Paul and Ephesians: contacts and prayers
In Acts 18:19-21, Luke recorded Paul's first visit as a brief one. Paul's second, longer stay is noted in Acts 19:1--20:1. His final personal contact is in Acts 20:17-38 as he instructed the Ephesian elders and prayed with them.
This blog post will focus on three passages in Paul's letter to the Ephesian church.
In chapter 1:3-14, he begins by blessing the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [verse 3], immediately directing us to two Persons of the Trinity; we meet the Third, the Holy Spirit, in verse 13
What are the "spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ" enumerated here? First, before the foundation "he chose us ... that we should be holy and blameless before him" (verse 4). Then we learn, it was "in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" (verse 5). Both are "according to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved" (verse 6).
It that is not enough we are told we also have in Christ "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" (verses 7-10).
What more can there be in him? "We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory" (verses 11-12).
What more can be said? Paul tells the Ephesians and us, "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 it, to the praise of his glory" (verses 13-14).
Verses 3-14 direct us to all God has provided us with from God the Father in the Son and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit--the Trinity in action.
In verses 15-23, Paul transitions, taking a more personal tone.
In verses 15-16 he recognizes what they already manifest--their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love toward all the saints--ant notes his on-going prayer for them.
In verses 17-19 he tells the content of his prayers: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."
In verses 20-23 he directs them to the power and position of Christ, and again to their relationship with him: "that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
A key term in verses 3-23 is "in him."
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 starts with the Father "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named" (3:15; perhaps a reminder of our common humanity).
Verses 16-19 contain significant "that's: "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Verses 20 and 21 are both encouragement and doxology: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work in us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
This blog post will focus on three passages in Paul's letter to the Ephesian church.
In chapter 1:3-14, he begins by blessing the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [verse 3], immediately directing us to two Persons of the Trinity; we meet the Third, the Holy Spirit, in verse 13
What are the "spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ" enumerated here? First, before the foundation "he chose us ... that we should be holy and blameless before him" (verse 4). Then we learn, it was "in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" (verse 5). Both are "according to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved" (verse 6).
It that is not enough we are told we also have in Christ "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" (verses 7-10).
What more can there be in him? "We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory" (verses 11-12).
What more can be said? Paul tells the Ephesians and us, "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 it, to the praise of his glory" (verses 13-14).
Verses 3-14 direct us to all God has provided us with from God the Father in the Son and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit--the Trinity in action.
In verses 15-23, Paul transitions, taking a more personal tone.
In verses 15-16 he recognizes what they already manifest--their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love toward all the saints--ant notes his on-going prayer for them.
In verses 17-19 he tells the content of his prayers: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."
In verses 20-23 he directs them to the power and position of Christ, and again to their relationship with him: "that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
A key term in verses 3-23 is "in him."
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 starts with the Father "from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named" (3:15; perhaps a reminder of our common humanity).
Verses 16-19 contain significant "that's: "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Verses 20 and 21 are both encouragement and doxology: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work in us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
posted by Ebeth | 2:58 PM
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