Ephesians Study Guide - Think on these things

1 A Study Guide Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JesusChrist, who hath blessed us with all spiritual bless-ings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 EPHESIANSA Study ofPaul s Epistle to theEphesiansDeveloped by Matt Hennecke 1995 Matt HenneckeAll Rights : materials may be freely copied as long as the materials and copyright statement above andthroughout the workbook are not altered in any way. You may not charge for these 2003 MANNA. All Rights Sea(Mar Nostrum)Black SeaRed SeaAchaiaRoman Empire1st Triumvirant c. 60 Caesar 44 Caesar 14 extent 8-115 ADLondiniumCologneLutetiaGadesRomePompey SyracuseCarthageCyreneAlexandriaDamascus TarsusEphesusPergamumByzantiumActiumDelp hiAthensTarshish?M a u r e t a n i aNumidiaAfricaEgyptSyriaD a c i aPontusThraceMoesiaIllyricumS a r m a t i aArmeniaAsiaCyrenaicaNabateaBithyniaCapp adociaG e r m a n i aG a u lS p a i nBelgicaBritainMacedoniaJerusalemItalyNS EWc1999 MANNAS cale of Miles0600A MAP OF THE ROMAN EMPIRENSEWFortGymnasiumGymnasiumStadiumT heaterTemple ofSerapisLibrary ofCelsiusPalacePrytaneumOdeonGymnasiumTe mple ofDiana(Artemis)Hill ofAstyagesGateGateMt.

2 PionKoressosGateByzantineWallsMagnesiaGa teMt. KoressosAgoraAcadian AvenueEphesusCayster RiverCanalHarborBathsA S I AL y d i aC a r i aL y c i aAegeanSeaCayster RiverMaeander RiverEphesusc1999 MANNAS cale of Feet02000 THE CITY OF EPHESUSTHE CITY OF EPHESUSE phesus became the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. Ephesus had a richhistory even before Paul and others arrived to teach. Apparently the city of Ephesus wassettled by people of Asiatic origin about the middle of the 2nd millennium An an-cient Hittite document from the 14th century mentions a city called "Apasas." Duringthe 11th century many Athenians arrived, assimilating the older population and bringinga decided Greek influence into the city has figured prominently in the spread of the gospel in Asia. Not only did Paul(Acts 19:8-10) spend considerable time in the city of Ephesus, but the city was also visitedby Tychicus (Eph 6:21), Timothy (1 Tim 1:3), and Apollos (Acts 18:24).

3 John wrote to thechurch in Ephesus as recorded in Revelation (Rev. 1:11; Rev. 2:1).4 2003 MANNA. All Rights Blessings In ChristImportanceThis epistle was evidently addressed to the church in Ephesus (cf. Acts 19), but may have been intendedas a circular letter to be read by neighboring churches. The phrase in Ephesus (1:1) is absent in two ofthe oldest manuscripts. Paul had spent nearly three years in Ephesus (Acts 19:8-41). After Paul sdeparture Timothy was left at Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3), and later the city seems to have been theheadquarters of John. The church in Ephesus is addressed first of the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2:1-7).Theme: In Christ and the blessings thereofThe word in occurs about 90 times in the Epistle. It stresses the truth of the believer s union with Christin death, resurrection and ultimate ascension. The fact of the believer s position in Christ permeatesthe entire thought of the epistle. Accordingly, Ephesians 1:3 seems to suggest the theme of the epistle: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessingsin heavenly places in Christ.

4 Time of WritingPaul wrote this letter, the first of his so-called prison epistles, about 61 or 62 from prison in of EphesiansChapters1 - 3 Our position in Christ (What we are before God)1:1-23 The believers as God s child2:1-18 The believer as a member of God s body2:19-3:21 The believer as God s buildingChapters4 - 6 Our practice of Christ (How we are to act before men)4:1-6:9 A worthy walk6:10-24 A continual conflictBackground Source: The Hodder Bible Handbook by Merrill F. Unger, Hodder & Stoughton, London 1984. page 523. Additionalbackground information from the New Bible Dictionary, Second Edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL, pages 2003 MANNA. All Rights Questions6 2003 MANNA. All Rights In verse 3 the word blessed or blessing is used three does the word mean? Through whom have blessings come? Ephesians 11 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saintswhich are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace beto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord JesusChrist.

5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly placesin Christ: 4 according as he hath chosen us in him before thefoundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blamebefore him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoptionof children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good plea-sure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein hehath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we haveredemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according tothe riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us inall wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us themystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hathpurposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness oftimes he might gather together in one all things in Christ, bothwhich are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 Inwhom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinatedaccording to the purpose of him who worketh all things after thecounsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of hisglory, who first trusted in Christ.

6 13 In whom ye also trusted, afterthat ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: inwhom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holySpirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance untilthe redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of hisglory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the LordJesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks foryou, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of ourLord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spiritof wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes ofyour understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what isthe hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of hisinheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatnessof his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working ofhis mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raisedhim from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in theheavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, andmight, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only inthis world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put allthings under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all thingsto the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that fillethall in What does predestinated mean in verse 5.

7 See also 2 Thess. 2:13-14 andexplain how we are How are we adopted as children? See also Rom 8 according to verses 7-9 there are 3 things we obtain by virtue of being in Christ. What are the three things ? How does one get in Christ? (see :3; Gal. 3:26-27; 4:5)5. What does dispensation mean (vs. 10)?8. Develop 1- 2 questions about this chapter that you can ask of the other classmembers to test their knowledge of the What is the church according to verses 22-23? How many churches arethere? (see Eph 4:4)6. What verses speak of Christ s supreme authority? What is the significanceof these passages?7 2003 MANNA. All Rights faithfulare glorifiedOnly obedientare JustifiedAll areCalledAll arePredestinedRom. 1:162 Pet. 3:9 Rom. 9:21-25 Eph. 1:3-142 Thess. 2:13-15, 10 Rom. 3:26 Rom. 5:9 Gal. 2 :10 PREDESTINATION( Ephesians 1:3-5)See alsoRomans 8:29-30IN HIMREDEMPTION apolutrosis ransom in full FORGIVENESS aphesis freedom, pardon WISDOM ANDPRUDENCE sophia, phronesis intellectual ormoral insight Blessings in Christ(Eph.)

8 1:7-9)8 2003 MANNA. All Rights Questions9 2003 MANNA. All Rights 21 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses andsins: 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course ofthis world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spiritthat now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whomalso we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of ourflesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were bynature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is richin mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even whenwe were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (bygrace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and madeus sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the agesto come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in hiskindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are yesaved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

9 10 For we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which Godhath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Whereforeremember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who arecalled Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision inthe flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were withoutChrist, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strang-ers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and withoutGod in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimeswere far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is ourpeace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down themiddle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in hisflesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained inordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, somaking peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God inone body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 Andcame and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to themthat were nigh.

10 18 For through him we both have access by oneSpirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangersand foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the house-hold of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostlesand prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto anholy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded togetherfor an habitation of God through the Who is the prince of the power of the air of verse 2? Who are the childrenof disobedience? (see also Col. 3:5-7)2. Paul differentiates between the desires of the flesh and the mind in verse 3?What does this mean?3. Verse 3 indicates that Paul s readers were by nature the children of wrath. Does this suggest that man is naturally sinful? (see also Rom. 1:26, 2:14;Gal. 2:15)4. according to verses 8-9, how is it that a person is saved? Are workstherefore unnecessary?