If you would like a printed version of this commentary, check out Die Genade Bybel series.
Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
(a) Paul had two names. As a Jew he went by his Hebrew name, Saul, and as an apostle to the Gentiles he went by his Roman name, Paul (Acts 13:9). As Saul, he was a Pharisee of Pharisees, and a persecutor of the church. But after a life-changing encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, he became the apostle of grace, and the author of most of the New Testament epistles.
Paul’s letter to the saints in Ephesus was written while he was under house arrest in Rome in the early AD60s (Eph. 3:1). It is one of four “prison letters.” The others are Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. The letter to the Ephesians was delivered by Paul’s good friend, Tychicus (Eph. 6:21).
(b) Apostle. Die oorspronklike woord (die apostels) means a delegate or ambassador. It is someone who has been sent out as a messenger for God. Paul had been sent by God to preach the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles (Gal 1:15–16, 2:9, Eph. 3:8). Although we have all been called to proclaim the good news, those with an apostolic gifting excel in this activity and are able to train others for ministry (Eph. 4:11–12). Paul was an apostle of Christ Jesus, meaning he had been sent by Christ to speak the words of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). His commission and message came from the Lord and no man (Gal. 1:1). See also the inskrywing for 1 Cor. 1:1.
(c) Christ Jesus. The original word for Christ (Christos) is the Greek word for Messiah (John 1:41). It means anointed one. By referring to Christ nearly four dozen times in this letter, Paul emphasizes that Jesus is the anointed King foretold by the prophets (Ps. 2:2, Dan. 9:25–26). Paul referred to Jesus as Christ in all his letters (Rom. 1:4, 1 Cor. 1:1, 2 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:1, Php. 1:2, Col. 1:1, 1 Th. 1:1, 2 Th. 1:2, 1 Tim. 1:16, 2 Tim. 2:8, Tit. 3:6, Phm. 1:3).
(d) By the will of God. It was God’s idea to make Paul an apostle. The Lord communicated his intention to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 26:17–18), and confirmed it through the prophets in the church of Antioch (Acts 13:1–2). Paul was understandably amazed that God had called him, the persecutor of the church, to preach Christ (Eph. 3:8).
(e) Saints. Christians. A saint is not just a kind of person, but a new kind of species, a member of the new creation family of God (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 3:28).
The recipients of this letter were believers from all walks of life. Some were tradesmen, teachers, lawyers, doctors, homemakers, and slaves. What they had in common is that they were saints who had died, been buried, and raised to new life with Christ (Rom. 6:3–5, Eph. 2:5–6). They were no longer dead in their trespasses and sins, and without God in this world (Eph. 2:1, 12).
The original adjective (hagios) is often translated holy. Along with every other believer, you are holy and sanctified because Jesus makes you so (John 17:19, Heb. 10:14). One with the Lord, you are as holy as the Holy One himself (1 Cor. 6:11). “If the root is holy, so are the branches” (Rom. 11:16). You are the holy temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16). Throughout scripture, Christians are consistently referred to as holy or sanctified saints. See inskrywing for Acts 9:13.
(f) Ephesus. The busy seaport of Ephesus was the front door to the Roman province of Asia. The city was a gateway to the east, and a crossroads for travelers and pilgrims. Paul’s first visit to Ephesus was a brief stop on his way to Judea (Acts 18:19). Later, he stayed in Ephesus for almost three years (Acts 20:31).
The church in Ephesus had a special place in Paul’s heart because he planted it (Acts 18:19, 20:31). He preached the gospel in an Ephesian synagogue for three months, and then in a rented hall for about two years (Acts 19:8–10). When Paul left Ephesus, the church he planted was possibly led by Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:19), and later Timothy (1 Tim. 1:3). According to church tradition, the apostle John may have led the church for a while (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.3.4). This was a church with a good heritage.
It makes sense that Paul would send his Ephesian friends a letter. What is less clear is whether his letter was meant solely for the Ephesians. The words Ephesus en Efesiërs are found nowhere in the earliest manuscripts. (The first mention of Ephesus may have been a margin note added by copyists, then later inserted here into verse 1.) Our best guess is that Paul intended for his letter to be carried to Ephesus, and then circulated among the churches of Asia and the neighboring regions (see inskrywing for Eph. 3:2). His letter was passed around, much as Jesus’ letters were circulated among the seven churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:4).
(g) Who are faithful. If the word Ephesus was not in Paul’s original letter, this can be read as “to the saints, and those who are faithful in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s letter is for Christians everywhere, including us.
What message does Paul have for us in this letter? Although it is a short letter, Ephesians is a weighty and inspiring document. In it Paul covers the full sweep of God’s plan to rescue you, restore creation, and reunite heaven and earth under one head. Ephesians is packed with power and wisdom. It unveils mysteries and stirs our faith. It explains what God is doing and how he is doing it. It is a practical letter that reveals God’s design for healthy marriages, families, and workplaces.
Ephesians abounds in themes. A key theme is the new life that is ours in Christ. This thrilling new life is not something to strive for, but a gift we receive through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8). Paul frames the Christian life around three activities: sitting, walking, and standing. We are seated in Christ Jesus in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). From this position of rest we draw the strength to walk in this world (Eph. 4:1, 5:2, 8, 15) and stand firm in spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:11, 13–14).
Ephesians answers important questions: What is truth? How do we find peace? How do we become more fully human? What makes a healthy church? Ultimately, Ephesians is about knowing who God is, what he is doing, and how you can participate in what he is doing (e.g., Eph. 1:9, 3:4, 6:19). The devil wants you to remain ignorant, but Paul writes so that you might know the will of the Lord (Eph. 5:17), his great power (Eph. 1:17–19a), and his measureless love for you (Eph. 3:19). Knowing God in our daily lives is how we grow (Eph. 4:13).
We can divide the letter into two halves. The first three chapters are about the big picture—God’s eternal purposes and how we fit in them. Paul reveals that God is building a big, beautiful family (the church, Christ’s body on earth) through which he displays his manifold wisdom and all-conquering power (Eph. 1:5, 6-11, 3:10–11). Heaven and earth will be reunited under Christ (Eph. 1:10), and you get to be part of that through your union with the Lord (Eph. 1:3, 19, 3:20–21).
The last three chapters show us how to walk as children of God and stand strong in the faith (Eph. 4:1, 5:1, 6:10–17). Here we learn how to have fruitful churches (Eph. 4:11–32), healthy marriages (Eph. 5:21–33), strong families (Eph. 6:1–4), and productive workplaces (Eph. 6:5–9). As a citizen of a heavenly kingdom, Paul refused to conform to the norms of the age in which he lived. He championed the rights of women (Eph. 5:25–29), children (Eph. 6:4), and slaves (Eph. 6:9). In a world of rampant discrimination, he revealed a God who shows no partiality.
(h) In Christ; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:3.
Ephesians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(a) Genade vir jou en vrede. As is his habit, Paul opens with a gracious salutation (see inskrywing for Rom. 1:7). Grace encompasses all of God’s blessings, while peace is the fruit of receiving God’s grace. We trust God to meet our needs, and the result is peace.
(b) God our Father. Like Jesus before him, Paul revealed a God who loves you like a Father (John 17:23). This was a stunning revelation at the time, and it remains shocking for many today. God is not just the Father of Jesus (Eph. 1:3), he is the approachable Father of all who hear his call (Eph. 2:18, 4:6), and the Father after whom all fathers are named (Eph. 3:15). God is not the harsh and distant deity of the Old Testament. He is our Father who loves us, adopts us, and calls us dearly loved children (Eph. 1:5, 2:4, 5:1, 6:23). Paul refers to God as Father eight times in this letter.
(c) Lord. The original noun (kyrios) means the One who is supreme above all rule, authority, power, and dominion (Eph. 1:19).
Paul was imprisoned by Rome when he wrote this letter (Eph. 3:1), yet he insisted that Jesus Christ remained Lord above all. Nearly two dozen times in his short letter, he refers to Jesus as Lord, the One who is supreme above all (Eph. 1:2, 3, 15, 17, 2:21, 3:11, 4:1, 5, 17, 5:8, 10, 17, 19, 20, 22, 6:1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 21, 23, 24). To declare Jesus as Lord is to say, “He is greater than my circumstances, and in him I will trust.”
(d) Christ; see previous verse.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
(a) Blessed. There are three blessed words in this verse: blessed be (eulogetos) means God is praiseworthy; blessed us (eulogeo) means God speaks words of favor and prospers us; and blessing (eulogia) means bountiful favor. We bless God because he has blessed or favored us with every kind of spiritual blessing. We praise him because he is an awesome God who has done awesome things.
(b) God and Father. Everything Paul says in his breath-taking letter begins with a revelation of our God and Father and what he has done. God blessed us (Eph. 1:3); God chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4); God predestined us to be his sons (Eph. 1:5); God redeemed us from captivity and forgave all our sins (Eph. 1:7). Ephesians is not about what you must do for God, but what God has done for you, and what you can do because of what he has done. Because he has redeemed you, you can live free. Because he has blessed you, you can bless others. Because he has revealed his eternal plan, you can live with purpose.
(c) Has blessed us. God has abundantly provided everything we need for life and godliness (Php. 4:19, 2 Pet. 1:3).
God has blessed us with forgiveness (Eph. 1:7), salvation (Eph. 1:13), the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and an inheritance (Eph. 1:11). He has adopted us (Eph. 1:5), empowered us (Eph. 1:19), and built us into his holy habitation (Eph. 2:22). We don’t need to beg and pound the gates of heaven to convince God to bless us. (Asking God to provide salvation, healing, deliverance, or any other blessing is like asking Jesus to come and die again. Once was enough.) Our part is to acknowledge every good thing that is already ours in Christ Jesus (Phm. 1:6). Our part is to receive by faith that which God has already provided.
Verdere leeswerk: "Blessed with every blessing“
(d) Geestelik means having to do with the invisible spiritual realm, as opposed to the natural or physical realm (1 Cor. 15:46). Things in the spiritual realm are no less real for being unseen (God is spirit; John 4:24). To perceive spiritual realities, we need to see with the eyes of our heart (Eph. 1:18). “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18, NIV).
Sien inskrywing for Spiritual.
(e) Spiritual blessing. The blessings of God originate in the heavenly or spiritual realm which means they are unmarred by this fallen world. God’s blessings are heavenly remedies for worldly woes. The blessings of God are not earned through service to the Lord or works of charity or by making donations. They are given to us freely by grace and received by faith.
(f) Heavenly places. The spiritual realm; see inskrywing for Eph. 1:20.
(g) In Christ. All of God’s blessings are received and experienced through our spiritual union with the Lord. “In union with Christ you have become rich in all things” (1 Cor. 1:5, GNB).
The word union does not appear in many English Bibles, but our union, or fellowship, with the Lord is mentioned hundreds of times in scripture. It is found in phrases like, “God with us,” “Christ in you,” “in Christ,” “with Christ,” “with him,” and “in him.” Like a branch on a vine, the believer is one with the Lord (John 15:5). “You are in me and I am in you” (John 14:20). Our union with the Lord is intimate, unbreakable, and the means by which we experience the abundant life that flows from the fullness of his love.
“In Christ Jesus” is one of Paul’s favorite phrases. We are alive to God and have eternal life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11, 23). The grace and kindness of God are found in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:4, Eph. 2:7), and his forgiveness is found in Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:32). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1), we are justified in Christ (Gal. 2:17), and our salvation is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:10). Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:39). We have freedom and are sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 2:4). We are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6). The peace, faith and love of God are found in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:7, 1 Tim. 1:14). In Christ we are brand new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17), and we are complete in Christ (Col. 2:10). All the glory goes to God, for it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:30).
Sien inskrywing vir Unie.
Ephesians 1:4
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
(a) He chose us. Us refers to the body of Christ. “The elect, whom he chose” (Mark 13:20).
God’s call goes out to the whole world, and those who respond are called the elect, of the chosen of God (Rom. 8:33, Col. 3:12, Tit. 1:1). In a manner of speaking, the chosen choose themselves by responding to the call of God. But since the Lord initiates the call, it’s accurate to say we are God’s chosen. “For you are a chosen generation” (1 Pet. 2:9).
(b) In him. Your chosenness is in Christ. Before the beginning of time, God made a plan to rescue and restore all things through Christ. You were not chosen because you responded to the gospel. You became part of the chosen when you were joined to the Lord.
(c) Before the foundation of the world. From before creation.
(d) We would be holy and blameless. In our former state we were broken and marred by sin, but God had a plan to make us whole, beautiful, and flawless.
(e) Before him. Others may see your faults and shortcomings, but God sees you as holy and blameless in Christ.
(f) In love. The measureless love of God is a theme that rings loud and clear in Ephesians. God chose you because he loves you. Your heavenly Father had a dream and wrapped your body around it. He wants you to be established in his love (Eph. 3:17), to walk in his love (Eph. 5:2), and to know his love which surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19).
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
(a) Predestined means predetermined or foreordained. Predestined does not mean that God chooses some and rejects others. It means God had a plan.
The original word for predestined (proorizo) is made up of two words: pro, meaning fore, and horizo, meaning horizon or boundary. The God who sees the end from the beginning knew who would respond to the gospel. Before time began he wrote their names in the Book of Life (Rev. 17:8).
Some say that we were incapable of moving towards salvation. “Being dead in sin, we couldn’t do a thing. It was all God.” Which suggests that God only chose some of us while rejecting the rest of us. Salvation is indeed all God, but it is still up to us to repent and believe the good news (Mark. 1:15). Those who put their faith in the Lord cross over from death to life (John 5:24).
(b) Adoption means you’ve had a change of family. You were part of Adam’s enslaved family, but now you are part of God’s blessed family.
When we think of adoption, we may think of small children in orphanages. But in Roman times, powerful men adopted young men to make them their heirs. At the time of Christ’s birth, the Roman world was ruled by a man who had been adopted in this manner. Gaius Octavius had been adopted by his uncle Julius Caesar. With Caesar’s name, estate, and legions, Gaius was put on a fast track to Caesarship (or tyranny). We know him today as the Emperor Augustus. Another example was Nero, who was adopted by the Emperor Claudius. This is the sort of adoption that Paul has in mind here. As adopted sons, we inherit a new name and all the resources of heaven (Rom. 8:17). Truly, we are destined to reign in life through Christ Jesus (Rom. 5:17).
(c) Sons. Believers are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26). As someone once said, “The Son of God became the Son of Man so the sons of men might become the sons of God.”
Why does Paul say we are sons and not children of God? Because in the Roman world, adopted sons enjoyed special privileges and were marked as heirs (Gal. 4:5). “You have received a spirit of adoption as sons” (Rom. 8:15). Whether you are a male or female, you are a fellow heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
(d) The kind intention of his will. Our Father took great delight in planning a big family.
Here lies the answer to the question, “What is the meaning of life?” The purpose of life is to receive God’s love and be part of his family. Everything that makes life good and beautiful stems from this: you are God’s dream come true. You may have heard that God has a plan for your life. It’s more accurate to say that God has a plan for all creation, and his plan includes you.
Ephesians 1:6
to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
(a) The praise of the glory. Much of this letter is a celebration of God’s goodness. Paul praises God for his unbridled generosity (Eph. 1:3), his abundant grace (Eph. 1:7), and his great love (Eph. 2:4). He inspires us to sing “to God be the glory” (Eph. 3:21).
(b) The glory of his grace. All the credit for our salvation goes to God’s glorious grace. It’s his plan, his work, his redemption. Since we had nothing to do with it, all we can say is, “Thank you, Lord, for your amazing grace!”
(c) Genade captures the goodwill, lovingkindness, and favor of God that is freely given to us so that we may partake in his divine life. Grace is supernatural aid that empowers you to be who God made you to be.
Grace is what makes the good news good news. A gospel without grace is no gospel at all, for it is grace that saves us (Acts 15:11, Eph. 2:8, 2 Tim. 1:9), forgives us (Eph. 1:7), justifies us (Rom. 3:24, Tit. 3:7), declares us righteous (Rom. 5:17, 2 Cor. 5:21), and raises us to new life (Eph. 2:5).
In the letter to the Ephesians, the manifold grace of God is portrayed at least six ways: (1) in the sacrificial and measureless love of Christ (Eph. 3:17–19, 5:2, 25), (2) in God’s radical forgiveness of all our trespasses (Eph. 1:7), (3) in the surpassing riches of his kindness that raised us from the dead (Eph. 2:6–7), (4) in the giving of the Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:13–14), (5) in our adoption into his family (Eph. 1:5, 2:19), and (6) in the provision of his great power by which we are strengthened and able to stand (Eph. 1:19, 3:16).
Sien inskrywing vir die genade van God.
(d) Freely bestowed. The original text is a single verb (charitoō) that means blessed or favored. God has freely blessed us with his grace. The same word was spoken by the angel to Mary: “You are highly favored (charitoō)” (Luke 1:28). Mary was highly favored in God’s eyes, and so are you.
(e) In the Beloved. God’s grace is revealed to us through his Beloved Son.
When Jesus was baptized, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt. 3:17). Paul could have said we are accepted in Christ. By saying we are accepted in the Beloved, he reminds us of that special name given by the Father to the Son. To be graced by God and accepted in the Beloved means you are beloved. Even when you stumble and sin, you are still beloved.
Verdere leeswerk: "The end of the slave trade.”
Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
(a) In him. Our redemption, forgiveness, and salvation are received and experienced in union with the Lord. Which is to say there is no redemption, forgiveness, or salvation outside of Christ.
Along with “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), “in him” is one of Paul’s favorite phrases for describing our spiritual union with the Lord. When you believed the good news about Jesus, you were sealed in him (Eph. 1:13). All the blessings of heaven are found in him (Eph. 1:3), and in him you have redemption, forgiveness, and righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21, Eph. 1:7). All the promises of God are yes in him (2 Cor. 1:20), and in him you have been made complete (Col. 2:10). In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
Sien inskrywing vir Unie.
(b) Redemption means ransoming. To redeem is to release someone by paying a ransom price. Jesus gave his life as a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:6). We were slaves of sin, but Jesus redeemed us, and now we are free (Rom. 6:6, Gal. 5:1). “Through Christ, everyone who believes is freed from all things” (Acts 13:39a). Since Christ’s sacrifice was perfect and never to be repeated, it wrought an eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12). In him you are completely and eternally saved.
(c) Blood. Our ransom price was paid with the most precious substance in the universe, the blood of Christ. See inskrywing for Eph. 2:13.
(d) Vergifnis. The original noun (afese) is sometimes translated as remission. It means a letting go or dismissal or sending away. It means God has removed our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12).
On the night he rose from the dead, Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the remission of sins (see inskrywing for Luke 24:47). From then on, the apostles proclaimed the good news of unconditional forgiveness (see inskrywing for Acts 13:38). In the new covenant we are not forgiven on account of our acts of forgiveness, but in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
(e) Trespasses. The original noun (paraptōma) means a fall or slip. It’s a slip up, a mistake, an error.
(f) According to. Are you forgiven of all your sins and trespasses? To this question Paul delivers an emphatic answer. In Christ you have an eternal redemption and total forgiveness. You are not forgiven because you said or did the right things. You are forgiven on account of God’s abounding grace. (See also 2 Cor. 5:19 Heb. 8:12, 10:17.)
(g) Riches. Wealth. Paul uses the original noun (ploutos) twice in this letter to describe the abundance of God’s grace (Eph. 1:7, 2:7). He also uses this word to describe the abundance of God’s kindness (Rom. 2:4), wisdom, and knowledge (Rom 11:33). In other words, God is as rich in grace as he is in wisdom, kindness, and knowledge. In the next chapter, Paul will go even further by referring to the surpassing, or immeasurable, riches of God’s grace (Eph. 2:7).
(h) Genade; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:6.
Ephesians 1:8
which he lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
(a) Lavished. The original verb (perisseuo) means to exceed, overflow, or super-abound. It is a word Paul uses elsewhere to describe the super-abundant grace of God (Rom. 5:15, 2 Cor. 9:8).
To lavish is to do far more than necessary. It is to give recklessly and profusely. It is feeding the 5000 with so much food that the leftovers (perisseuo again) fill baskets (Matt. 14:20). When it comes to grace, God is generous to the point of lavish wastefulness. See also the inskrywing for Rom. 5:20.
(b) Wisdom and insight. God revealed his restoration plan in a brilliant and practical way—through the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:9
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
(a) Mystery. A mystery is a plan or purpose of God which is unknown to the natural mind, but which may be revealed to us by his Spirit (1 Cor. 2:11–14, Col. 1:26). The New Testament speaks of the mysteries of the kingdom (Matt. 13:11, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10), the mysteries of God and his will (1 Cor. 4:1, Eph. 1:9), the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:4, Col. 4:3), the mystery of the gospel (Eph. 6:19), the mystery of faith (1 Tim. 3:9), and the mystery of godliness (1 Tim. 3:16).
(b) The mystery of his will is that all things in heaven and earth will be united, or gathered together, under one head, Jesus Christ (see next verse). We might call this God’s rescue plan, but really it is a restoration plan. It is the restoration of all things foretold by the prophets and proclaimed by the apostles (Acts 3:21, Col. 1:20). God’s intention is not merely to rescue you; he plans to restore all that was lost.
Does the universe have any purpose, or are we just one big cosmic accident? Paul answers this question using words like chosen, predestined, intention, and will. God is writing his Great Restoration Story, and it is the most wonderful, thrilling story that could ever be told. It’s the story of a Man from heaven who has come to put things right and make things new. Through this heavenly Man, God is remaking the cosmos and building a family. The good news is that his story includes you. You are not alone, and your existence is no accident. God knows everything about you, he loves you more than you know, and he calls you by name. His call gives meaning to life, and his purpose or plan gives hope to the world.
Sien inskrywing for Mysteries of God.
(c) His kind intention. It pleases God to restore, rebuild, and make all things new.
Ephesians 1:10
with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In him
(a) Administration. The execution of God’s plan. The original noun (oikonomia) is sometimes translated as stewardship (e.g., Eph. 3:2) or management (e.g., Luke 16:2).
(b) Administration suitable to the fullness of the times. God’s restoration plan is underway and will reach its climax on the day of redemption, when Christ returns in glory (1 Cor. 15:52, Eph. 4:30, 1 Th. 4:16–17).
(c) The fullness of the times. When the time is ripe.
God is never early, and he is never late. His timing is always perfect. He sent his Son to earth at just the right time (Gal. 4:4). When he instructs Jesus to return at the end of this age, we can be confident that it will be at the right time.
(d) Times. The original noun (kairos) means the proper time or the right moment.
(e) Summing up. What was lost and broken will be restored, united, and brought under the headship of Christ (Acts 3:21, Eph. 1:22). Everything in the spiritual and physical realms will be made new and filled with the presence of God. There will be healing, harmony, and everlasting peace.
(f) All things. All of creation including the heavens and the earth.
In the beginning, heaven and earth were united under God’s reign. But Satan’s fall and man’s rebellion drove a wedge between here and there. Now we live in a world of struggle and discord. Humanity is destroying itself and its home. Creation groans under the influence of sin and evil (Rom. 8:19–20, 22).
But Jesus came to put things right and undo the devil’s work (1 John 3:8). Where there is hurt, he brings healing. Where there is violence, he brings peace. What was broken is being restored. Jesus is making all things new (Rev. 21:5), and under his headship heaven and earth will be reunited (Col. 1:16–17, 20). The new heavens and the earth will be the home of righteousness, populated by a new man or new humanity (Eph. 2:15, 2 Pet. 3:13).
(g) Things in the heavens. God’s home.
Paul writes of heaven, the heavens, and heavenly places. Although there is some overlap, these terms are not synonymous. References to heaven or the heavens (both are ouranos in the original text) usually refer to God’s dwelling place (Dan. 2:28, Rev. 7:11), while heavenly places (epouranios) are a broader designation; see inskrywing for Eph. 1:20.
(h) Things on the earth. Humanity’s home (Ps. 115:16).
(i) In Christ; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:3.
Ephesians 1:11-12
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
(a) An inheritance. As sons of God, we are heirs of God (Rom. 8:17).
From Adam, we inherited a broken planet and the sentence of death. It was not a good inheritance. But in Christ, we are heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14), heirs of eternal life (Matt. 19:29, Mark 10:17, Tit. 3:7), and heirs of the kingdom (Jas. 2:5). Indeed, we are heirs of all things (Rev. 21:7). As God’s children, we draw on our inheritance by drawing on our Father’s power, strength, wisdom, and love. As fellow heirs of Christ, all the blessings of heaven are ours in him (Eph. 1:3, 3:6).
An inheritance is unlike a wage or reward. Wages are earned by servants, but inheritances are given to sons. Many Christians, seeing themselves as the Lord’s servants, are working for rewards. But as sons of God, we have a great inheritance. We don’t need to work for anything, but we are to draw from our inheritance. God supplies all we need according to his riches in Jesus Christ (Php. 4:19).
Sien inskrywing for Inheritance.
(b) Predestined means God had a plan; see inskrywing for Eph. 1:5.
(c) His purpose… his will. God had it all figured out in advance (Eph. 3:11).
From our limited perspective it may seem that the devil has had some victories, and that humanity has suffered many defeats. But from the perspective of eternity, everything is coming together in a way that brings glory to God.
(d) Who works all things. God is not the cause of everything that happens (1 John 5:19), but he makes all things work together for his good purposes (Rom. 8:28). Truly, he is the Great Redeemer.
Not everything that happens is God’s will. God did not want Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, and he is not willing that any perish (2 Pet. 3:9). But God rewrites our stories and redeems our messes (e.g., Gen 50:20). The Author of history has the last word.
(e) The counsel of his will. According to his own design.
(f) We who were the first to hope in Christ. Jewish Christians. The first believers were the Jewish disciples of Christ and the church they planted in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7).
(g) The praise of his glory. “We Jews, who had been waiting for the Anointed One, were the first to praise God for his goodness and grace.” See also the inskrywing for Eph. 1:6.
Ephesians 1:13
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
(a) In him; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:7.
(b) You also. You Gentiles, as well (see Eph. 2:11).
If the first generation of believers was predominantly Jewish, the second generation, which included the Ephesians, was predominantly Gentile. Paul will have more to say about the multicultural family of God in the next two chapters of this letter.
(c) Listening. Many of the Ephesians, and others in nearby towns, heard the gospel from Paul. Indeed, Paul’s preaching was so effective that the gospel was heard by everyone in the province of Asia (Acts 19:10).
(d) The message of truth. The message, or word (logos) of truth, or the “word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10), is the gospel of Jesus (Gal. 2:5, Col. 1:5). It is the revelation of Jesus, who is the Living Word and the Truth by which all else is measured.
(e) Gospel. The original noun (euangelion) means good news or glad tidings. It does not mean bad news. By definition, any gospel that leaves you fearful of an angry and judgmental God is no gospel at all. The gospel Paul proclaims is undiluted good news. It is the happy announcement that God loves us so much that he sent his Son to redeem us so that we might become sons of God (Eph. 1:5, 7).
In this letter Paul refers to the gospel of your salvation and the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15). These are two of the many labels for the one and only gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).
Sien inskrywing vir die Evangelie.
(f) The gospel of your salvation is the gospel of grace, because it is by the grace of God we are saved (Eph. 2:8).
(g) Verlossing. The original word for salvation means deliverance or rescue. Jesus is the Deliverer who rescues us from our enemies (Luke 1:71). Salvation is one of many blessings that are experienced in our union with Christ. See inskrywing vir Verlossing.
(h) Having also believed. The gospel is true whether you believe it or not, but it won’t do you any good unless you believe it. The blessings of heaven are for believers, those who are in Christ.
(i) You were sealed in him. The moment you said yes to Jesus, God stamped you with his seal of ownership, and gave you his Spirit as a guarantee of your salvation (2 Cor. 1:22). You were sealed “in him”, which means your life is now hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3). You are not merely standing on the Rock; you are in the Rock, as safe and secure as God himself.
(j) Die Heilige Gees is both the seal with which you have been stamped (Eph. 4:30), and the pledge of your inheritance (see next verse). You were sealed with the Holy Spirit when you believed the gospel.
Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, God pours his love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5). The Holy Spirit testifies that we are children of God and encourages us to cry out, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6). He intercedes for us and helps us to pray as we should (Rom. 8:26–27). The indwelling Holy Spirit is the means by which the Lord lives and bears his spiritual fruit in our lives (Rom. 8:11, Gal. 4:6).
The Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of God (Matt. 3:16, 12:28, Rom. 8:9, 14, 1 Cor. 2:11, 14, 3:16, 6:11, 7:40, 12:3, 2 Cor. 3:3, Eph. 4:30, Php. 3:3, 1 Pet. 4:14, 1 John 4:2), the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9, Php. 1:19, 1 Pet. 1:11), the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:17), the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 4:6), the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4), the Spirit of glory (1 Pet. 4:14), the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29), and the Helper (John 14:16, 26, 16:7).
Verdere leeswerk: "Ten Myths about the Holy Spirit.”
(k) The Holy Spirit of promise. The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus and the prophets (Eze. 36:26–27, Joel 2:28, John 14:16–17, 15:26). See also the inskrywing for John 14:26.
Ephesians 1:14
who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
(a) Pledge means a deposit, or down payment, on a purchase given as security for the rest. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of the glorious inheritance to come (2 Cor. 1:22).
(b) Erfenis; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:11.
(c) With a view to the redemption. Until the day of redemption when Jesus returns in glory (Eph. 4:30).
(d) God’s own possession. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee until we take full possession of our inheritance. Note that God’s own is italicized to show that it is not in the original text. It is our inheritance that is being discussed. Our inheritance includes the redemption of our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:23).
(e) The praise of his glory; see inskrywing for Eph. 1:6.
Ephesians 1:15
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
(a) For this reason. “Having heard about your faith and love, I am praying for you” (see next verse).
“For this reason” is one of Paul’s favorite sayings. It appears five times in this letter (Eph. 1:15, 3:1, 14, 5:14, 31). See also the inskrywing for Rom. 1:26.
(b) “I too, along with others who are praying and giving thanks for you.”
(c) Having heard. Why does Paul say he has only heard of the Ephesians’ faith? Has he forgotten that he spent three years in their city (Acts 20:31)? This apparent inconsistency has led some to speculate that someone other than Paul wrote this letter.
Recall that Paul is not just writing to the Ephesians, but to other churches in Asia and neighboring regions (see inskrywing for Eph. 1:1). He is addressing a wide audience that possibly included the Laodiceans. (Paul told the Colossians he had sent a letter to the Laodiceans (Col. 4:16). It may have been this one.) Paul had never been to Laodicea, which was around 100 miles inland from Ephesus. But he had heard of the Laodiceans’ faith.
(d) Geloof; sien inskrywing for Eph. 2:8.
(e) Love for all the saints. They did not love some of the Christians, but all of them, whether they were Jew or Greek. This is how we recognize the church. In a world divided by race, religion, and politics, Christians are known by their love for one another (John 13:35).
(f) The saints; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:1.
Ephesians 1:16
do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
(a) Do not cease. I pray and give thanks for you regularly.
(b) Giving thanks. Thanksgiving is the native language of those who have received their Father’s grace. It is through thanksgiving and praise that we approach God in prayer (Ps. 100:4). Thanksgiving is the faith-filled alternative to worry and anxiety (Php. 4:6).
(c) Making mention. Paul prayed for the Ephesians and two of his prayers are recorded in this letter. In the first prayer, Paul prays that the Ephesians would get a deeper revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:17–23). In the second, he prays they would get a deeper revelation of Christ’s love (Eph. 3:14–19). It is significant that Paul does not pray for revival. (The word is not found in the Bible.) Nor does he ask God to pour out his Spirit (he already did), or bless the nation (ditto), or bind the strong man (ditto). He prays that those who already know the Lord would know him more and have a deeper revelation of his love. As the church grows in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, revival comes and the nations are blessed.
(d) Prayers. Prayer is conversing with your heavenly Father. A healthy prayer life includes: praising the Lord and giving thanks for all he has done (Acts 16:25, Eph. 5:20, Col. 1:12, 3:17), praying for others, including those in authority (Eph. 6:18, 1 Tim. 2:1–2), and praying for a greater revelation of his love, power, and wisdom (Eph. 1:17–19, 3:16–19, Col. 1:11, Jas. 1:5). Prayer is also an opportunity to present our requests and cares to God (Php. 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:7, 1 John 5:14–15).
Ephesians 1:17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.
(a) God of our Lord Jesus Christ. To refer to the God of Jesus is to emphasize Christ’s humanity. Although Jesus was the Son of God, he was also the Man raised and exalted by God (Eph. 1:20–22). This same power that raised Jesus the Man, is available to those who believe (Eph. 1:19).
(b) The Father of glory is also known as the King of glory (Ps. 24:7) and the God of glory (Ps. 29:3, Acts 7:2), while Jesus is known as the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8). God is the glorious Father, King, and God, who is worthy to be praised (Eph. 1:12, 14, 3:21). He is the Source of glory who gives glory to his Son, and a glorious inheritance to his saints (Eph. 1:18).
(c) Glory. The original noun (doxa) means dignity, honor, and praise. In the context of God’s glory, it implies his radiant majesty, awesome splendor, and transcendent beauty. The “glory of the Lord” sometimes refers to the visible manifestation of God’s presence (e.g., Ex. 16:10, 24:16–17, 40:34–35, Luke 2:9). The majesty, splendor, and beauty of God the Father is revealed to us through his Son (John 1:14, Heb. 1:3). See inskrywing for Matt. 6:13.
(d) Spirit of wisdom. A wise and understanding spirit.
Wisdom is the ability to make good decisions and sound judgments. Wisdom is knowing how to walk in the favor and will of God. Spiritual wisdom, which can be contrasted with worldly wisdom, comes from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8). When we walk in step with the Spirit, we walk in the wisdom of God.
(e) Die Openbaring. A spiritual revelation is a truth about the character and purposes of God that is revealed to you by the Holy Spirit. All spiritual truth dawns by revelation and is received in our spirits (1 Cor. 2:14).
(f) Knowledge of him. Wisdom and knowing God go together. If you want to make wise decisions, make it your ambition to know the Lord. What does he say about this situation? What is his will in this decision? We can trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us (John 16:13). See also the entry for Eph. 4:13.
Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
(a) I pray. Paul prays two prayers for the saints (Eph. 1:15–23, 3:14–21), and he concludes his letter by asking them to pray for him (Eph. 6:19). In this, his first prayer, he prays that we would know three things: the hope of God’s calling, that we are his rich inheritance, and the life-giving power of the Lord.
(b) Eyes of your heart. “I pray that you will be spiritually enlightened.”
With our natural eyes we perceive the natural world, but to receive spiritual revelation, we open our minds to receive spiritual revelation. For example, you may have heard with your ears that God loves you. But unless you know and believe in your heart that he loves you, little will change. “We have come to know and believe the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16).
(c) Enlightened. Illuminated. When we receive the Spirit’s revelation in our minds, the lights go on and all becomes clear.
(d) So that you will know three things: the hope of his calling, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of God’s power for believers (see next verse).
(e) The hope. We have a great need for hope. God is a great hope for our need (Rom. 15:13).
It is easy to get discouraged in times of bad news. The Ephesians were probably discouraged to hear their spiritual father was under house arrest in Rome (Eph. 3:13). The remedy for discouragement is to remember the hope of his calling.
(f) The hope of his calling is that which all believers hope for, namely the restoration of all things that will culminate in the day of redemption and the Lord’s glorious return (Eph. 1:10, 4:30, Tit. 2:13). On that day all wrongs will be put right, and our bodies will be clothed in immortality (1 Cor. 15:52–53, Php. 3:21). The hope of his calling is synonymous with the hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5).
As saints, we are united in many ways. We are citizens of a heavenly kingdom, members of God’s household, and part of his holy habitation (Eph. 2:19). We are also united by the “one hope” of our calling (Eph. 4:4). This is the confident expectation we have regarding the Lord’s return and the eternal age to follow.
Verdere leeswerk: "What is the hope of his calling?“
(g) His calling. Through the gospel, God called you out of darkness, and you responded (1 Pet. 2:9).
Although you called on his name and were saved (Rom. 10:13), it is the call of God that gives us an assurance of salvation and an unshakeable hope. “You are the called of Jesus Christ … called as saints” (Rom. 1:6–7). Knowing that we have been called by God, we are exhorted to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1). Everything we do is in response to the call of God.
(h) Riches; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:7.
(i) His inheritance in the saints. We are the Lord’s rich and glorious inheritance. We are the reason Jesus did what he did. We are the treasure and pearl for which Jesus gave all he had.
Just as Jesus is our inheritance (Eph. 1:11), we are his inheritance. “The glory of his inheritance” means we are his glorious inheritance. At times, it may seem like the church is anything but glorious. But God’s great big family is becoming more glorious every year. If God’s family only included Adam and Eve, it would have brought him little glory. If it had included Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants, it would have brought him more glory. But his family includes countless believers from all tribes, and this brings him great glory.
(j) The saints; sien inskrywing for Eph. 1:1.
Ephesians 1:19
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of his might
(a) And. Knowing God comes first (verse 17), knowing the hope of his calling comes second (verse 18), and experiencing his power comes last. To experience God’s power, we need to know who God is (our loving Father), what he has done (raised us from the dead), and what he plans to do (reveal heaven on earth). Knowing this, we can pray powerful prayers that align with his will.
(b) Surpassing. Paul introduces one of his favorite words for describing the love, grace, and power of God: surpassing. The original verb (huperballō) means to transcend, exceed, or go beyond, and it appears two other times in this letter (Eph. 2:7, 3:19). The immeasurable magnitude of God’s power is beyond our comprehension. Nothing can compare with it.
(c) Power. God’s power created the universe and all life. His power raises the dead and heals the sick. His power elevated Christ—and you with him—far above all other powers (Eph. 1:20–21, 2:6). The marvel is not that God has a godlike amount of power, but that he makes his power available for his believing children. What is this power for? It is for ruling and reigning and enjoying his divine life here and now (John 10:10, Rom. 5:17, 2 Pet. 1:3). It’s for shining in dark places and bringing others into his light. How do we experience this power? Through knowing him and believing his precious and magnificent promises (2 Pet. 1:2–3).
We are often more conscious of our own weakness than the surpassing greatness of God’s power. If we had a greater revelation of the latter, we would be less troubled by the former.
(d) Toward us who believe. God’s creative life-giving power is available for those who trust him. It is not given to rule-keepers or do-gooders, but believers. When you pray, don’t ask God for more power. Instead, thank him for the surpassing greatness of the power he has provided to those who believe.
(e) Working of the strength of his might. Here are three words that illustrate the power of God: working (energeia, which means supernatural energy), strength (kratos, which means mighty power), and might (ischys, which means strength and might). We are left in no doubt that God is powerfully powerful and mightily mighty. Nothing is too hard for him (Jer. 32:27). There is no question that God is powerful, but what sort of power does God have? Paul tells us in the next verse.
Ephesians 1:20
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
(a) He raised him. God’s power is a resurrecting power. The devil had a death-dealing power (Heb. 2:14), but God has a life-giving power which is greater (Rom. 8:11). God raised Jesus from the dead, and he raised you from the dead (Eph. 2:1). God seated Christ at his right hand, and he has seated you at his right hand (Eph. 2:6).
(b) At his right hand. The place of honor, power, and intimacy (Matt. 26:64, Acts 2:25). The Son shares his Father’s throne; see inskrywing for Matt. 22:44.
(c) Heavenly places refer to the spiritual realm. It is the geography of angels and demons. This realm includes the heavenly kingdom, where Christ sits enthroned (Acts 7:55, Eph. 2:6). It also includes the broader heavenly realm, where spiritual warfare takes place (Eph. 3:10, 6:12). “Heavenly places” should not be confused with the natural heavens or the starry sky. The spiritual realm is just as real as the physical realm, but the two realms are distinct.
Paul refers to heavenly places five times in this letter (Eph. 1:3, 20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12).
Ephesians 1:21
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
(a) Far above all rule. God’s power is also an elevating power. He raised Christ from the depths and elevated him to the highest place. He made him Lord of all.
(b) All rule and authority, whether angelic, demonic, or human.
(c) Power and dominion. There are angelic powers, demonic powers, and human powers, but the Risen Lord is enthroned above all of them. Most Christians will have no trouble believing this. What they may not appreciate is that Christ’s authority over these other powers is exercised on earth through the church; see next verse.
(d) Every name. God gave Jesus a name above all names (Php. 2:9), the name Lord, which means “supreme above all” (see inskrywing for Eph. 1:2). He is not Jesus the Rabbi, or Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Lord Jesus Christ.
To be effective in prayer we don’t need to know the names of demons or territorial spirits; we just need to know the Name that is above all names. The name of the Lord is the only name we need to know.
(e) This age. The present era, or “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4) where Satan, or “the god of this age,” still has some influence (2 Cor. 4:4).
The present age is as a prison from which there is no escape. The only way out is through death. We were put into this prison by our forefather Adam, and we have been delivered from it through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By identifying with Christ in his death and resurrection, we have been delivered from the powers that govern the present age. We have been brought out of darkness into God’s marvellous light (1 Pet. 2:9).
(f) The one to come, a.k.a. the eternal age, the future era that commences when Christ returns in glory, the heavens and the earth are made new (2 Pet. 3:13), and death is no more (Mark 10:30). The present age exists side by side with the kingdom age, and will end when Christ returns in glory; see inskrywing for Matt. 12:32.
Ephesians 1:22–23
And he put all things in subjection 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) All things. All of creation. Adam was given a planet (which he lost), but Jesus is given all things—heaven, earth, the universe, and everything.
In context, the category of “all things” includes all sickness, all disease, all injustice, all evils, all principalities and rulers, and all things opposed to God. Jesus has been exalted above all these things, and will reign until all things, including death, have been brought into subjection under his feet (Ps. 8:6, 1 Cor. 15:25–26).
(b) Under his feet. Jesus is subduing his enemies (see Ps. 8:6).
If the church is the body of Christ, and all things are under his feet, then all things are under our feet. Jesus has defeated and disarmed the enemy, but creation waits for the church, his body, to enforce his victory over those things that are presently opposed to his reign (Heb. 2:8). “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20).
(c) Head over all things. Jesus Christ is head of humanity (1 Cor. 11:3), and the head of all things, because he is the Source and the Sustainer of God’s creation (John 1:2–3). “For him and by him all things were created, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16–17).
(d) The church. Christ exercises his headship over all things through his body the church.
The church is special because Christ lives in it. The church is prophetic because his kingdom is revealed through it. The church is formidable because God reveals his wisdom through it to heavenly rulers and authorities. (Eph. 3:10).
Die oorspronklike woord (ekklesia) is translated as church about 100 times in the New Testament, and occasionally as congregation (Acts 7:38, Heb. 2:12) or assembly (Acts 19:32, 39, 41, Heb. 12:23). The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6, Col. 1:18).
(e) Fullness of him. The mature church is Christ’s fullest expression here on earth. Jesus does not act primarily through angelic intervention or heavenly thunderbolts. He reveals himself through his body, the church.
(f) Fills all in all. The Spirit of Christ, acting through the body of Christ, infuses creation with the presence of God. The church is the earthly-yet-divine agency through which God reveals his manifold wisdom to all (Eph. 3:10).
Die Grace Commentary is 'n werk aan die gang met nuwe inhoud wat gereeld bygevoeg word. Teken in vir af en toe opdaterings hieronder. Het jy 'n voorstel? Gebruik asseblief dieTerugvoerbladsy. Om tikfoute of gebroke skakels op hierdie bladsy aan te meld, gebruik asseblief die kommentaarvorm hieronder.
“Die Genadekommentaar is vol van God se liefdesnotas aan ons.” Ons bou die wêreld se eerste genade-gebaseerde Bybelkommentaar. Sluit aan by die span en jou ondersteuning sal ons help om die Grace Commentary te voltooi en weergawes in verskeie formate en tale aan te bied.
Hoofstuk Navigator
- Ephesians 1:1
- Ephesians 1:2
- Ephesians 1:3
- Ephesians 1:4
- Ephesians 1:5
- Ephesians 1:6
- Ephesians 1:7
- Ephesians 1:8
- Ephesians 1:9
- Ephesians 1:10
- Ephesians 1:11-12
- Ephesians 1:13
- Ephesians 1:14
- Ephesians 1:15
- Ephesians 1:16
- Ephesians 1:17
- Ephesians 1:18
- Ephesians 1:19
- Ephesians 1:20
- Ephesians 1:21
- Ephesians 1:22-23
Ephesians 1:3 There is a typo in this sentence. “On what grounds can we cast our demons and heal the sick? Because we are one with the One who has been given all authority.”
Now fixed. Thanks Kathy.
Thank you Paul for writing this commentary. It will be a great help in understanding the scriptures from a grace point of view. wonderful
Thank you, Paul, for this amazing grace commentary! So much work for you and we appreciate and need it so. May the Lord continue to lead you in this work. I’m learning so much about His love and grace. And I’m unlearning about earning it. 🙌🏼 Grace and peace!