I’m preparing to preach on Ephesians 1:3-14. One of the ways in which I prepare in advance for preaching is by jotting down my own commentary on the text. You may have seen that I’ve currently been working through Romans. Here are some notes on Ephesians 1 which I’ll be returning to and reflecting on as I prepare to preach.
Ephesians 1:1-2 “Greetings”
V 1. Paul introduces himself as an apostle -one commissioned and sent as a messenger – of Jesus Christ. It is God’s will or decision that he should hold this responsibility. The letter is “to God’s holy people” or saints. Note that Ephesus doesn’t appear in many early manuscripts and so may well be a later insertion indicating that this was a round robin letter to a number of churches in the region. The recipients are described as “holy” identifying them as set apart to serve and worship God. They are also described as “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”
V2. Paul’s customary greeting wishes his recipients “grace and peace.” “Grace” is an expression of generosity and underserved favour. Peace owes its origin to the more Hebraic concept of shalom, wholeness, a good relationship with God and each other.
Ephesians 1:3-14 In Christ
V3. Paul opens the letter with praise. God is “Father”, specifically he is father to the Son, Jesus Christ. He is praised because he has blessed us, “with all spiritual blessings” both offers emphasis, we are completely, fully blessed, lacking no good thing, and clarification, if spiritual, then we are not to think in terms of material goods, contra prosperity teaching. Blessings are located in Christ. We enjoy them because we are in a sense in him and are located “in the heavenly realms”, a reminder again that this is not to do with human wealth or achievement. It is about our standing as citizens of Heaven.
V4. Not only are we blessed but we are also chosen and this functions both as a parallel so the verse begins “just as ..” however, translators are I believe right to see a causal link, we are blessed because we are chosen. “Election” or God’s decision to choose us was his decision, made before the beginning of time. This means that it could not have been based on our merit or effort. It’s grace. We were chosen for a purpose, to be “holy” representing our identity as God’s distinct people and “blameless” representing the moral condition of God’s people in relation to sin. This is our status “in his sight”, in other words, it is God’s verdict on your life that matters.
V5. The phrase “in love” could link back to the previous statement but I think it fits better as an introduction to verse 5 which fills out on what it means to be chosen. It is an act of God’s loving kindness to us. “Predestination” describes this as God’s eternal plan and will. Again, there is a purpose to God’s will. He doesn’t simply play hip, dip, dip. We are chosen to be sons, through adoption, to take our place in God’s family. Again this is about God’s will and his pleasure, what he desires.
V6 Again, God’s choice in election and predestination is with a purpose. The purpose is that God will be praised and glorified. Specifically, it is “his grace” that is praised. Our predestination demonstrates God’s love freely lavished on us so that we are blessed. Note, the development of the “In Christ” theme, we are blessed “in the Beloved”. Predestination means specifically that God has chosen to love, rescue, redeem and forgive us by sending his beloved, only begotten son into thbe world for us.[1]
V7. This point is developed further in verse 7, the specific blessings we have in Christ are redemption and forgiveness. Redemption means that a price has been paid for us, to buy us out of captivity and slavery. Paul says that the price paid for us was Jesus’ own blood meaning the giving of his life as a sacrifice on The Cross. This means that we are forgiven. The connection of redemption and forgiveness here suggests that our captivity was due to a debt that need to be paid off. Again, this is an act of grace. Note that grace is described in terms of wealth and riches.
V8. The intention here is to emphasise God’s abundant provision and his generosity. He “lavished” grace “upon us.” This tells us about God’s nature and character, his infinite power and his great loving kindness. This however is not reckless or careless generosity but is marked by insight ito both our need and the consequences for his fame. God acts wisely in his generous grace.
V9. A further blessing is that God draws us into an awareness of his wisdom and his will. This is described as a “mystery”, something that was hidden from sight, known only to God. However, the coming of Christ and his death and resurrection makes God’s purpose plain and visible to us.
V10. We are now told what this mystery is. God was planning, the language here talks in terms of him stewarding or administering time towards this goal, that everything in Creation (heaven and earth) would be united in Christ. It is fascinating that in Genesis 1, God divides heaven from earth, land from sea to bring order so that a loss of that division results in de-creation and chaos, however in Christ, those things can be united together again. New Creation is both the reuniting of things that were once divided and the making of new divisions and distinctions such as through setting apart a holy people.
V11. This continues as part of one long sentence from verse 3 but because it develops a further thought, is usually translated as beginning a new paragraph. Once again, the emphasis is on who we are and what we have in Christ. We have been “allocated/appointed an inheritance” or “allocated/appointed as an inheritance.” The idea is again of being chosen, perhaps by lot. The verb is passive and so it is something that happens to us not something that we achieve. The majority of translations take this to mean that we receive a share of the inheritance in Christ. This would fit with the New Testament concept of being co-heirs with Christ. However, some commentators have suggested that we would do better to read this as stating that we are God’s chosen inheritance. Thos would follow the Old Testament’s description of Israel as Yahweh’s portion.[2] Whilst this interpretation is tempting, it does not fit so well with verse 14 which talks about the Holy Spirit as guaranteeing our inheritance. Once again, this is part of God’s eternal plan. We were predestined in line with God’s will.
V12. Notice that Paul uses the first person plural, “We”. He is at this point describing his own identity along with the apostles as the very first people to find hope in Christ.
V13. What was true for Paul and the apostles as the first to hope in Christ, was also true of the letter’s recipients and by implication us. Those who are in Christ, are marked out as those who have heard God’s Word, described as “truth” and “the good news of your salvation”. They have trusted in Christ and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, once again identifying them as marked out, chosen from out of the World as God’s precious possession.
V14. The Holy Spirit is the seal itself, the one who guarantees that we will receive our inheritance. The allusion is to a deposit or engagement ring. Christians have assurance for eternity because they have received the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:15-23
V15. Paul puts together two things, first all that God has provided in Christ and second the reported spiritual condition of the believers. This is seen both in their faith in Jesus and their love for one another.[3]
V16. These two things combined cause Paul to pray, giving thanks on behalf of his readers. This is described as unceasing or persistent prayer indicating an overflow of abundant joy on their behalf. “Remembering” indicates here that there is petition as well as praise.
V17. His request on their behalf is for them to receive wisdom and revelation from God. This revelation is “in the knowledge of him.” This may suggest both that knowledge of Christ is the source of such wisdom and that the aim is to grow their knowledge of him. Note that whilst most translations talk about the believers receiving “The Spirit”, the text lacks the definite article so that “a spirit of wisdom …” may be better. It is wisdom and revelation that Paul prays for. However, translators are right to recognise a relationship between receiving such things and receiving The Spirit who illuminates Scripture and so gives us wisdom and revelation. This also suggests a Trinitarian allusion in the text with God described as Father too.
V18. Paul talks metaphorically about his desire for “the eyes of your heart” to be “enlightened” or “illuminated”. This is another way of describing spiritual insight. The heart was seen as the seat of the will, not of the emotions but this points to a practical rather than mere intellectual knowledge of Christ. The content of revelation in this context is our hope in Christ, a looking forward to the blessings guaranteed by the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Once again, this is described in terms of inheritance.
V19 moves from future hope to the present reality of God’s infinite power made available to believers.
V20. This power experienced now is rooted in the past, historical event when Christ was raised from the dead. The resurrection both acts as the source of our power now and demonstrates its extent and power. It’s the kind of power required to bring life from death. Note, that the Resurrection and ascension are treated as one event so that Jesus is raised and seated.
V21. Jesus’ position as the one now seated on the heavenly throne means that he is exalted above all potential rivals to his position and glory. That being so, he is also exalted above all threats to our assurance and security. This is true for ever.
V22. Not only is Jesus exalted over earthly and spiritual powers but over the church as well. Notice that this means that the meaning of the word kephale, usually translated as head which will also appear in the passage on marriage (5:22-32) cannot be evacuated of the sense of authority and power.
V23. If Christ is the head, then the Church, referring to the whole church around the world and throughout history, is his body. This means that the church is under his direction and leadership, enjoying his fulness. It also means that the church is the hands and feet of Christ’s missing, by seeking to fill and subdue the earth by making disciples of the nations, the Church fills the world with the glory and knowledge of the Lord.
[1] John 3:16.
[2] See on this O’Brien and Lincoln.
[3] Nb this response of both faith in Christ, together with love for other believers corresponds with James’ teaching on faith that is put into action.
Faithroots 