EPHESIANS
[Part 3]
Christ & His Church
BRIEF OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS
• CHAPTERS 1-3

“The Powerful Blessings in Christ”
•CHAPTERS 4:1-5:20 
“The Power to Live”
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 4
(Vs. 1-6) Walking worthily & unified
(Vs. 7-11) Ministry gifts of Christ to the Church
(Vs. 12-16) The purpose of the ministry gifts
(Vs. 17-32) Walking in newness of life: put off & put
on
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 1): “VOCATION:” Calling; invitation - Hence it
means that Divine invitation or calling by which
Christians are introduced into the privileges of the
gospel.
That we live as becoming of those who have been
called into the kingdom of God. The word walk is often
used to denote life, conduct… behave like you are a
child of God!
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APPLICATIONS: “Walking worthy of your calling…”
(1.) Bearing our religion to all places, companies,
employments. Not merely to be a Christian on Sunday,
and at the communion-table, and in our own land; but
every day, and everywhere, and in any land where we
may be placed. We are to live religion, and not merely
to profess it. We are to be Christians in the courtroom,
as well as in the closet; among strangers, and in a
foreign land.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APPLICATIONS: “Walking worthy of your calling…”
(2.) Doing nothing inconsistent with the elevated
Christian character. In temper, feeling, plan, we are to
give expression to no emotion, and use no language,
and perform no deed, that shall be inconsistent with
the name & testimony that we bear as children of
God.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APPLICATIONS: “Walking worthy of your calling…”
(3.) Doing right always: being just to all; telling the
truth; defrauding no one; maintaining a correct
standard of morals; having integrity. We should so
live, that others will have no doubts that we are
Christians. And no matter how others may act, that
people will find us to be the unflinching advocate of
temperance, peace, love and every good work.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APPLICATIONS: “Walking worthy of your calling…”
(4.) Living as one who expects to soon be in heaven.
Such a person will feel that the earth is not their
home; that they are a stranger and a pilgrim here;
that riches, honours, and pleasures are of
comparatively little importance; that they ought to
watch and pray, and that they ought to be holy. A
Christian who realizes that to-morrow they may be in
heaven will live each day to the fullest by watching &
praying and working and praying!
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 2):
• LOWLINESS: Modesty; humility--humbleness of mind
• MEEKNESS: Gentleness
• LONGSUFFERING: “Long-mindedness”- never
permitting a trial or provocation to get to the end of
your patience.
• FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE: put up with;
bear with, endure each other for love sake. Bearing
patiently with the faults and infirmities of others OR
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 3): The meaning here is, that they should be bound
or united together in the sentiments and affections of
peace. It is not mere external unity; it is not a mere
unity of creed; it is not a mere unity in the forms of
public worship; it is such as the Holy Spirit produces in
the hearts of Christians, when he fills them all with the
same love, and joy, and peace.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 4
(Vs. 1-6) Walking worthily & unified
(Vs. 7-11) Ministry gifts of Christ to the Church
(Vs. 12-16) The purpose of the ministry gifts
(Vs. 17-32) Walking in newness of life: put off & put
on
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 4-6): These 3 verses are an argument of great
weight for an earnest displaying of brotherly love and
unity with one another. Paul is showing that there is
unity in each one of seven essential features of
Christianity, and hence all should seek to "keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"
Because we are made one body as it were of one God
and Father, by one Spirit, worshipping one Lord with
one faith, and consecrated to him with one baptism,
and having hope of one glorious place, unto which we
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Seven essential features of Christianity
• ONE CHURCH
• ONE SPIRIT
• ONE HOPE
• ONE LORD
• ONE FAITH
• ONE BAPTISM
• ONE GOD
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 4): One body; the church, the body of Christ, The
universal church of which all true believers are
members. One Spirit; one Holy Spirit dwelling in the
hearts of all, and animating all. One hope; hope of
heaven, through faith in the divine Redeemer.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 5): One Lord: Jesus Christ, who is the Head &
Governor of this Church.
One faith: One system of religion, in respect to its
object, its origin, and its inward character. It is faith in
the one gospel of Christ.
One baptism: Administered in the name of the holy
Trinity. All have been baptized into the "one Lord" upon
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:1-6
(Vs. 6): One God: The fountain of all being, selfexistent and eternal; and Father of all, both Jews and
Gentiles, because he is the Father of the spirits of all
flesh.
Who is above all: Who is over all; as the King of kings,
and Lord of lords.
And through all: Pervading every thing; being present
with every thing; providing for all creatures; and by his
energy supporting all things.
And in you all: By the energy of his Spirit,
enlightening, quickening, purifying, and comforting;
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 4
(Vs. 1-6) Walking worthily & unified
(Vs. 7-11) Ministry gifts of
Christ to the Church
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 7-11):
In these verses Paul teaches us that all good gifts
proceed from Christ, who reigns in heaven having
mightily conquered all his enemies, from where he
bestows all gifts to his Church. But yet nonetheless
these gifts are differently and variously divided
according to his will and pleasure, and therefore every
man ought to be content with that measure God has
given him, and to bestow it to the common profit of the
church.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 7): “Every one of us, has been entrusted with some
charge, each in accordance with the extent of the gift of
the Christ.”
Grace may here signify a particular office; gifts OR The
favour of God; meaning here, that God had bestowed
upon each sincere Christian the means of living as he
ought to do, and had in his gospel made ample
provision that they might walk worthy of their
vocations… We have all different offices and gifts to fill
up in the Church and in the world.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 8):
All this the apostle applies to the resurrection,
ascension, and glory of Christ. The point of the
argument here is, that Christ, when he ascended to
heaven, obtained certain gifts for men, and that those
gifts are bestowed upon his people in accordance with
this. (This is a reference from Ps 68:18) Much perplexity
has been felt in regard to the principle on which Paul
quotes this Psalm, and applies it to the ascension of the
Redeemer. When Christ ascended to heaven, he
triumphed over all his foes. It was a complete victory
over the great enemy of God, and over those who had
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 8):
Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive Christ triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and
death, which had before enslaved all the world:
alluding to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led
those they had conquered in chains after them.
And, as they also used to give gifts to the people, at
their return from victory, so Christ gave gifts to men Both ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 9):
(RSV) In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but
that he had also descended into the lower parts of the
earth?
(YLT) and that, he went up, what is it except that he also
went down first to the lower parts of the earth?
Paul's argument is that he who ascended must first
have descended; it implies that he must have
descended from heaven, before his ascension to
heaven. The person who ascended is Christ the
Messiah, and his ascension plainly indicates his
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 9): Into the lower parts of the earth. To the lowest
state of humiliation. Christ descended to the earth; and
he came not only to the earth, but he went to the grave
(death). Some have interpreted “the lower parts of the
earth” to mean the region of departed spirits
(Hades/hell).
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 10): He who went down is the same who went up
far over all the heavens so that he might make all
things complete.
The same Redeemer came down from God, and
returned to him. It was not a different being, but the
same…JESUS
….now exalted at the right hand of God.
He is gone above the visible heavens, and has ascended
into the highest abodes of the throne of God.
"that he might fill all things by his influence", and direct
and overrule all by his wisdom and power; and hence
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 4
(Vs. 1-6) Walking worthily & unified
(Vs. 7-11) Ministry gifts of
Christ to the Church
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11): And he gave… Christ has appointed the
offices, and gives the men in the church who are fitted
for these offices. He established several offices in his
Church; furnished these with the proper officers; and,
to qualify them for their work, gave them the proper
gifts. The object here is to show that he has made
ample provision for the extension and edification of his
church. His choicest gifts are holy men, which they
carry on for the perfecting of each believer, and of the
whole body of the faithful.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11):…some apostles – “APOSTOLOS”: A delegate;
specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a
commissioner of Christ; a messenger, one that is sent.
The apostles were all chosen by Christ. The apostles
were those twelve to whom Paul was afterward added,
whose office was to plant churches throughout all the
world. All had to be witnesses of his resurrection. His
chief ministers and special witnesses, as having seen
him after his resurrection, and received their
commission immediately from him.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APOSTLESHIP
• There is significance in the number 12
regarding Apostleship:
Matthew 10:2; Luke 6:13; Rev. 21:12-14
• The commission & mission of the Apostles
after Jesus’ resurrection:
Acts1: 2-4, 15-17, 21-26
Acts 4:33
Acts 6:1-2
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APOSTLESHIP
• There are false Apostles:
2 Cor.11:13; Rev. 2:2
• Peter’s Apostolic affirmation:
1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1
• Paul’s Apostolic affirmation:
1 Cor.1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 2Tim. 1:1
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
APOSTLESHIP
Paul’s Apostolic confirmation:
Rom.1: 1-5
1 Cor. 9: 1-2; 12: 28-29;15: 5-10
2 Cor. 12: 11-12
Gal. 1:1,17-19; 2: 7-8
1 Tim. 2: 7
2 Tim.1: 11
Titus 1:1
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11): and some prophets – “PROPHETES”: A
foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by
extension, a poet.
The prophet's office was one of the chiefest, who were
men & women of marvelous wisdom, and some of
them could foretell things to come.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11): and some evangelists – “EUAGGELISTES”: a
preacher of the gospel; a messenger of good tidings.
The evangelist may have been one whose main
business was preaching, and who was not particularly
engaged in the government of the church. It denotes a
minister of the gospel who was not located in any
place, but who travelled as a missionary to preach the
gospel, and to establish churches. The apostles used
the evangelists as companions in the execution of their
office, being not able to go to all places by themselves.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11): and some pastors – “POIMEN”: A shepherd
This word poimên is from a root word meaning “to
protect.”
The term, "shepherd" or "pastor," is used of guiding
and governing and not merely instructing.
Pastors are those who govern the Church. The meaning
here is, that Christ exercised a special care for his
church by appointing pastors who would watch over it
as a shepherd does over his flock.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11): and some teachers – “DIDASKALOS”: An
instructor; doctor, master
Teachers are those who govern the schools. Whether of
the same or a lower order as the pastor, to assist him,
as occasion might require. The teacher dealt mainly
with instructing in the church and not necessarily
responsible for governing the church if he was not a
pastor.
“A pastor should be a teacher, but not every teacher
has to be a pastor”
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:7-11
(Vs. 11):
The APOSTLES founded the early church of Jesus
Christ. The PROPHET testified of things to come. The
EVANGELIST preaches of things in the past. The
PASTOR has the outward rule and guidance of the
Church. The TEACHER builds up the church in the faith
already received.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 4
(Vs. 1-6) Walking worthily & unified
(Vs. 7-11) Ministry gifts of Christ to the Church
(Vs. 12-16) The purpose of
the ministry gifts
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:12-16
(Vs. 12): ….in order to equip the saints for the work of
serving, for the building up of the Body of Christ
“perfecting” - complete furnishing --- For the complete
instruction, purification, and union of all who have
believed in Christ Jesus
“edifying” - a structuring, building --- All gifts were
intended to minister to the building up of the church.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:12-16
(Vs. 13): …And this shall continue, until we all attain to
that unity which is given by faith and by a fuller
knowledge of the Son of God; until we reach the ideal
man--the full standard of the perfection of the Christ.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:12-16
(Vs. 14): …That we shall no longer be like infants, tossed
backward and forward, blown about by every breath of
human teaching, through the trickery and the craftiness
of men, towards the snares of error
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:12-16
(Vs. 16): The whole body (Church); being dependent on
Christ, will have its various parts (gifts, talents, offices)
closely fitting and firmly supporting one another-growing by the aid of every contributory link, with
power proportioned to the need of each individual
part, so as to build itself up in a spirit of love.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 4
(Vs. 1-6) Walking worthily & unified
(Vs. 7-11) Ministry gifts of Christ to the Church
(Vs. 12-16) The purpose of the ministry gifts
(Vs. 17-32) Walking
in newness of
life: put off & put on
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 17): In the vanity of their mind… The word
"vanity," in the Scriptures, means more than mere
emptiness. It denotes moral wrong, being applied
usually to those who worshipped vain idols, and then
those who were alienated from the true God. It is
mental folly; it is the waste of the rational powers on
worthless objects, of which idolatry is one of the more
glaring instances. The root of it is departure from the
knowledge of the true God. What he means by this he
specifies in the following verses.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 18): Whose thoughts are dark, to whom the life of
God is strange because they are without knowledge,
and their hearts have been made hard.
Having the understanding darkened: Having no means
of knowledge, the heart, naturally dark, became more
and more so by means of habitual transgression; every
thing in the Gentile system having an immediate
tendency to blind the eyes and darken the whole soul.
So that they are totally void of the light of God, neither
have they any knowledge of his will.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 18): Being alienated from the life of God: The
meaning is, that they lived a life which was unlike God,
or which he' could not approve. Their moral state
became so wretched that they are represented as
abhorring every thing spiritual and pure. Utter
strangers to the divine, the spiritual life. Without the
spiritual life that comes from knowing God.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 18): Blindness of their heart: "hardness," literally,
the hardening of the skin so as not to be sensible of
touch. Hence a soul's callousness to feeling. Where
there is spiritual "life" there is feeling; where there is
not, there is "hardness." A man who has a blind and
hard heart sees no beauty in truth, and does not feel its
force, and is insensible to all its appeals. Callous and
senseless. And where there is no sense, there can be
no life.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 19): “past feeling”: become apathetic, callous,
cold; 1. To throw off all sense of shame, and to be
utterly devoid of pain, for committing unrighteous acts.
2. To be desperate, having neither hope nor desire of
reformation; to be without remorse, and to be utterly
regardless of conduct, character, or final blessedness.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 19): “lasciviousness”: Intemperate, reckless every
self-indulgence. Lawlessness, insolence, wantonness &
drunkenness… "The first beginnings of unchastity…
Lasciviousness is but one branch of uncleanness, which
implies impurity of every kind.”
“to work all uncleanness with greediness”:
All kinds of immoral, impure, self-seeking acts. Always
wanting more whether money, sexual indulgence, etc.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 19):
(RSV) They have become callous and have given
themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice
every kind of uncleanness.
(TCNT) Lost to all sense of shame, they have abandoned
themselves to licentiousness, in order to practice every
kind of impurity without restraint.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 20): For this was not the teaching of Christ which
was given to you…
(Vs. 21): If indeed you have listened to him, and in him
been taught the truth as it is in Jesus…
(Vs. 22): That you are to put away, in relation to your
earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil
by love of deceit;
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 23): The mind is to be renovated; and not only its
general complexion, but the very spirit of it; all its
faculties and powers must be thoroughly, completely,
and universally renewed….
(Vs. 24): …and put on the new nature, created after the
likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness…with
that new and better self which has been created to
resemble God in the righteousness and holiness which
come from the truth.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 4:17-32
(Vs. 25-32): PUT OFF / ON THE FOLLOWING:
• Lying / Truth (vs 25)
• Anger / Peace (vs 26-27)
• Stealing / Giving (vs 28)
• Evil speaking / Edifying speech (vs. 29)
• Bitterness, wrath…clamour…malice (vs 31) /
• Kindness, tenderness, forgiveness (vs 32)
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 5
This chapter is a continuation of the practical
exhortations commenced in chapter 4.
(Vs. 1-2) Exhortation to mutual love and charity.
(Vs. 3-20) Guard yourself against all manner of sinful
habits.
(Vs. 21-33) Marital duties & responsibilities
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:1-2
(Vs. 1-2): live a life of love, following the example of
Christ, who loved you and gave himself for you as 'an
offering and a sacrifice to God, that should be fragrant
and acceptable.‘
“Live and act lovingly, as Christ also loved you and gave
Himself up to death on our behalf as an offering and
sacrifice to God, yielding a fragrant odor”…. that is,
God is well pleased with the offering on the ground of
its sweetness and so is reconciled to us.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 3): But fornication and every kind of impurity, or
covetousness, let them not even be mentioned among
you, for they ought not to be named among God's
people.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 4): “filthiness”- Anything vile in words or actions;
shameful behavior, obscenity…(indecent expression or
exposure)
“foolish talking”- Silly talk; ridicule, mockery, tease,
senseless conversation (Matt. 12:36)
“Jesting”- Words easily turned to mean something else;
facetious…(intended to be humorous but often silly or
inappropriate)
“…which are not convenient”- not fit, proper or
appropriate…not becoming Christian character.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 5): For be well assured that no fornicator
(prostitute) or immoral person and no covetous person-or in other words idol-worshipper--has any share
awaiting him in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 6): Do not be turned from the right way by foolish
words; for because of these things the punishment of
God comes on those who do not put themselves under
him.
…Do not let any one deceive you with empty
arguments. Those are the sins that bring down the
Wrath of God upon the disobedient.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 8): For, although you were once in Darkness, now,
by your union with the Lord, you are in the Light. Live as
'Children of Light'- -There was a time when you were
nothing but darkness. Now, as Christians, you are Light
itself.
The meaning here is, that they were themselves
formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the
same abominations. Now they had been enlightened
by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that
they ought, therefore, to forsake them. They should live
as those who had been enlightened to see the evil of
sin, and the beauty of virtue and holiness.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 9): Since the Holy Spirit, through the gospel,
produces goodness, righteousness, and truth, see that
you exhibit these in your lives, and thus show that you
are the children of light.
(Vs. 10): That is, "Walk as children of light, thus
showing what is acceptable to the Lord…that by so
living you will make a fair trial of what is acceptable to
the Lord.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 11): Take no part in deeds of Darkness, from which
no good can come; on the contrary, expose them.
Have no religious connection whatever with heathens
or their worship.
“The unfruitful works.” Evil actions & intentions that
produce no benefit to the body or the soul. The word
unfruitful is here used in contrast with the "fruit of the
Spirit,"
“Rather reprove them”…Bear a testimony against
them; convince them that they are wrong; confront
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 12): There are some vices which, from the
corruptions of the human heart, cannot be safely
described. Many have supposed that there is an
allusion here to the "mysteries" which were celebrated
in Greece, usually at night, and far from the public eye.
Many of these were indeed impure and abominable.
Paul did not describe these vices, he denounced them;
he did not dwell upon them long enough for the
imagination to find employment, and to corrupt the
soul. He mentioned the vice, and then he mentioned
the wrath of God; he alluded to the sin
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 13): But all things, when their true quality is seen,
are made clear by the light: because everything which is
made clear is light.
“But all things that are reproved”: The word here used
properly means proved, demonstrated, reproved, or
convicted, but it seems here to be used in the sense of
disclosed, or discovered. The sense is, that its true
nature is demonstrated; that is, it is made known.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 13): “Are made manifest by the light”: The sense
is, "Light is the means of seeing what things are. We
discern their form, nature, appearance by it. So it is
with the gospel---the light of the world. It enables us to
see the true nature of actions. They are done in
darkness, and are like objects in the dark. Their form
and nature cannot then be known; but, when the light
shines, we see what they are and it is made known.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 13): “For whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”
"Anything which will show the real form and nature of
an object deserves to be called light." The meaning in
this context is, that that system which discloses the
true nature of what is done by the heathen deserves to
be considered as light; and that the gospel, which does
this, should be regarded as a system of light and truth.
It discloses the vileness, and it stands thus in strong
contrast with all the false and abominable systems
which have produced those vices.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 14): For this reason he says, Be awake, you who are
sleeping, and come up from among the dead, and
Christ will be your light.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 14): He saith; Namely, the Lord saith, thou that
sleepest; are stupid and senseless in the darkness and
pollution of sin. Arise from the dead; wake from death
in sin to a sense of thy guilty, lost condition, and look to
Him who died for you, and he will make you light, and
sanctify and save you. The deadness of men in
trespasses and sins is not such as to free them from
obligation to awake and rise to newness of life. Of
course ministers of the gospel are bound to call upon
them thus to awake without delay; and under the
influence with which God accompanies this call, all
should hear and obey.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 15): See to it, then, that you carry on your life
carefully; not as foolish, but as wise men.
Circumspectly: Exactly, diligently, perfectly
Therefore be very careful how you live and act. Let it
not be as unwise men, but as wise.
(Vs. 16):Make good use of the time, because the days
are evil.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 17): On this account do not prove yourselves
lacking sense, but try to understand what the Lord's will
is.
Be not fools in the employment of your time, and in
you manner of life. Show true wisdom by
endeavouring to understand what the will of the Lord
is, and then doing it.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 18): “Be not drunk”…intoxicated for drunkenness
will prevent you from understanding and doing the
divine will, and bring upon you the wrath of God
“…But be filled with the Spirit”….completely full, fully
equipped, fully satisfied; Invite the Holy Spirit’s
influences, receive his instructions, and yield yourselves
to his guidance… let your desires and efforts be carried
out after the grace and Spirit of God, be filled; for that
fullness will keep the soul holy, the body chaste, and
render the Christian fit for fruit bearing.
Take your fill of the Spirit; you can never be overfilled!
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:3-20
(Vs. 19): In opposition to drunken and impure songs,
the apostle exhorts Christian Ephesians to sing the
psalms of David, or the hymns composed by spiritual
men, or by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which in
those times did immediately inspire persons both to
pray and sing in their assemblies.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 5
(Vs. 1-2) Exhortation to mutual love and charity.
(Vs. 3-20) Guard yourself against all manner of sinful
habits.
(Vs. 21-33) Marital duties &
responsibilities
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 21): Serve one another for God's sake….In all
matters give way to each other, and let love rule….
Maintain due subordination in the various relations of
life.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 22): Paul says that the duty of wives consists in
this, to be obedient to their husbands; for they cannot
be disobedient to their husbands except by also
resisting God, who is the author of this subjection….
Submissiveness is rendered by the wife to the husband
under the eye of Christ, and so is rendered to Christ
Himself…The obedience a wife pays to her husband is
at the same time paid to Christ himself
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 23): As Christ exercises authority over the Church
so as to save and protect it, so let the husband exercise
authority over his wife by protecting, comforting, and
providing her with every necessity and comfort of life,
according to his power.
The husband should not be a tyrant, and the wife
should not be the governor.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 24): …That is, every lawful thing…in everything
which is not contrary to the will of God; for it is not
endorsing that they should obey their husbands in any
thing criminal, or in any thing detrimental to the
interests of their souls.
The relation of the wife to the husband is like that of
the church in Christ, a close, tender relation, in which
there is no bondage, but freedom, because the service
is that of the heart.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 25): Husbands’ duty towards their wives is to love
them as themselves, of which love the love of Christ
towards his Church is a graphic image.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 25):Here is a grand rule, according to which every
husband is called to act: Love your wife as Christ loved
the Church. But how did Christ love the Church? He
gave himself for it-he laid down his life for it. So then
husbands should, if necessary, lay down their lives for
their wives: and there is more implied in the words than
mere protection and support; for, as Christ gave himself
for the Church to save it, so husbands should, by all
means in their power, labour to promote the salvation
of their wives, and their constant edification in
righteousness. Thus we find that the authority of the
man over the woman is founded on his love to her, and
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 26): The Church is represented as the spouse of
Christ, as the woman is the spouse of the man; and, to
prepare this Church for himself, he washes, cleanses,
and sanctifies it…The great object of the Redeemer was
to purify and save the church. The meaning here is,
that a husband is to manifest similar love towards his
wife, and a similar desire to prepare her and guide her
in living a holy life.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 26): …with the washing of water by the word… As
the bride passed through a purifying bath before
marriage, so the Church in baptism with "the outward
and visible sign.” All in the church pass through the
waters of baptism…But the washing of the water would
be of no avail without the word. The power is in the
word of the Lord which offers the gospel and
commands baptism… In all this there is an allusion to
the various methods of purifying and cleansing women
who were about to be married, and who were to be
united to kings as their brides.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 27): That he might present to himself - As his
bride.
A glorious church - All glorious within.
Not having spot - Of impurity…from any sin.
Or wrinkle - Of deformity…from any decay.
“A church cleansed from sin; a bride without a
blemish”. This also exemplifies a wedding, as the bride
adorns herself on her wedding day and presents herself
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 28): The doctrine here is, that a husband should
have the same care for the comfort of his wife which he
has for himself. He should regard her as one with
himself; and as he protects his own body from cold and
hunger, and, when sick and suffering, endeavours to
restore it to health, so he should regard and treat her.
Another argument: Every man loves himself, even by
nature: therefore he is going against a natural tendency
if he does not love his wife.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 28): He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Because they are one flesh, Eph 5:31; she is one with
him, and their interests are identified.
Their union is so intimate that their happiness is
inseparable; and what promotes the interest of one,
promotes that of the other.
A man's kindness to his wife will be more than repaid
by the happiness which she imparts. If a man wishes to
pro- mote his own happiness in the most effectual way,
he had better begin by showing kindness to his wife.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 29): This is urged as an argument why a man
should love his wife, and show kindness to her. As no
man disregards the happiness of his own body, or
himself, so he should show equal care to promote the
happiness of his wife. The general idea is that Christ has
a tender concern for the wants of the church, as a man
has for his own body, and that the husband should
show a similar regard for his wife… As a man cares for
himself, and as Christ cares for his church, so a
husband should care for his wife.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 30): For we are members of his body… Of the body
of Christ. The idea here is, that there is a close and
intimate union between the Christian and the Saviour-a union so intimate that they may be spoken of as one
Of his flesh, and of his bones… There is an allusion here
evidently to the language which Adam used respecting
Eve, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my
flesh," Gen. 2:23. It is language which is employed to
denote the closeness of the marriage relation, and
which Paul applies to the connection between Christ
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 30-31): He alludes to the making of the woman,
which signifies our union with Christ. We are all
members of Christ's body, the church. The church is his
Bride. On account of the oneness which God has
formed between a man and his wife, which represents
the union between Christ and believers. The union for
life of one man and one woman in marriage, was
designed by God to illustrate the union of Christ and his
people; and the spirit which he manifests towards his
church is that which husband & wife should manifest
towards each other.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 32): Here it means, simply, that there was much
about the union of Christ & His Church resembling the
marriage which was not obvious or easily understood,
except to those who were instructed. The truth that
was so great a mystery was, that the eternal Son of God
should form such a union with men; that he should
take them into a connection with himself, superior to
even that which exists in the marriage relation. This
was a great and profound truth, to understand which it
was necessary to receive instruction. No one would
have understood it without a revelation; no one
understands it now except they who are taught by God.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 5:21-33
(Vs. 33): The conclusion both of the husband's duty
toward his wife, and of the wife's toward her
husband…God's design in the institution of marriage is
that every husband should love his wife as himself,
because she is both naturally and by a Divine ordinance
a part of himself…AND that every wife should respect
the husband as her head, and he is the head, not only
by nature, but also by the ordinance of God. These are
very important matters, and on them the apostle lays
great stress.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
Overview of CHAPTER 6
(Vs. 1-4) The duties of children and parents.
(Vs. 5-9) The duties of servants and masters.
(Vs. 10-18) The spiritual armour against the enemies.
(Vs. 19-24) The apostolic blessing & benediction
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:1-4
(Vs. 1): He comes to another part of a family, and
shows that the duty of the children toward their
parents consists in obedience to them. (1) The first
argument: because God has so appointed. And upon
this it follows also that children are obligated to obey
their parents, that they may not swerve from the true
worship of God. (2) The second argument: because this
obedience is just & reasonable. In the Lord…That is, as
far as their commandments agree with those of God,
and no farther. No parent can have a right to require a
child to steal, or lie, or cheat, or assist him in
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:1-4
(Vs. 2): (3) The third argument brings a benefit:
because the Lord gave this commandment among all
the rest a special blessing; a special promise (Exo.
20:12)
The first of the ten commandments which has a
promise attached. It does not relate to obedience to
God in general, but it is a particular assurance that
they who honour their parents shall have a particular
blessing (long life) as the result of that obedience.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:1-4
(Vs. 3): The children who are kind, respectful, and
obedient to parents, take the way to become blessings
to themselves, their parents, the church of God, and
the world. God frequently prospers those who have
shown a dutiful attention to their parents; such
children are in the right way, and we all know that the
way of duty is the way of safety and happiness.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:1-4
(Vs. 4): And you, fathers, do not irritate your children so
that they get angry, but instead bring them up tenderly
with true Christian training and advice.
It is the duty of fathers to use their fatherly authority
moderately and to God's glory. Avoid all severity; this
will hurt your own souls, and do them no good; on the
contrary, if punished with severity or cruelty, they will
be only hardened and made desperate in their sins.
Cruel parents generally have bad children. Guide them
with all tenderness and mildness. In the instruction
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:5-9
(Vs. 5): Servants, be obedient to your earthly masters,
with respect and eager anxiety to please and with
simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ.
With fear and trembling-A proverbial expression,
implying the utmost care and diligence.
In singleness of your heart: With a simple, sincere
desire to do what ought to be done. …from a principle
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:5-9
(Vs. 6): Not only when their eyes are on you, as if you
had merely to please men, but as servants of Christ,
who are trying to carry out the will of God.
Not merely in their presence, when their eye is upon
you, as unfaithful and hypocritical servants do, without
consulting conscience in any part of their work…Seeing
that you are in the state of servitude, it is the will of
God that you should act conscientiously in it.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:5-9
(Vs. 7): Doing your work readily, as to the Lord, and not
to men…Give your service heartily and cheerfully, as
working for the Master and not for men.
(Vs. 8): Knowing that whatever good any one does, he
will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he
is a slave or free.
EPHESIANS ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 6:5-9
(Vs. 9): And, you masters, do the same things to them,
not making use of violent words: in the knowledge that
their Master and yours is in heaven, and he has no
respect for a man's position… And you masters, act
towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain
from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One
who is your Master as well as theirs.