Ephesians

Overview

Ephesians divides neatly in half. Three chapters on what God has done — chosen, redeemed, made alive, brought near, built together — and three on how to walk in it, at church, at home, at work, and against powers you cannot see.

There is no crisis behind this letter and hardly any local detail, which is part of why it reads like a summary of Paul’s gospel. The first half is one long sentence in places, piling up what believers have in Christ before asking anything of them.

Background

Paul had spent nearly three years at Ephesus, longer than anywhere else, and left a church strong enough that the silversmiths rioted over lost trade. Now he writes from prison, chained to a soldier — which may be why the letter ends with armor.

The absence of personal greetings in a church he knew so well suggests a circular letter, carried by Tychicus to several congregations in the province of Asia.

Key themes

• Every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ, and it was God’s plan before the world began.
• Saved by grace through faith — not of works, lest any man should boast.
• Jew and Gentile made one body, the middle wall broken down.
• The church is Christ’s body and His bride, and household life is meant to show it.
• The real conflict is spiritual, and God supplies the armor for it.

Outline

1. Blessed in ChristChapter 1

   Chosen, adopted, redeemed, sealed — and a prayer to know the hope of His calling.

2. From death to lifeChapter 2

   Dead in sins, made alive by grace, and two peoples made one.

3. The mystery revealedChapter 3

   Gentiles fellow heirs, and a prayer to know the love that passes knowledge.

4. Walk worthyChapter 4

   One body with many gifts, growing up into the head, and putting off the old man.

5. Light and loveChapter 5

   Walk in love, walk as children of light, and husbands and wives as Christ and the church.

6. Households and the armorChapter 6

   Children, parents, servants, masters — and the whole armor of God.

Key passages

• Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed with all spiritual blessings, chosen before the foundation of the world.
• Ephesians 2:1-5 Dead in trespasses, but God, who is rich in mercy.
• Ephesians 2:8-10 By grace are ye saved through faith — created unto good works.
• Ephesians 2:14 He is our peace, who hath broken down the middle wall.
• Ephesians 3:20-21 Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
• Ephesians 4:32 Be ye kind one to another, forgiving one another.
• Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.
• Ephesians 6:10-18 Put on the whole armor of God.

Christ in Ephesians

Everything in the letter is "in Christ" — the phrase runs through the first chapter like a refrain. He is the one in whom all things will be gathered together, the head of the body, the peace who made two peoples one, and the husband whose love for the church is the pattern for every marriage.

Reading it

• Read chapters 1–3 before asking what you must do; the commands all rest on them.
• Mark every "in Christ" and "in him" in chapter 1 — there are more than a dozen.
• Read 6:10-18 slowly, piece by piece, asking what each one is for.