Ephesians
Week 1 - Introduction
Ephesians
 Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus (~60 – 63 AD)
 Philippians, Colossians and Philemon were also written and sent during the time.
o And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered
to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. (Acts 28:16)
o And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, (Acts 28:30)
Temple of Diana
 Largest Greek temple ever constructed (418 ft x 239 ft)
 One of the seven wonders of the ancient world
 127 columns
Outline of Ephesians
I.
Chapters 1-3 (Doctrinal)
A. God’s great plan of salvation (1:3-14)
1. Election and Predestination by God the Father (3-6)
2. Redemption and forgiveness through God the Son (7-12)
3. Sealing by the Holy Spirit (13-14)
B. Paul’s 1st Prayer for the Ephesians (1:15-23)
C. Man’s Dead State and God’s Great Grace (2:1-10)
D. Mystery of Christ – Salvation is also for the Gentiles (2:11-3:1-13)
E. Paul’s 2nd Prayer for the Ephesians (3:14-21)
II.
Chapters 4-6 (Practical)
A. Living the Christian life in the church (4:1-16)
B. Living the Christian life in the world (4:17-5:21)
C. Living the Christian life in the home (5:22-6:9)
D. Putting on the whole armour of God (6:10-20)
Reasons Paul wrote this letter (David Anderson)
1. He wanted the church at Ephesus to understand that our salvation is something that God planned from eternity and that he
planned it in such a way that it would show the glory of his grace.
2. He wanted to teach them that as the saved people of God they were greatly blessed and he wanted to remind them of some of
these great blessings they received when they came to salvation in Christ.
3. He wanted to remind them that in Christ the middle wall of partition between the Jews and the Gentiles had been brought
down, so that now in Christ there are no racial or tribal distinctions.
4. He wanted to encourage them to live their lives worthy of the calling they had received. He wanted to show them that those
who are saved must now begin to live distinctive lives here on earth. In this letter, therefore, Paul gives very specific
teaching on how we are to live our lives in the local church, in the world and in the home.
Martin Lloyd-Jones
 Another way in which the peculiar characteristic of this great Epistle can be stated is that it is a letter in which the Apostle
looks at the Christian salvation from the vantage point of the ‘heavenly places.’
 The message of the Bible from beginning to end is designed to bring us back to God, to humble us before God,
and to enable us to see our true relationship to Him. And that is the great theme of this Epistle; it holds us face to
face with God, and what God is, and what God has done; it emphasizes throughout the glory and the greatness of
God—God the Eternal One, God the everlasting, God over all—and the indescribable glory of God. This great
theme appears constantly in the various phrases which the Apostle uses. Here are examples—‘Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will’; ‘having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed
in himself’; ‘in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him
who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.’ God, the eternal and everlasting God, self-sufficient in
Himself, from eternity to eternity, needing the aid of no-one, living, dwelling in His own everlasting, absolute and
eternal glory, is the great theme of this Epistle. We must not start by examining ourselves and our needs
microscopically; we must start with God, and forget ourselves. (Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1978). God's Ultimate Purpose:
An Exposition of Ephesians 1 (11). Edinburgh; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust)
Key Words / Phrases
 Mystery (6 times)
o Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in
himself: (Eph 1:9)
o How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (Eph 3:3)
o Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (Eph 3:4)
o And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid
in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Eph 3:9)
o This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Eph 5:32)
o And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of
the gospel, (Eph 6:19)
 Riches (6 times)
o In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph
1:7)
o The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the
riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Eph 1:18)
o But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Eph 2:4)
o Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:7)
o Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Eph 3:8)
o Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his
Spirit in the inner man; (Eph 3:16)
Christ (46 times), God (33 times), grace (12 times), church (9 times)
Paul’s first connection with Ephesus – End of 2nd Missionary Journey
 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20
When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all
means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 22
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. (Acts 18:19-22)
Paul revisited Ephesus during his 3rd Missionary Journey
 1st Corinthians written during Paul’s time in Ephesus (3 years)
o 8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are
many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:8-9)
Acts 19:1-41
 Paul addressing scriptural baptism (19:1-7)
 Paul’s preaching and teaching ministry (19:8-10)
o Principle: We are not here to force the gospel on people. Find a people who will listen.
 False exorcists, True Converts (19:13-20)
o Be careful that we are not drawn into spiritual “secrets”, “keys to success”, or “special methods”
 Example: Special ways to pray or the fasting book
o Objective: The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified (v 17)
o True believers know what is right and was is wrong and they will SHOW THEIR DEEDS” (v 18-19)
o Verse 20 – So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
 Is this a reference to the spread (additional manuscripts) and preservation of God’s word?
 Uproar over Diana (19:23-41)
o Issue: v 27 – “this our craft is in danger to be set at naught”
 Then they spiritualize the issue – “BUT also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be
despised….”
o Confusion – v 29
o Paul’s zeal – v 30
o Hatred for Jews throughout the centuries – v 34
o Some believe the “image which fell down from Jupiter was a meteorite – v 35
o No blasphemy to their goddess – v 37, though v 26 “saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands”
Acts 20:17-38
 Paul’s effort (19-21)
o Serving the Lord with all humility of mind
o Many tears – THEIR HEART AND SOUL WAS IN THE MINISTRY
o Temptations which befell him by the lying in wait of the Jews
 CANNOT LET CHALLENGES STOP US
o Kept back nothing
 ALL OR NOTHING
o Taught them publicly – house to house
 Repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ
 Unknown Future except that the Holy Spirit will witness in every city (22-23)
 Are we clean pure from the blood of all men?
 MAIN ENCOURAGEMENT – v 28
 MAIN WARNING – false teachers (29-31)
 Goodbye (32-38)
Humility of Mind
 Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19)

By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. (Proverbs 29:23)

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place],
with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite
ones. (Isaiah 57:15)

He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he
ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10)
Tears

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with
him]. (Psalms 126:6)

Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter
of my people. (Isaiah 22:4)

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter
of my people! (Jeremiah 9:1)