EphesiansSummary: With rich and trouble history Ephesus was the second only to Rome in splendor in Paul's time. The study of magic, the huge temple of artemis, the library of celsus and a huge theatre the splendor of the city was legendary. Paul spent time imprisoned there and wrote to the Corinthians. Later from Rome he wrote this letter of encouragement to them about faith, grace, marriage and spiritual warfare. With vibrant promises and great doctrinal thoughts it is one of my favorite epistles. Here is what I saw:
Things I Noticed:
1. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
2. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
3. I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[f] toward all the saints
4. God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him
5. Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (In some translation they are called sons of lawlessness. It means those who ignore or purposefully transgress against God's law.)
6. By grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
7. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
8. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
9. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (This statement is amazing because it shows that we have direct access to the creator of all. No need of a priest or pastor just our words.)
10. So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11. Strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
12. Being rooted and ground in love.
13. What is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. (God's love is like exploring the depths of the oceans or the infinity of the cosmos.)
14. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
15. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (The following verse speaks on no longer being children and should be sought out and meditated on whole with this verse.)
16. When each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
17. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!
18. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Love this verse BE ANGRY Rawr! ... but sin not. A mystery but not if God shows you the truth behind it.)
19. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
20. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
21. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (How often have I in the past been apart of a conversation filled with innuendo for filth amongst the brethren. The more one searched out the word the more accountable one feels if the Spirit is in you.)
22. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
23. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Men of God HARKEN unto this verse. That means perk your ears up and pay close attention.)
24. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
25. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
26. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
27. I could list the full armor of God but you should really read this book.
As I stare at the ports of Ephesus my mind drifts back to the book of Numbers. It is filled with such interesting interactions with God and the grumbling peopleof Israel. The book is a real eye opener to God's personality. I am headed to Philippi next carrying another later for dear Paul to read to the brethren. As I journey I will continue to commit to my studies.
Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.
11. Strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
12. Being rooted and ground in love.
13. What is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. (God's love is like exploring the depths of the oceans or the infinity of the cosmos.)
14. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
15. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (The following verse speaks on no longer being children and should be sought out and meditated on whole with this verse.)
16. When each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
17. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!
18. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Love this verse BE ANGRY Rawr! ... but sin not. A mystery but not if God shows you the truth behind it.)
19. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
20. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
21. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (How often have I in the past been apart of a conversation filled with innuendo for filth amongst the brethren. The more one searched out the word the more accountable one feels if the Spirit is in you.)
22. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
23. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Men of God HARKEN unto this verse. That means perk your ears up and pay close attention.)
24. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
25. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
26. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
27. I could list the full armor of God but you should really read this book.
As I stare at the ports of Ephesus my mind drifts back to the book of Numbers. It is filled with such interesting interactions with God and the grumbling peopleof Israel. The book is a real eye opener to God's personality. I am headed to Philippi next carrying another later for dear Paul to read to the brethren. As I journey I will continue to commit to my studies.
Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.
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