.Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study

The Book of Ephesians
 


Timeline of the Bible


God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood, but saves  Noah and his family.---
 God chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.--- The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. ----  David is Israel's greatest king. -- Israel divides into 2 parts: Israel and Judah.--- The people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false gods.--- God allows the Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel and Judah.---   The Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia. --- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to Judah.--- The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.--- Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans take control of Israel.---Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected. --- A Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.--- Christianity spreads. --- This book of the Bible covers this time  Paul write letters to Christians in other places.  In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed again.


 
Ephesians was written to the church that was in the city of Ephesus.

Ephesus was located in present-day Turkey.

Paul lived in Ephesus for about 2 years and ministered to the Christians there. Later, Paul wrote the letter to the church in Ephesus during the time that he was in prison in Rome in about 62 A.D.

The letter to the Ephesians is considered to be Paul's most formal letter. Paul wanted to give them instructions
on how to mature in their Christian lives.  He also wanted Christians to be unified.

The first part of Ephesians is about what Christians believe.  It is about how from the beginning of the world, God planned to save us God chose every believer. Salvation is by grace, not good behavior or good works.

The second part is about how Christians should behave. Christians should imitate Christ. Paul gives instructions for husbands and wives. Christians should wear the full armor of God in spiritual battle.




 


Ephesians 1 - 3

God planned to save us since the beginning.
Jews and Gentiles are both saved through Christ.
Paul prays for the Christians to know the love of Christ so that they will be
filled with the fullness of God.
 


 

Ephesians 1

 

God planned to save us from the beginning.


I am Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I became an apostle by the will of God. I write this letter to the Christians who are in Ephesus. I wish you grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
[2] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God blessed us with all heavenly blessings in Christ.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

God chose us to be saved before He made the world. He planned for us to be holy and pure in love.
[4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
 

God planned for us to become His children a long time ago. We became His children through Jesus Christ.
[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

He accepts us through Christ. We praise His grace to us.
[6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We are redeemed through Christ's blood. He forgives our sins. His grace is rich. He is very wise and smart.
[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
[8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

His will is for us to be redeemed.
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

At the right time, He will bring together everyone who is in Christ. He will bring together everyone on earth and in heaven.
[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

We will inherit God's blessings. His will is for us to be in Him.
[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

We first trusted Christ. We should praise His glory!
[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

You trusted Christ after you heard the truth. You believed the gospel. God gave you the Holy Spirit after that.
[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
 

We have been promised this. The Holy Spirit makes sure it is ready for us. We praise Him for this.
[14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

After I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for others, I praised God.
[15] Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

 

Paul thanks Gods for the Christians at Ephesus.

 

I continue to thank God for you. I always talk about you in my prayers.
[16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory will give you the spirit of wisdom. I pray that you will know about Him.
[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

You understand more now. You know the hope in Christ.   You know about the riches and glory that his saints will inherit. You know about the greatness of His power to us believers because of his mighty power.
[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

He gave this power in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. He set Him at His right hand in heaven.
[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

He is above all countries and leaders, past and future.
[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

All things are under His feet. He is head of all churches.  They are His body full of His goodness.
[22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
[23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
 


 

Ephesians 2


He has saved you.  You were dead from sin, and He saved you. You used to follow the world's ways. You followed Satan. We have talked about this in the past. We were born as sinners. God was angry with us.
[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

But God loved us. He has a lot of mercy for us.
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,


Even when we were dead in sin, He saved us.  He made us alive with Christ. We are saved by grace.
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

He has raised us up, and we sit with Christ Jesus in heaven. He did this so that people in the future can see how good God is to us through Christ Jesus.
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
[7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

You are saved by grace and faith. You don't save yourself. It is a gift from God. It is not from anything you do.  If we were saved by working,  people would brag about what they have done.
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We are God's work. He created us in Christ Jesus. God planned this long ago.
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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Peace between Jews and Gentiles.


Remember that you were Gentiles.  The Jewish people called you Uncircumcised. But that was back when you did not have Christ.  You were strangers from Israel.  You did not have hope. You were without God.  But now you are in Christ Jesus. You were far, but now you are near by Christ's blood.

[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.


Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles. We are now one. He broke down the wall that was between us.

[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

When He gave His life, He got rid of the strict Jewish laws. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles and made them one.
[15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;


He died for both the Jews and the Gentiles.  He gave His body on the cross. That made everyone right with God.
[16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Jesus came and preached peace to you.  He preached to you who were far away and to the people who were near.
[17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.


Because of Him, we both have access to God the Father by the Holy Spirit.
[18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
 

Now you are not strangers or foreigners anymore.  You are friends and equal to the saints and to God's household.
[19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;


You are built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets.  Jesus Christ Himself is the most important, the cornerstone.

[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;


Jesus makes the whole building fit together, and it grows to become a holy temple for he Lord. He builds places for God through the Spirit. 
[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
 



Ephesians 3

My mission is for you, the Gentiles.  I am a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I want you to hear about the grace of God. It was given to me, and now I give it to you.
[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:

I have told you how God showed me the mystery (I wrote about it a little before.  When you read it, you will understand what I know about the mystery of Christ.)
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

In past times, this was not known by men.  God had not yet revealed it.  Now it is revealed to God's holy apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit.
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;


Now the Gentiles can be God's heirs with the Jews. The Jews and Gentiles are the same body.  They can all share God's promise by the gospel.

[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

 

I was made a minister by the grace of God. He gave it to me with His power.
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

He gave His grace to me.  I am not worthy.  I am lowest of all . His grace made me preach to the Gentiles about Christ.
[8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;


I preach to make everyone see about the mystery.  Since the world began, God hid it.  God created all things in Jesus Christ.

[9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:


I preach so that the church will know about heaven and God's wisdom. It is the reason Christ Jesus our Lord came to earth.
[10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
[11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Through Christ, we can be strong and brave.  We can be confident by our faith in Christ.
[12] In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

 

I don't want you to be upset about my troubles.  I work for your glory.
[13] Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
 

I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[14] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,


The whole family in heaven and on earth is named for Him. He will be good to you according to the riches of His glory. His spirit will make you strong.
[15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
[16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

 

I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith so you will be able to comprehend everything.
[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
[18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;


I pray for you to know the love of Christ so that you will be filled with the fullness of God.

[19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

I pray through Him who can do much more than we ask or think.  He sees the power that we have in us.  I pray for glory in the church by Christ Jesus through all times, world without end. Amen.

[20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
[21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

Our Bible Study is an ongoing "work in progress".  We add a new section approximately every 2-3 weeks.


 

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