Ephesians 1

Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesian church while he was in prison in Rome. Paul had a positive relationship with the Christians in Ephesus, and he started this letter by offering blessings and encouragement.

Icebreaker: When you write a letter or an email, do you write a lot of introduction or get straight to the point?

1:1 APOSTLE. Apostles were much like ambassadors. They are chosen by the king (in this case Jesus) to represent him and are given power to act in his name. This was the title that was given to the original twelve (Lk 6:13) and then later to Paul (Gl 1:11–24). By using this title, Paul indicates that he is writing with the authority of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

1:2 GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE. “Grace” refers to the undeserved favor of God freely given as a gift. “Peace” refers to the reconciliation of sinners to God and others. Taken together, they define a central theme of Ephesians: peace through grace.

1:3 BLESSED. The verb can also be translated “to speak well of” and carries the idea of thanking, glorifying, and singing the praises of the one who is the object of this gratitude. GOD. God is the subject of virtually every main verb in this passage. JESUS CHRIST. It is in and through Jesus that God’s work of love, grace, and redemption is performed. HAS BLESSED US. The tense of the Greek verb indicates that what is in view here is a single, past action on God’s part. THE HEAVENS. The unseen world of spiritual reality.

1:4 HOLY AND BLAMELESS. The goal of the Christian life: people who have been made perfect and whole.

1:5 PREDESTINED. Literally, “marked out beforehand.” ADOPTED. This was a common Roman custom in which a child was given all the rights of the adoptive family by grace, not by birth. AS SONS. The purpose of predestination is that people become the sons and daughters of God. THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL. This phrase carries with it the sense that God goes about such choosing with great joy.

CONSIDER (VV. 3–6): How should we understand the words “chose” and “predestined” in these verses? What does it mean that Christians are “adopted as sons” into God’s family?

1:7 REDEMPTION. The setting free (originally of prisoners or slaves) by payment of a ransom (in this case, Jesus’s death in place of the sinner). FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES. The child of God is not only given freedom from the penalty of sin, but the sin itself is forgotten. Redemption and forgiveness go together.

1:9 MYSTERY. Contrary to the normal use of the word (with its emphasis on a secret being kept), here the word focuses on the disclosure of what was once hidden but is now revealed by God.

1:10 TO BRING … TOGETHER. From a Greek word meaning “to sum up,” as in the conclusion of a speech or a column of figures; a gathering together of the pieces into a whole.

CONSIDER (VV. 7–10): How would you explain the concept of “redemption” to someone who has never heard of it before?

 CONSIDER (VV. 11–12): What is the inheritance we receive as adopted children of God?

1:13 SEALED. A mark placed by an owner on a package, a cow, or even a slave. The cults in the first century sometimes tattooed a mark on their devotees. For the Jews, circumcision was such a seal (Rm 4:11); for Christians, the Holy Spirit is his or her seal. PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT. This is the second of three terms in vv. 13–14 used to describe the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not only “promised” but is the “seal” (whereby the Christian is marked out as belonging to God) and the “down payment” (v. 14) of that Christian’s future inheritance. The Holy Spirit was promised in the OT (Ezk 36:27; Jl 2:28) and by Jesus (Lk 24:49; Jn 14–16; Ac 1:4–5; 2:33, 38–39; Gl 3:14).

1:14 DOWN PAYMENT. A down payment which guarantees ultimate ownership by God.

CONSIDER (VV. 13–14): How does the Holy Spirit function as a “seal” and “down payment” of our inheritance?

APPLY: How do you experience the Holy Spirit in your everyday life? How do you want to experience the Holy Spirit in your everyday life?

FOR GROUPS (VV. 13–14): Bring some sealing wax and a seal to your group gathering. Allow volunteers to take turns sealing an envelope as an object lesson for these verses.

1:16 THANKS. Paul’s response to these new Christians is one of profound thankfulness.

1:17 WISDOM AND REVELATION. Awareness of all these spiritual blessings will not necessarily come via logical dedication nor solely as a result of experience. There must also be an inner work of God by which individuals are “enlightened” and understand what is going on.

1:18 THE EYES OF YOUR HEART. Paul wants this illumination to strike right to the core of a person’s being. WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING. This is the first of the three effects which result from knowing God. These phrases seem to define well the objective substance of this hope; i.e., they are God’s children and they will be holy and not held accountable for their sins. THE WEALTH OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS. This is the second benefit derived from knowing God. The idea is parallel to that in Col 1:12, and the reference is to the riches beyond imagination which God has reserved for his people (1Pt 1:4).

1:19 IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER. This is the third effect. In all things, the evidence of God’s great power is there. The greatness of his power is demonstrated in raising Jesus from the grave like he promised.

WORSHIP (VV. 15–19): Spend time in prayer thanking God for the people you care deeply about who have experienced salvation. Praise God for the way he has blessed those you love.

1:20 RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD. Jesus was really dead, buried in a tomb. But so mighty is God’s power, that it burst the bonds of death. SEATING HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND. Jesus is now the King who reigns in absolute power. One day that reign will result in the bringing together of all things under him (1:10; Heb 2:5–9).

1:21 RULER AND AUTHORITY, POWER AND DOMINION, AND EVERY TITLE GIVEN. Paul wants to be quite clear that there is no power by any name—be it angelic or demonic, natural or supernatural, from the past or in the future—that stands outside the scope of Christ’s powerful reign.