6) One baptism - The rite, same for all, by which admitted into fellowship with
Him, Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-5.
(7) One God - all - the author of every blessing,
Ephesians 1:3. Over all - transcendence, sovereignty over all expresses supremacy of absolute Godhead
and Fatherhood.
Through
all - Expressing immanence, all
pervading presence. In all - indwelling, expressing the constant abode of the one God and Father in His people, by His Spirit,
Ephesians 2:23.
3. The unifying gifts - the offices under which unity
is to be achieved
and maintained, vv. 8-12.
and maintained, vv. 8-12.
(1) The gifts: Apostles and prophets - provision for
the foundation of the church, 2:19-20; 3:5. The foundation had to be laid only
once, hence, no successors in their office. They are still there: Apostles -
provision for:
a. Laying the foundation of the church - Ephesians
2:19-20. That foundation was the deity of Christ, Matthew 16:13-19. Christ here makes a 3-fold claim:
(1) to build His church,
(2) to receive a resurrection,
and hence,
(3) to be stronger than death. To
meet these claims he must be "tried." Isaiah 28:16 prophesies of the "tried stone." On the
cross the Lord was "tried" and at the resurrection He was
"proven." Hence, Christ's
deity is established at the resurrection. This is the foundation stone
upon which the church rests.
I
Corinthians 3:9-11.
b. Judging the church - Matthew 19:28. The apostles
were to sit on thrones of authority judging the church in the regeneration, the apostles are now judging, (Cf.
John 3:3; I Corinthians 4:15; James 1:18; I Peter 1:22; Titus 3:5). The apostles are still with us judging the
church by the authority of their word.
Apostles: Witnesses, Acts 1:21-22; 2:32-33; 10:39-41.
Signs,
Revelation 2:2; 2
Corinthians 11:14-15; 12:13. Three classes, Christ, Hebrews 3:1; of Christ, the
twelve; of the church, 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians
2:25.
Prophets:
Mouth, spokesman, Exodus 4:16; 7:1. Inspired teachers. Associated with
the apostles, Ephesians 2:19-23; 3:4-5; 4:11. Independent of apostles, Acts
11:27-30; 13:1-3; 21:9-10.
Evangelists:
Provision for the extension of the church. To proclaim
the
gospel: Philippians, Acts 21:8;
Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:5. Study the work of
these two men to learn what they do.
Pastors and
Teachers:
Provision for the continuation, development of the church; discipline.
Pastors:
Elders, bishops, shepherds, Acts 20:17, 28; I Peter 5:1-5; Titus 1:5, 7.
See also Hebrews 13:17; I
Thessalonians 5:12-15.
Teachers: Instructors, faithful and able, 2 Timothy
2:2; James 3:1.
(2) The purpose of
these ministers: Perfecting the saints - maturing. Work of ministering -
spiritual ministry, service. Building
up of the body of Christ - numerically and
spiritually.
4. The unifying growth - development through which
unity is attained, vv. 12-16.
Unity
of faith and knowledge of the Son of God; full grown man; measure of stature of
fullness of Christ - the possession of all Christ has to
offer, becoming like Him, 12, 13.
Aim: Purpose of such a goal; no
longer children, but grown up,
complete, mature, and steadfast -
i.e., "not tossed about..."
