Ephesians chapter 3
3:1 The writer begins his second prayer in behalf of the readers. For this cause indicates the reason for his prayer;
this expression refers to their being part of the church, which is "a habitation of God" (2:22). Since God lives in the
recipients, Paul prays for them. I Paul: From this point the apostle's prayer is side-tracked until its resumption in
verse 14. This digression reveals Paul's own divinely appointed part in disclosing the enormous truth explained in
2:11-22--that Gentile believers now stand on equal footing with their Jewish brethren in God's family. The prisoner
of Jesus may be read "a prisoner because of Jesus." Paul's imprisonment is due to the Lord's work; it is not due to
any wrongdoing on his part.
3:2 This dispensation of the grace of God means "the provision consisting of God's grace." This refers to the divine
ability given Paul which enabled him to successfully execute his apostolic ministry to the Gentiles.
3:3 As I wrote afore in few words refers to 1:9, 10 and 2:11-22 where the author only touched on the mystery which
God had made known to him. In the most general of terms 1:9, 10 identifies this "mystery" as the establishing of a
new humanity under the headship of Christ. A bit more specifically, 2:11-22 defines it as the inclusion of Gentile
Christians along with Jewish Christians in God's family. But 3:6 will spell out with even more precision exactly what
this mystery entails.
3:5 That the divine blessings of salvation would be extended to the Gentiles was made known from Genesis 12:3
onward. That Gentiles could be saved, therefore, was no secret. But a mystery not made known in Old Testament
times was the incorporation of Jewish and Gentile believers alike as fellow members of the body of Christ. This
secret is now revealed unto his holy apostles and [Christian] prophets.
3:6. The "mystery" of verse 3 that has been divinely disclosed (v. 5) is now explicitly defined. It is that the Gentiles
are to be fellow heirs, that is, they now enjoy equal share in a heavenly inheritance to which they, unlike the Jews,
had no right by birth. And they are of the same body as fellow members; that is, Gentiles have been incorporated
into the divine family on the same equal footing before God. They are just as intimately related to the Lord and just
as much loved by Him as are their Jewish brethren. And they are partakers of his promises; that is, they are fellow
partakers of covenant promises from which they were formerly excluded (2:12). In a word, then, the "mystery" is that
of Gentile Christians standing on the same even ground of grace before God and of their being equally included in
the body of Christ (the church) along with Christian Jews.
3:9. The verse is better read, "And to reveal what is the plan [ arrangement] of the mystery, for it has been hidden
for ages by God who created all things." The two reasons for which God gave Paul this grace ("ability") are (1) to
preach the gospel to Gentiles (v. 8), and (2) to disclose God's plan for implementing the Jew- Gentile mystery in
human history.
3:10. Paul's disclosure of this mystery teaches angels (principalities and powers in the heavenly places) of God's
wisdom.
3:12. This verse affirms that Christians have boldness [freedom of speech before God] and access [ the right of
entering His presence] with confidence [ assurance of being heard by God] by faith of him ( through relying upon
Christ to gain God's ear.)
3:13 Which is your glory: God will use Paul's tribulations and sufferings in the ministry to spiritually benefit his
recipients. Such edification will then bring about glory on their part in that they praise and honor God.
3:14 For this cause: This expression resumes the apostle's prayer begun in verse 1 but delayed by the discussion
of verses 2-13.
3:15 Is named means "is derived." The whole Christian family, including those saints now departed and in heaven,
and those saints still living on earth--all of them "derive" their spiritual life from God.
3:16-19 In these verses Paul makes three prayer requests for the addressees: (1) That they would be strengthened
with might by his Spirit (verse 16), that is, that they be divinely enabled to successfully live the Christian life. (2)
That the readers be able to comprehend...the love of Christ, that is, to better understand the enormous love Christ
has for them. And (3) that they might be filled with all the fullness of God, that is, that the life, character, and virtues
of God Himself may be fully developed in them.
3:17 This verse expresses the result of 3:16: Christ will dwell in the lives of those who are recipients of the Holy
Spirit. Jesus already lives in them and in all Christians. The Greek word translated "dwell" means to settle down and
be at home, to be at ease. When they are divinely strengthened (verse 16), they will then live the kind of lives God
desires. When they thus please God, Christ will then "be at home" or "at ease" in their lives. As a permanent guest,
He will enjoy living with them.
3:20 In making the three above petitions (verses 16-19), Paul has not asked for too much. For he prays unto him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that he can ask or think.
Ephesians chapter 4
4:1 I therefore...beseech you: In view of all that God's grace has done for the readers (as seen in chapters 1-3).
Paul urges them to walk worthy of their own vocation; that is they are to live in a manner befitting the divine call or
invitation (vocation) which summoned them to salvation.
4:2, 3 These verses begin to spell out what constitutes the worthy walk of verse 1. Such noble conduct includes
humility, patience toward others, and bending over backward to maintain unity, or harmony, among God's people.
4:4-6 This passage elaborates on the "unity of the Spirit" (verse 3). This oneness among Christians refers to having
(1) one body--the one body of Christ, the Christian church; (2) one Spirit--the same Holy Spirit who imparts the
same spiritual life to all believers; (3) one hope--all Christians share the same future certainty and are headed
toward the same heavenly destination; (4) one Lord-all submit to the same divine ruler, Jesus; (5) one faith--all
believers have placed the same trust in Christ for salvation; (6) one baptism--Holy Spirit baptism at the time of
salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13); and (7) one God and Father-all believers in Christ have the same God and
heavenly Father.
4:7. But draws a sharp contrast with the preceding "unity" (v. 3), expressed in the sevenfold "one" of verses 4-6 and
in the fourfold "all" of verse 6. The contrast in verses 7-16 shows that there is a diversity within Christian unity: while
the church is one, there is a variety of spiritual gift within, given for the church's benefit. Grace is a spiritual gift.
Every one of us has been granted some spiritual capability to serve God and contribute to the church's growth.
According to the measure of the gift of Christ: Jesus determines both what gift each believer is given and the
amount (measure) of that gift. Two persons may be given the same gift, but one may have a greater measure of
that gift then does the other.
4:8. Psalm 68:18 is cited as an illustration of Christ's bestowing spiritual gifts on His church. The Old Testament text
pictures God as a victorious warrior returning to Mount Zion (he ascended up on high) leading Israel's defeated
foes in triumphal procession (he led captivity captive); He then distributes to Israel the spoils of war ( gave gifts unto
men). Similarly, when Jesus returned to heaven ("he ascended up on high"), He conquered Satan and all his
demonic horde ("he led captivity captive") and distributed spiritual gifts to His church (" gave gifts unto men").
4:9, 10. Jesus' ascension into heaven signifies that He previously descended from heaven (v. 9). And the person
who cared enough to descend for man's redemption is the very same person (namely, Jesus) who was equally
concerned for the church's well-being, so that, upon returning to heaven, He equipped His church with all the
spiritual gifts prerequisite for her growth (v. 10).
4:11. This verse identifies some of the spiritual gifts given to the church. These are the God-given abilities enabling
some Christians to have functioned as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and others in the role of
pastors and teachers. The Greek construction for the last mentioned should be rendered pastors-teachers. The
indicates that a pastor-teacher has a dual function: he pastors in overseeing his parishioners' spiritual lives, and he
teaches by instructing them in the Word.
4:12. This verse discloses the purpose for the gifted individuals of verse 11. Their responsibility is the perfecting of
the saints, that is, to train and equip the rank-and-file Christians to do the work of the ministry. The aim of this
ministry of Christian service is for the edifying of the body of Christ, that is, to build up the church numerically and
spiritually.
4:13. The edifying of the church (v. 12) is to continue till we all come in the unity of the faith, that is, until all
Christians attain spiritual maturity. Since new believers are constantly being added to the church, this objective will
not be realized until the Lord returns.
4:14, 15. Two results occur when Christians reach spiritual maturity. (1) Negativity, they will no longer be children,
that is, immature believers easily deceived by every wind of [false] doctrine; and (2) positively, they will grow up into
him, that is, fully grown into all aspects of Christian living-doctrine, conduct, service, and so on. But speaking the
truth in love, may grow up may be read "by lovingly teaching the truth, we will grow up." Christian maturity is
attained, in part, by thorough instruction in sound doctrine given in a loving manner.
4:16. Fitly joined together and compacted: As He unites Christians with Himself, Christ also brings them into a
harmonious relationship with one another. This harmonious relationship is accomplished by that which every joint
supplieth or, "by every supporting ligament." The spiritual gifts mentioned in verses 7-15 are figuratively likened to
the various "ligaments" of a body. Removing this figure, Christ joins believers together and unites them by the
divinely ordained ministries of Christians who posses diverse, spiritual gifts, which are exercised and used among
believers for the common good. The church's spiritual growth, then, comes from Christ through the believers'
ministry to one another as they employ their spiritual gifts.
4:17. Therefore joins the following passage with the preceding in a twofold manner. First, it resumes the thought
begun in verses 1-3 and continues to spell out what constitutes a worthy walk. Second, since each Christian is
divinely enabled with some spiritual gift, he must walk not as the other Gentiles walk lest his much-needed
contribution to the church's growth be sorely missed. Unbelieving Gentiles live in the vanity of their mind, without
proper purpose, causing all their efforts to obtain happiness to end in failure.
4:18. The blindness of their heart refers to the hardness of their will Gentiles' obstinacy against the divine will has
caused them to be separated from God's life.
4:19. Being past feeling means "having become calloused." These unbelievers have gone so deep in sin that they
are insensitive to moral right and wrong.
4:20. To learn Christ means to learn Christian teaching. Christian doctrine has instructed the readers not to so live
as do unbelievers described in verses 17-19.
4:22-24. Christianity taught the addresses to (1) put off...the old man, to renounce their pre-conversion life and
sins; (2) be renewed in...your min, to be constantly changed, being brought more and more in line with God's own
viewpoint; and (3) put on the new man, that is, to assume a new nature (character) and conduct (life) at conversion.
4:25-5:2. This section gives practical guidelines as to how "the old man" (v. 22) can be laid aside and how " the new
man" (v. 24) can be assumed in daily living. The passage specifies five sins to be discarded, the virtues that are to
replace them, and the motive for such an exchange: (1) Lying is to be replaced by truth-telling, since Christians are
fellow members (v. 25). (2) Sinful anger is to be replaced by (briefly held) righteous indignation, that the Devil may
not be given opportunity (v v. 26, 27). (3) Theft is to be replaced by honest work, in order that one may have the
means to meet the needs of others (v. 28). (4) Foul language is to be replaced by gracious speech, that it may
edify others and not grieve the Spirit (v v. 29, 30). (5) Resentment and wrath are to give way to kindness and
forgiveness, since God has forgiven us (v v. 31, 32).
Ephesians chapter 5
5:3. As becometh saints means that it is not proper for Christians or "saints" to be guilty of committing the sexual
sins listed here. Not be once named means such deeds should not even be the topic of normal conversation.
5:4. Convenient means "proper".
5:8. Darkness indicates that the readers used to be spiritually unenlightened, and accompanying this ignorance
was immorality with its resultant guilt and misery. Light denotes that the recipients are now to be religiously
informed, Their knowledge of the truth is attended by moral purity and happiness.
5:10. Because of constant temptations and solicitations to evil, believers must always be proving or discerning what
is and what is not acceptable unto the Lord.
5:11. Reprove is better translated "expose." The believer's duty is expressed here in two ways. Negatively, he is not
to have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, that is, not to indulge in the sins of the unsaved.
Positively, he is to "expose" (reprove) these sins, that is, bring them to the light and show them for what they really
are, so that the unbeliever may see their hideous nature and their terrible consequences.
5:12. For tells why the Christian must expose the sins of the lost. If it is shameful even to discuss their iniquities in
decent company (cf. v. 3), how much the worse is the committing of these sins. Hence, the need to bring them to
light.
5:13. This verse may be paraphrased: "All sins that are exposed are made visible by the gospel, for whatever sin is
made visible becomes light."
5:14. Since exposing sin is beneficial, God invites the unbeliever (thou that sleepest) to turn from his sin (arise from
the dead), with the promise that he will be granted the spiritual enlightenment and help needed (Christ shall give
thee light).