Questions

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 1:1–14

This week, we shall begin the study of the Book of Ephesians in the New Testament.

Ephesians

The early church fathers unanimously agreed that this letter was written by Paul, and it is likely that Paul wrote it while he was imprisoned in Rome (A.D.60). However, whether it was a letter addressed particularly to “the church in Ephesus” is less unanimous in these days, mainly because the words in quotation are missing from “the oldest and best Greek MSS”. However, it appears that scholars, in general, agree that even if this letter was not addressed directly to the church in Ephesus, Paul meant it to be a circular letter to the many churches in Asia Minor. Its circulation likely began with the church in Ephesus; hence the insertion of its name in later manuscripts.

“Here, in the language of one scholar, is the quintessence of Paulinism—the one great, profound elaboration of the cosmic and universal scope of his gospel — and the place of the church in God’s ultimate design” (Gordon Fee). The structure of this letter is simple, yet profound in that “Everything in chapters1-3 is set in a context of praise and prayer…Whereas, chapters 4-6 are a long…exhortation, appealing to them to maintain the unity (reconciliation) that God has effected in Christ.” (Gordon Fee)

The recipients of the letter are decidedly Gentile Christians as is evident in 2:11-22; 3:1-13 and 4:17.

1:1-2—Greetings

(1) How does Paul emphasize who he is? (v. 1) What might be the importance of his emphasis?

(2) How does he address his recipients in Ephesus, and perhaps, including those in the Asia Minor churches? (v. 1)

(3) How does this address remind you of who are you in Christ?

[Note: While grace and peace represent Paul’s common greetings in his letters, they happen to be the “twin themes” of this letter: Grace underscores the gospel of Christ and peace is (through reconciliation) the dominant outworking of the gospel.]

1:3-14—Praise be to God—This marvelous one-sentence praise (in Greek) deserves our careful reflection.

(4) To whom does Paul render his praise? (v. 3)

(5) The reason for his praise is because of “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” that the Father has blessed us with in Christ (v. 3). Such blessings include:

a. Our election (v. 4)

1. When did God choose us?
2. What is the purpose (or desire) of His election of us?

b. Our adoption as sons (v. 5)

1. How has our adoption been determined?
2. Why does Paul use the term adoption to refer to our salvation?

c. Purpose of our election and adoption (v. 6)

1. What is the ultimate purpose of our being saved by God?
2. How does Paul define grace in this respect?

d. Grace elaborated (vv. 7-10) 

1. The riches of God’s grace is demonstrated in us. How is this done? (v. 7)
2. The mystery of these riches of God’s grace:

a) According to v. 10b, what is this mystery of God’s will?

b) What does it mean?

c) When will it be put in place? (v. 10)

d) Who determines this timing? (v. 9)

e) How does this demonstrate the abundance and wisdom of this grace that He lavished upon us? (v. 8)

e. Our election among “all things” to be under One Head―Christ(vv. 11-14)

1. What is the role of Paul and the believers like him (implying Jewish believers) in being chosen and predestined? (v. 12)
2. What happened when the recipients of the letters (i.e. Gentile believers) first heard and believed in the gospel of salvation? (v. 13)
3. What is the function of the Holy Spirit in our redemption? (v. 14)
4. What also is our role in our inclusion in Christ? (v. 14b)

(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 1:15–22

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesian Christians:

(1) Paul has spent a good three years in Ephesus (and he spent even more years in the general region, if we include his time at other churches in Asia Minor), and now he is in jail in Rome. What report has he received concerning the Ephesians? (1:15)

(2) If you left your former “mother” church and immigrated to another place, what kind of report would you desire to receive about them?

(3) Since you left your “mother” church, have you stopped praying for them? What should your intercessions on their behalf be?

(4) Paul’s prayer for the those he once helped to evangelize and disciple includes that: (vv. 18-22)

a. They be given the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (v. 17)

1. What is the purpose of such a gift?
2. What is meant by “to know Him better” or more fully?
3. How can such a knowing happen? (v. 18a)

b. The eyes of their hearts be enlightened to know the following things.

1. The hope of His calling (v. 18b)

a) From the preceding praise (in 1:4-14), what is the hope of His calling?

b) Do you have or look forward to the realization of this hope? Why or why not?

2. The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (v. 18c)

a) What is this glorious inheritance in us, His saints? (again, refer to the preceding prayer, and especially v. 14)

b) What is the difference between “our inheritance” (v. 14; see Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 1:4) and His inheritance in us (v. 18c)? (Some scholars interpret v. 18c as “among us”)

3. The exceeding greatness of the Spirit’s power (v.19)

a) How has God demonstrated this power (of the Spirit) in Christ? (v. 20)

b) Since the Holy Spirit now dwells in us as a deposit (v. 14), what should His power mean for us?

(5) More on Christ (vv. 20-22)

a. What has the raising of Christ from the dead meant for the cosmic plan of the gospel?

b. What does the seating of Christ at God’s right hand mean in the heavenly realms? (v. 21)

c. What does the subjecting of “all things” under Christ’s feet mean for the church? (v. 22)

d. What is the church according to v. 23?

(6) If God is to answer this prayer of Paul, what impact would it have on the church today?

(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 2:1–10

Having shown us the cosmic and universal scope of the gospel (1:4-14) and the riches of the glory of God’s inheritance in the church (1:15-23), Paul wishes to remind the church that it is all of grace:

2:1-3 — Who we were

(1) We were dead in transgressions and sins (v. 1):

a. In what way(s) were we dead before we were saved?

b. What might be its implication when it comes our sharing of the gospel to the non-believers?

(2) Dead men walking (vv. 2-3)

a. While we were dead to things spiritual (and to God), were we masters of our own lives? (v. 2)

b. Whose desires and will did we seek to satisfy?

c. Could you identify with the above in your former “dead” life?

d. Who were we according to our nature then? (v. 3b)

2:4-10 — Who we have become—from Death to Life

(3) How were we made alive? (v. 6)

(4) Why should God cause us, who by nature were children of wrath, to be saved? (v. 4)

(5) What is the greater purpose of our salvation, beyond ourselves and the church? (v. 7)

(6) Paul reminds us that all this is of grace (vv. 8-9):

a. How does Paul define grace within the context of our salvation? (v. 8)

b. Why can’t salvation be achieved through our good works or merits? (v. 9; Gal. 2:6)

(7) Another purpose of our salvation is added by Paul in v. 10:

a. The word, “workmanship” is only used in one other place by Paul (see Romans 1:20) where it refers to God’s original creation: If this is what Paul has in mind, what does it mean that we are God’s creation in Christ Jesus?

b. The word (gr. poíēma) can also be translated as a “poem”: If such is the case, what does it mean that we are God’s poem in Christ Jesus?

c. Whether it is “re-creation” or “poem” in Christ Jesus, Paul says we have been created or made to do good works (or unto good works). How does he define good works in v. 10b? (Note: “in advance for us to do” can be more literally translated as, “in advance for us to walk in”).

(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 2:11–22

Paul has just expounded powerfully that this work of salvation in Christ is totally the work of God, hence imparting undeserved grace for the church. Furthermore, he wishes to impress upon these Gentiles believers, who are called the “uncircumcised", that, to them, this grace is even more amazing:

(1) As Gentiles (vv. 11-12)

a. In what ways were we (Gentiles)  inferior to the Jews?

b. How dire was our situation concerning our relationship with God?

(2) Christ’s sacrifice has changed our former situation (v. 13)

a. How has the shedding of Christ’s blood changed all that?

b. Why?

c. How “near” are we?

(3) The Jews and the Gentiles are united into one (vv. 14-18)

a. How did the Law create the enmity between the following groups?

1. The Jews and the Gentiles (v. 15)
2. Both Jews and Gentiles and God

b. How did the death of Christ on the cross abolish the enmity created by the Law and reconcile both into one body in God?

c. Why then does Paul call Christ our peace? (v. 14)

d. What is peace? (vv. 17-18)

(4) The results of Christ’s peace—The reconciliation of the Jews and the Gentiles, and both with God (vv. 19-22). Paul uses several analogies to describe the results:

a. What does “fellow citizens with God's people” mean? (v. 19b)

b. What does “members of His household” mean? (v. 19c)

c. In the holy temple’s analogy:

1. Who formed the foundation? Why? (v. 20a)
2. Who is the cornerstone? What does it mean? (v. 20-21)
3. What part do we play in this temple? (v. 21)
4. What is the purpose of this new temple? (v. 22)

(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 3:1–13

Having reminded the Ephesian believers of the marvelous grace of God to them who are Gentiles and of the wonderful purpose of the church, Paul now urges them not to be discouraged (or faint) because of his sufferings (i.e. imprisonment).

(1) Why does Paul say that he is a prisoner (in Rome) for their sake? (vv. 1, 13; see Acts 28:17ff)

(2) What is the mystery that Paul refers to which was hidden in previous generations but has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets? (v. 6)

(3) How was this mystery revealed to Paul directly? (v. 3; Gal. 1:13ff; Acts 26:16-18)

(4) How does Paul view this ministry to the Gentiles which has landed him in prison? (v. 2)

(5) Since Paul has received such a privileged ministry plus direct revelation from the Lord, why does he say that he is the “least of all the Lord’s people”? (v. 8)

(6) What has been entrusted to him as the “apostle to the Gentiles”? (vv. 8-9)

(7) What is God’s intent for His church in the administration of this mystery? (vv. 10-11)

(8) What are the two reasons Paul gives in urging them not to be discouraged because of his sufferings for them? (vv. 12-13)

(9) What do you think about the reasons Paul has given?

(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 3:14–21

As Paul breaks into another glorious prayer, he first mentions about why the Ephesians should not be discouraged by his imprisonment so that they may whole-heartedly join him and say “Amen” to his prayer that follows.

(1) What is the reason for his prayer? (3:14; see 3:1)

(2) What does the gesture of kneeling represent? (v. 14)

(3) How does Paul address God in this prayer and why? (v. 14)

(4) What is the 1^st thing Paul prays for the Ephesian church? (v. 16)

a. What is the relationship between the strengthening of our inner being (our spirit) and the dwelling of Christ in our hearts through faith?

b. What has it to do with the glorious riches of God?

c. Who does the empowering?

d. Why does he feel the need to ask God this request for the Ephesians?

(5) What is the 2^nd thing Paul prays for the Ephesian church? (v. 18)

a. Why do we need “power” in order to grasp the full dimensions of the love of Christ?

b. Why does Paul emphasize that we need to grasp Christ’s love together with all the saints?

c. What does this have to do with being rooted (like a tree) and established (like a building) in love?

(6) What is the 3^rd thing Paul prays for the Ephesian church? (v. 19)

a. Since this love surpasses knowledge, how then can we know it?

b. What is meant by being “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God"?

c. What has it to do with knowing this surpassing love of Christ?

(7) The doxology (vv. 20-21)

a. In his doxology, how does Paul describe Father God? (v. 20)

b. What has this to do with the intercession that Paul has just made for the Ephesian church?

c. Where does Paul ascribe glory to God?

(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
Ephesians 4:1–16

Having shown them the cosmic scope of the gospel and the part played by the church (i.e. their calling), Paul now urges them to live a life worthy of this calling.

(1) Paul has alluded to their calling in 1:18. Based on the preceding 3 chapters, can you sum up what their calling is?

(2) The outworking of a life worthy of the calling (vv. 2-3)

a. What are four aspects of one's walk? (listed in v. 2)

b. What is the commonality among these four aspects?

c. Why then are these four aspects important to their calling as a church? (Note: The meaning of the word, church, is exactly related to “being called out”.)

d. How do these four aspects contribute to the “unity of the Spirit”?

e. The “bond of peace”: The word “bond” (sundesmo) is an obvious play on word of the word “prisoner” (desmos). What is the point Paul tries to make?

f. What does peace mean within the context of the forgoing section in 2:14-18?

g. The phrase, “Make every effort to keep”,  suggests “difficulty and a resolute determination to overcome it” (EBC, Vol. II, 55): Why is it so difficult to keep the bond of peace even in the church?

h. What would a church look like with these four aspects mentioned by Paul?

i. How would their absence affect the calling of the church?

(3) In urging the Ephesian church to maintain unity and peace, Paul points out the reality of oneness of the church. Let’s reflect on each and its implications on our unity:

(4) The above oneness necessarily speaks to the local church, for if it refers only to the universal church, there is no need to emphasize the preceding four aspects of the outworking of unity. How then does the above list on oneness speak to you in your local situation?

(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

“’One baptism’ is the external seal of incorporation into the body of Christ. Falling as it does in the second triad (related to Christ) and not in the first (related to the Spirit), it appears to indicate water baptism and not primarily with the Spirit of which water baptism is a sign. Baptism is regarded as a sacrament of unity. In the Christian church baptisms are not multiplied as with the Jews (Heb. 6:2). There are not even two baptisms — one of John and one of Jesus. There is ‘one baptism’ symbolizing identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, sealing with the Spirit, and incorporation into the body of Christ, so that all Christians become one person in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:13; 2:5, 6; 3:15). Baptism is one because it makes one. It provides the evidence that all Christians, without discrimination as to color, race, sex, age or class, share the grace of Christ.”
(EBC, 56)