Ephesians Manuscript Study

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Mystery 1. made known to Paul by revelation v3 2. Paul had insight into the mystery of Christ v4 3. was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit v5 4. is that the Gentiles are 1) fellow heirs v6       2)members of the same body       3)partakers of the promise -in Christ Jesus -through the gospel v6 5. Paul was to bring to light for everyone the plan of the mystery v9 6. hidden for ages in God v9 Gentiles 1. Paul was imprisoned for them v1 2. God's grace was given to Paul for them v2 3. are fellow heirs v6 4. are members of the same body 5. are partakers of the promise -in Christ Jesus -through the gospel 6. Paul was given the grace to preach to them the unsearchable riches of Christ v8 And here are some more of the key words I have been marking: ...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. DAY 1 Read through chapters 2 and 3, looking for repeated words in 3:1-13 as you go. Read 3:1-13 again, looking for repeated words. Pick 2 repeated words to mark distinctly. DAY 2 Pick one of your words from DAY 2 and list what you learn about that thing/person. Thank or praise God for something. DAY 3 If you did not already mark mystery and Gentile, go ahead and do that and then pick one and list what the text says about it. Thank or praise God for something in the passage. DAY 4 If there are other words that you marked in chapters 1 and 2 that are in chapter 3, go ahead and mark those also.

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. I think what really jumps out at me in Ephesians 2:1-10 is how hopeless and helpless we were without Christ and how much God did/does for us. We were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked (vv1-2), sons of disobedience (v2), living in the passions of our flesh (v3), carrying out the desires of the body and the mind (v3) and were children of wrath (v3). A pretty bleak picture indeed! But look at all that God does/did for us! Because he is rich in mercy and because of his great love for us (v4), he made us alive together with Christ (v5), and raised us up with him and seated us with him (v6). We were created in Christ and he has prepared good works for us to do (v10). But we see that it is by grace that we have been saved (v5 and 8), it is all in Christ or because of Christ (v6), it is through faith, not our own doing (v8), the gift of God so no one may boast (v9), not a result of wo...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Once again, these are not necessarily the right answers, just my observations. You may have more or less. Feel free to comment with questions. DAY 2 Big Picture Contrast but in v4 You were dead in your trespasses and sins (from v 1 and 5) but God has made you alive. but in v13 You Gentiles (v11) were separated from Christ (v12) but now have been brought near by the blood of Christ (13) DAY 3 Before and After Christ Before 1. you were dead 1, 5 2. in trespasses and sins 1,5 3. following the course of this world 2 4. following the prince of the power of the air 2 5. lived in passions of our flesh 3 6. carried out desires of body and mind 3 7. were by nature children of wrath 8. dead in trespasses 5 After 1. made us alive together with Christ 5 2. raised us up with him 6 3. seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus DAY 4 Gentiles before and after Christ Befor...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Before each day's study time, pray and ask God to open your eyes to his truth through his Holy Spirit. Ask for his leading and guidance. And as you read and study, stop to praise God for things, thank God for things, confess sin, and/or ask for help to be like the example you see in the scriptures. Talk to God about what you are reading about. DAY 1 Read chapter 2. Pick 2 key, repeated words from 2 and mark them in both chapters 1 and 2. DAY 2 So far we have talked about key words and lists. This week we are going to look at contrast. A contrast is a comparison of two things that are different. They could be opposites like light and dark or full and empty. If there is a "but" in the text, then there is a contrast. Your job is to figure out what is being compared. First get the big picture of what is being contrasted and then we will look at more detail tomorrow. So find the ...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Faith and Love 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,    (from Ephesians 1  ESV) Paul had heard of the Ephesians' faith in Jesus and their love toward all the saints and because of this, he thanks God for them. So first of all, Paul thinks faith in Jesus and love for fellow believers is important and commendable. Secondly, he had heard of their faith and love. It made my wonder, what would people hear about me? If they heard of just two things about me, what would they be? What would people hear about you? Would we be known for our faith in the Lord Jesus and our love toward all the saints, all of them, even the ones we don't like so well? Paul's Prayer 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit ...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Remember, these are just observations, not necessarily the "right" answers. This is just to give you an idea. DAY 4 Paul's petitions: 1. thanked God for their faith in the Lord Jesus and    -their love toward all the saints vv15-16 2. that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him v17 3. that they would know:    -what is the hope to which he has called them v18    -what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints v18    -what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe v19 note: I chose not to include "having the eyes of your hearts enlightened" because the way I read that, they already have the eyes of their hearts enlightened. It is not a request, but a statement of fact. My observations for what God did to/for Jesus can be found in the next post...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Before each day's work, pray and ask God to open your eyes to his truth through his Holy Spirit. Ask for his leading and guidance. Also, as you read, stop to praise God for things, thank God for things, confess sin, or ask for help to be like the example you see in the scriptures. Just generally talk to God about what you are reading about! DAY 1 AND 2 Pray Read chapters 1 and 2 and look for key words that are repeated. Pick 2 and then mark them distinctly on your manuscript in chapters 1 and 2. Praise God for something about him in the passage. DAY 3 Mark grace and peace distinctly in chapters 1 and 2 if you didn't already. I circled grace in orange and put blue waves under peace (as in peace like a river😀 ), but you can mark them however you'd like. If grace and peace are what you marked, feel free to look for other repeated words to mark. DAY 4 Paul prays for the Ephes...