Ephesians
Author: Paul
Paul writes from prison about the church as one new people, gathered in Christ from Jews and Gentiles.
Outline
Every spiritual blessing (1–2)
The Father’s purpose, the Son’s blood, and the Spirit’s seal lead into a salvation by grace and one new man.
The mystery and the body (3–4)
Paul’s stewardship of the gospel to the Gentiles is joined to a call to keep the unity of the Spirit.
The walk and the armor (5–6)
Households are addressed, and the letter ends with the whole armor of God.
Key verses
Ephesians 1:3
God is blessed as the one who has blessed the church with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8–9
Salvation is by grace through faith, and it is not of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 6:11
Believers are told to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand.
Ephesians reads like a letter written to more than one congregation. Some early copies do not name Ephesus in the greeting, and the personal news that fills Paul’s other letters is thin here. What fills the page is a blessing. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, writes to the saints and the faithful and blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed them with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Chosen, predestinated to adoption, redeemed through his blood, forgiven, and given the mystery of his will: the sentences pile up before a main verb can finish the thought. The Spirit is the seal of the promise. Paul’s prayer is that they may know the hope of their calling and the power that raised Christ and set him over every name, as head of the church, which is his body.
The second chapter tells the story from the other side. They were dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world. God, rich in mercy, made them alive with Christ. By grace they are saved through faith, and that not of themselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. They are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. The works are the result, not the price. Gentiles, once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He is our peace. He has broken down the middle wall and made one new man, reconciling both to God in one body by the cross. They are no longer strangers. They are fellow citizens and of the household of God, built on the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. The church is a holy temple in the Lord.
Paul then explains why a prisoner is writing this. The mystery, hidden in other ages, is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel. He bows his knees that they would be strengthened in the inner man and know the love of Christ that passes knowledge. The practical half begins with a plea to walk worthy of the vocation, forbearing one another and keeping the unity of the Spirit. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. Gifts were given so that the body would grow up into Christ and no longer be children tossed by every wind of doctrine. Put off the old man. Speak truth. Do not let the sun go down on wrath. Work, so that you may give. Be kind. Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself. Light and darkness, wisdom and folly, are set against each other. Wives and husbands, children and fathers, servants and masters are addressed inside that walk, with Christ as the pattern of the husband’s love and the reminder that masters also have a Master in heaven.
The last image is a soldier who is told to stand. The wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. The armor is truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God, with prayer for all saints and for Paul, that he may open his mouth boldly. Tychicus will tell them how Paul is doing. Ephesians is the letter that treats the church’s unity as something God has already made in the cross, and then tells households and a prisoner’s friends to live as if that were true.