‏ Ephesians 1:3-23

Summary for Eph 1:3: 1:3–3:21  ^a Ephesians is divided into two sections: Chs 1–3  ^b praise God for his amazing grace, and chs 4–6  ^c instruct believers on how to live in grateful response.
Summary for Eph 1:3-14: 1:3-14  ^d Paul praises God for all the spiritual blessings he has graciously provided through Jesus Christ, for Gentiles as well as for Jews.

• This section is a single, complex sentence in Greek—one of the longest in Paul’s letters, with long sentences being typical of Paul’s writing (also in 1:15-23  ^e; 2:1-7  ^f, 14-16  ^g; 3:1-12  ^h, 14-19  ⁱ; Col 1:3-29  ^j; 2:1-3  ^k, 8-15  ^l). The interwoven nature of these sentences reflects the interconnectedness of their ideas. 1:3  ^m Paul describes every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in 1:4-8  ⁿ, 13-14  ^o. Paul’s focus is not on physical blessings, but on what God has done through Christ to bring people into a saving relationship with himself.
1:4  ^p God’s people are holy and without fault in his eyes because they trust in Christ’s atoning sacrifice for their sins (see 1:7  ^q; 5:25-27  ^r; Col 1:22  ^s; Titus 3:5-7  ^t; Jude 1:24  ^u).
1:5  ^v God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family: By his sovereign initiative, God embraces and blesses as his children those who trust in Christ. They become heirs to all the promises God has made to his people (see 1:11  ^w, 14  ^x; 2:19  ^y; Rom 8:15-17  ^z, 29-30  ^aa; Gal 4:5  ^ab).
1:6  ^ac Believers praise God, who has richly blessed them with his forgiving grace.

• his dear Son: Literally the beloved, a Messianic title for Jesus; see Matt 3:17  ^ad; 17:5  ^ae; Col 1:13  ^af.
1:7  ^ag he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son: Believers, who were once prisoners of sin, are free from God’s judgment and from bondage to sin because of Christ’s sacrificial death (see 1:14  ^ah; 4:30  ^ai; Rom 3:24  ^aj; 1 Cor 6:20  ^ak; Col 1:14  ^al; cp. Matt 26:28  ^am; Mark 10:45  ^an; Heb 9:11-12  ^ao, 26  ^ap; 1 Pet 1:18-19  ^aq).
Summary for Eph 1:8-10: 1:8-10  ^ar Wisdom and understanding come from the revelation of God’s mysterious will regarding Christ. In Paul’s writings, mysterious will (traditionally mystery) often refers to a divine truth formerly hidden but now revealed in the Good News (see 3:9  ^as). Here it refers to how God will bring everything together under the authority of Christ, so that he may be universally recognized and respected as Lord (see Phil 2:9-11  ^at; Col 1:16-20  ^au, 26-27  ^av; 2:2  ^aw, 19  ^ax; 4:3  ^ay). Ephesians focuses specifically on the inclusion of Gentiles as well as Jews in God’s redeemed people (see Eph 3:3-6  ^az; 6:19  ^ba; cp. Rom 16:25-26  ^bb).
1:11  ^bc we have received an inheritance from God: Paul often talks about salvation as an inheritance, something promised to our spiritual ancestors and received by us (see Rom 8:17  ^bd; Gal 3:29  ^be; 4:7  ^bf; Col 1:12  ^bg; 3:24  ^bh).

• Because God is sovereign, he makes everything work out according to his plan (cp. Rom 8:28-30  ^bi).
Summary for Eph 1:12-13: 1:12-13  ^bj we Jews ... you Gentiles: Literally we ... you; the reference to Jews and Gentiles is implied.
1:13  ^bk he identified you as his own (or he put his seal on you): Just as a seal signifies authentic ownership, the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life signifies God’s ownership (4:30  ^bl; 2 Cor 1:22  ^bm).
1:14  ^bn The Spirit is both God’s guarantee of future blessings and a foretaste of eternal life and power. The believer’s eternal inheritance includes everything he promised (see also 1:18  ^bo; Rom 8:17  ^bp; 2 Cor 1:22  ^bq; 5:5  ^br; Gal 3:29  ^bs; 4:7  ^bt; Col 1:12  ^bu; 3:24  ^bv; Titus 3:7  ^bw).
Summary for Eph 1:15-23: 1:15-23  ^bx Paul prays that his readers may have the spiritual understanding to grasp the full significance of God’s gifts (1:3-14  ^by). 1:15  ^bz Paul links faith in Christ with love for God’s people. Personal faith in Christ brings salvation, and salvation is expressed, above all, by a life of love (see Gal 5:6  ^ca; Col 1:4  ^cb; 1 Thes 1:3  ^cc; 3:6  ^cd; 5:8  ^ce; 2 Thes 1:3  ^cf; 1 Tim 1:14  ^cg; 2:15  ^ch; Titus 2:2  ^ci).
1:17  ^cj spiritual wisdom (or the Spirit of wisdom): The word spirit can refer either to the Holy Spirit or to the human spirit.

• Knowledge of God is to know God personally and experientially, not just to know about him intellectually (see John 17:3  ^ck).
1:18  ^cl Confident hope for believers is the anticipation of Christ’s return and his future blessings that they will share. Joined with Christ, believers become joint heirs with him of all God’s promised blessings.
Summary for Eph 1:19-20: 1:19-20  ^cm God’s power for us who believe him is the power of his Spirit at work in and through his people, because they are joined to the resurrected Christ (see Rom 6:4-14  ^cn; Col 2:12  ^co). Paul longed to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection in his own life (Phil 3:10  ^cp).

• In biblical times, the place of honor was always at a person’s right hand (Ps 110:1  ^cq; Acts 7:56  ^cr).
1:21  ^cs he is far above: Jesus’ power and authority transcend all rival powers, whether human or spiritual, in this age and the coming age (see 3:10  ^ct; 6:12  ^cu; John 12:31  ^cv; Rom 8:38-39  ^cw; 1 Cor 15:24  ^cx; Col 1:13  ^cy; 2:10  ^cz, 15  ^da; 1 Pet 3:22  ^db; Rev 12:7-9  ^dc).
1:22  ^dd under the authority of Christ (literally under his feet): In pictures from the ancient Near East, victorious kings have their feet on the necks of their defeated enemies. Paul is graphically picturing the way Christ has defeated all his enemies and reigns as king of all things (see Ps 110:1  ^de; 1 Cor 15:25-28  ^df).
1:23  ^dg it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself (or it is the full expression of the one who fills everything everywhere): This difficult phrase probably means that the church, as his body, is the full expression of Christ in this world. His presence, which fills the entire universe (4:10  ^dh), is reflected in and works through his body.

‏ Ephesians 2

Summary for Eph 2:1-10: 2:1-10  ^di Paul reflects on the terrible situation of the believers before they believed in Christ and the grace of God that has spared them.
Summary for Eph 2:1-3: 2:1-3  ^dj Paul’s readers were once like dead people before God (see 2:5  ^dk; Col 2:13  ^dl). Because of their disobedience and sins, driven by the power of the devil, they were condemned along with the rest of the world to suffer God’s judgment.
2:2  ^dm Human sin results from our being governed by the devil, the spirit who rules both the powers of evil in the spiritual realm (see 1:21  ^dn; 6:11-12  ^do; cp. Col 1:13  ^dp) and human beings who refuse to obey God (2 Cor 4:4  ^dq; contrast Rom 8:2-14  ^dr; Gal 5:22-23  ^ds).
2:3  ^dt Unconverted people are naturally under the control of the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature (see Rom 3:9-20  ^du, 23  ^dv). Because of their sin, they are subject to God’s anger, because God hates sin (see Eph 5:6  ^dw; Rom 1:18  ^dx; 2:5  ^dy, 8  ^dz; 3:5  ^ea, 19  ^eb; 4:15  ^ec; 5:9  ^ed; 9:22  ^ee; 12:19  ^ef; 13:4-5  ^eg; Col 3:6  ^eh; 1 Thes 1:10  ^ei; 2:16  ^ej; 5:9  ^ek).
Summary for Eph 2:4-10: 2:4-10  ^el By God’s mercy, kindness, and love, those who are joined to Jesus Christ are saved from the terrible consequences of their sin and enjoy the benefits of Christ’s resurrection.
2:5  ^em gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6  ^en; Rom 6:4-14  ^eo; Col 3:1-4  ^ep).

• It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2  ^eq; 2:8-9  ^er.
2:6  ^es united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14  ^et; Col 2:12-13  ^eu; 3:1-4  ^ev).
2:7  ^ew grace: See study note on 1:2.
Summary for Eph 2:8-9: 2:8-9  ^ex This is a concise summary of how a person is saved. It is a cardinal tenet of the Good News that people are made righteous through trust in Christ rather than through their own merit (see Rom 1:16-17  ^ey; 3:24-25  ^ez; Gal 2:16  ^fa; cp. John 3:16  ^fb, 36  ^fc). Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done (see Rom 3:21–4:8  ^fd; 9:16  ^fe; Gal 3:2-10  ^ff; 5:1-6  ^fg; cp. 2 Tim 1:9  ^fh; Titus 3:5  ^fi). Salvation is for those who trust Christ alone to save them. As a result, none of us can boast about it (cp. Rom 3:27  ^fj; 4:2  ^fk; 1 Cor 1:30-31  ^fl; Gal 6:14  ^fm).
2:10  ^fn He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23  ^fo).
Summary for Eph 2:11-22: 2:11-22  ^fp Paul now focuses on the grace that God has given particularly to Gentiles (non-Jews), bringing them into his family and uniting them with Jews in a new, unified, multiethnic community—the body of Christ, the church. Paul’s emphasis on the inclusion of Gentiles might suggest they were experiencing discrimination from Jewish Christians. 2:11  ^fq Traditionally, Jews disdained Gentiles, considering them “uncircumcised heathens” who were excluded from God’s people (see Gen 17:9-14  ^fr). Paul argues that judging people by their bodies and not their hearts is superficial—in Christ, physical circumcision means nothing (see Rom 2:28-29  ^fs).
2:12  ^ft Before their conversion, Gentiles had no part in God’s people or the covenant promises God had made to them; they were without God and without hope (see 4:18  ^fu; Col 1:21  ^fv).
2:13  ^fw Only by being united with Christ Jesus through trust in him can a person be reconciled to God (see Rom 5:10-12  ^fx; 2 Cor 5:18-21  ^fy). The blood of Christ—his sacrificial death—makes this possible (see Eph 1:7  ^fz; Rom 3:24-25  ^ga; 5:9  ^gb; Col 1:20  ^gc; cp. Heb 9:12-15  ^gd; 1 Pet 1:19  ^ge; 1 Jn 1:7  ^gf; Rev 1:5  ^gg; 5:9  ^gh).
2:14  ^gi Christ himself has brought peace to us: Peace with God (2:16-17  ^gj; Rom 5:1  ^gk, 10-11  ^gl, 18-21  ^gm; Col 1:20-22  ^gn) and between Jews and Gentiles (see Eph 2:15-16  ^go; 4:3  ^gp).

• the wall of hostility that separated us: Social and religious practices traditionally divided Jews from Gentiles. A low wall around the Temple in Jerusalem marked the boundary beyond which Gentiles were not allowed to step. It symbolized the distinction Jews drew between themselves and Gentiles.
2:15  ^gq ending the system of law: See Rom 10:4  ^gr; Col 2:14  ^gs; cp. Rom 6:14  ^gt; 7:4-6  ^gu.

• The church is one new people, a community where love and acceptance are prized and ethnic distinctions are no longer a source of division (see Rom 15:7-12  ^gv; Gal 3:28  ^gw; cp. John 10:16  ^gx).
2:16  ^gy Christ’s death on the cross reconciles humans to God, and also Jews and Gentiles to each other.
2:17  ^gz far away ... near: This verse possibly alludes to Isa 57:19  ^ha.

• The Greek text lacks the words Gentiles and Jews, but they are implied (see Eph 2:13  ^hb; see also study note on 1:12-13).
2:18  ^hc Because of Christ’s sacrifice for sins, both Jewish and Gentile believers receive the Holy Spirit, which makes it possible for them to approach God openly (see 3:12  ^hd; cp. Acts 10:34-37  ^he, 44-48  ^hf; 1 Pet 3:18  ^hg).
2:19  ^hh Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12  ^hi, 17  ^hj). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17  ^hk).
2:20  ^hl Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God.

• Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5  ^hm; 4:11  ^hn; see also 1 Cor 12:10  ^ho, 28-29  ^hp; 14:1-5  ^hq, 22-24  ^hr, 29-32  ^hs, 39  ^ht; cp. Acts 13:1  ^hu; 19:6  ^hv; 21:9-10  ^hw). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10  ^hx).

• The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets)—that is, on their faithful witness to the saving message of Christ (see Rev 21:14  ^hy; cp. Matt 16:18  ^hz). However, the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself, the Messiah, Savior, and Lord (cp. 1 Cor 3:11  ^ia). The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation (see Isa 28:16  ^ib; Mark 12:10  ^ic; Acts 4:11  ^id; 1 Pet 2:6-7  ^ie).
2:21  ^if Joined together in Christ, Gentile and Jewish Christians become a holy temple for the Lord, because the Lord himself is among his people (see Matt 18:20  ^ig; 28:20  ^ih; 1 Cor 3:16  ⁱⁱ; 1 Pet 2:4-5  ^ij).

‏ Ephesians 3

Summary for Eph 3:1-13: 3:1-13  ^ik Paul now describes his own role in God’s eternal plan: to proclaim God’s grace to the Gentiles. 3:1  ^il When I think of all this: Paul has written about the amazing salvation that God’s grace has brought to undeserving sinners who are under his judgment, and about the incredible revelation that Gentiles can also be included in God’s new family, the people of God (chs 1–2  ^im).

• a prisoner of Christ Jesus: Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned for his witness to Christ among the Gentiles.
Summary for Eph 3:2-13: 3:2-13  ⁱⁿ Paul interrupts his thought in 3:1  ^io to discuss his own role in God’s plan. When Paul was first converted, he was given the special responsibility of extending God’s grace to the Gentiles (see Acts 9:15-16  ^ip; 22:14-15  ^iq, 21  ^ir; 26:17-18  ^is; Rom 1:5  ^it; 11:13-14  ^iu; 15:15-18  ^iv; Gal 1:15-16  ^iw; 2:7-9  ^ix; Col 1:25-27  ^iy; 1 Tim 2:7  ^iz; 2 Tim 4:17  ^ja).
3:3  ^jb What Paul briefly wrote earlier is a reference either to 1:9-10  ^jc (cp. 2:11-22  ^jd) or to an unknown letter.

• Paul’s understanding of God’s mysterious plan (see study note on 1:8-10) came as God himself revealed it to him (see 1:9-10  ^je; Gal 1:11-12  ^jf, 15-17  ^jg; cp. Acts 9:3-6  ^jh; 1 Cor 12:1  ^ji, 7  ^jj; Gal 2:2  ^jk).
3:5  ^jl his holy apostles: See 1:1  ^jm.

• The order of the terms apostles and prophets (see 2:20  ^jn) suggests that Paul is speaking of New Testament, not Old Testament, prophets. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is concerned less with predicting the future than with speaking a special word from God (see 1 Cor 12:10  ^jo).
3:6  ^jp God’s plan that has now been revealed to Paul is that the Gentiles are now included in God’s family, the body of Christ, just as Jews are. They share equally in God’s eternal blessings.
3:7  ^jq grace: See study note on 1:2.

• serving him: Paul speaks of himself as a servant of the Good News (see also Col 1:23  ^jr), of God (1 Cor 3:5  ^js; 2 Cor 6:4  ^jt), of Christ (2 Cor 11:23  ^ju), of the church (Col 1:25  ^jv), and of the new covenant (2 Cor 3:6  ^jw).
3:8  ^jx Paul considered himself the least deserving of all God’s people (literally the least of God’s people) because he was once an ardent persecutor of believers (see 1 Cor 15:9  ^jy; 1 Tim 1:12-16  ^jz).

• the endless treasures available to them in Christ: See Eph 1:3-14  ^ka.
3:10  ^kb The church is meant to showcase to the entire universe God’s wisdom in its rich variety, as expressed in his plan of redemption (see Rom 11:33-36  ^kc).

• the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places: See Eph 1:21  ^kd and corresponding study note.
3:12  ^ke We can come boldly and confidently into God’s presence, not because of good deeds that we have done, but because of Christ’s all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins (see 2:18  ^kf; Heb 4:14-16  ^kg; 10:19-23  ^kh; 1 Pet 3:18  ^ki; 1 Jn 4:14  ^kj).
3:13  ^kk my trials here: Paul is writing from jail, as a prisoner (see 3:1  ^kl). He knows that suffering is to be expected and that it works for good in a believer’s life (see Rom 5:3-5  ^km; Col 1:24  ^kn; 1 Thes 3:3  ^ko; 2 Tim 3:12  ^kp; Jas 1:2-4  ^kq).
Summary for Eph 3:14-21: 3:14-21  ^kr Paul closes this section (1:3–3:21  ^ks) with a second prayer for his readers. The first (1:15-23  ^kt) was for their spiritual understanding, the second (3:14-21  ^ku) is for their spiritual growth and empowerment. 3:14  ^kv When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray: Paul resumes what he started to say at the beginning of the chapter (see 3:1  ^kw).
Summary for Eph 3:15-16: 3:15-16  ^kx the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth (or from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name): There is a play on words between Father (Greek patēr, 3:14  ^ky) and family (Greek patria). God is the Creator of everything, including every family—angelic or human, Gentile or Jew (see 2:14-22  ^kz; 3:6  ^la). So he is the source of glorious, unlimited resources that he gladly gives his children.
3:17  ^lb Having Christ ... make his home in your hearts is the source of spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16-17  ^lc, 23  ^ld; 15:4-5  ^le; Gal 2:20  ^lf).
3:18  ^lg how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is: Christ’s love is great in every dimension (cp. Rom 8:38-39  ^lh).
3:19  ^li May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1  ^lj).

• it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8  ^lk).

• The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23  ^ll; Gal 2:20  ^lm; Col 1:27  ^ln). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14  ^lo, 24  ^lp; 5:1-2  ^lq; Rom 8:29  ^lr; 2 Cor 3:16-18  ^ls).
Summary for Eph 3:20-21: 3:20-21  ^lt This doxology concludes the first section of the letter (see also Rom 16:25-27  ^lu; Gal 1:5  ^lv; 1 Tim 1:17  ^lw; 2 Tim 4:18  ^lx; Jude 1:24-25  ^ly). 3:20  ^lz all glory to God: Because of the grace God has shown in Jesus Christ, he deserves nothing less.

• The mighty power at work within us is the power of the living God that raised Christ from the dead (see 1:19-20  ^ma). By that power, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think, because God is at work in the lives of his children (see Rom 8:31-39  ^mb; Phil 4:13  ^mc; Col 1:29  ^md).
3:21  ^me The church—the community of believers, both Jews and Gentiles—is to be the reflection and full expression of the glory of God.