Ephesians Manuscript Study

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Once again, these are just my observations to help you to see if you are on the right track, not necessarily the right answers. Walk in a worthy manner v1 1. with all humility v2 2. with all gentleness 3. with patience 4. bearing with one another in love 5. eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace v3 (6. speaking the truth in love v 15) One's (1. one another v2) 2. one body v4 3. one Spirit 4. one hope 5. one Lord v5 6. one faith 7. one baptism 8. one God and Father of all I think there are really only 7 one's, but I include one another because I do not think it is insignificant that it appears before the other one's. I think the point is unity! Jesus gave 1. the apostles v11 2. the prophets 3. the evangelists 4. the shepherds 5. teachers the gifts Jesus gave to the saints 5 gifts DAY 5 The purpose of the gifts was equippin...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Pray and ask God to open your eyes to his truth through the Holy Spirit. DAY 1 Read chapters 3 and 4. Mark any of your previous key words that appear in chapter 4. DAY 2 In the beginning of chapter four, Paul urges the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. Make a list of how they are supposed to walk.  Ask God to help you walk like this. DAY 3 Write out all the "one"s in vv. 4-6. How many "one"s did you list? What do you think is the point of putting all the "one"s in front of all the words? DAY 4 Write out the items in the list in verse 11. What is it a list of? How many items are on the list? DAY 5 Verses 8-14 talk about Jesus giving gifts. What was the purpose/s of the gifts? What are the desired results of these gifts? Do you think one of the results is the ultimate goal? If so which one? Thank God for his plan or someth...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. "14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named," Paul draws attention to this with a play on words. The Greek word for "father" is "pater" and the word for "family" is "patria". So it's from our Father (pater) that every family (patria) is named. But what is the significance of this? Why draw attention to it? Paul is pointing out that the one we pray to is sovereign over the whole world. "To name someone or something is a sign of ownership, and power, and authority. And so to say that every family in heaven (the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places) and every family on earth (all tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations) derives its name from the Father is to say that this Father is supreme – He is all-powerful and sovereign over all." (Greene) "1...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Prayer requests 1. grant you to be strengthened with power v16 -through his Spirit -in your inner being -so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith v17 2. that you may have strength to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth v18 -being rooted and grounded in love v17 -with all the saints v18 3. to know the love of Christ v19 -that surpasses knowledge v19 -that you may be filled with all the fullness of God v19 About God 1. Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named vv14-15 2. riches of his glory v16 3. can strengthen with power through his Spirit in our inner being v16 4. the love of Christ surpasses knowledge v19 5. fullness of God v19 6. able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think v20 7. his power is at work within us (implied) v20 8. he deserves glory, in the church and in Christ Jesus, forever and eve...

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. DAY 1 Read chapter 3. Thank or praise God for something. DAY 2 Looking at 3:14-21, list the requests that Paul prays for the Ephesians. Make another list of what Paul says about God in this section. Pray Paul's prayer for you, your family, and/or your church. DAY 3 You have chosen to mark different words in chapters 1-3. Make sure you have marked all of those words for all 3 chapters. For instance, I asked you to mark the Gentiles last lesson. Mark Gentiles in chapters 1 and 2 also. Respond to the passage in prayer to God somehow. Talk to him about something you learned or ask him about something you don't understand. Cast all your anxieties on him for he cares for you! [1 Peter 5:7]

If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Even though Paul is suffering in prison (v13 and 1), he does not want the Ephesian Gentile believers to lose heart (v13). Rather than focus on this suffering, Paul focuses on the grace given to him to be able to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and share the "unsearchable riches of Christ". Paul felt especially grateful for this because he considered himself "the very least of all the saints" since he was a persecutor of the church. Wow! I wonder if that would be my focus if I were in prison for sharing the gospel, just being thankful that God allowed me to share it! Once again, we have this idea of access to God. Ephesians 2:18 talks about having access to the Father in one Spirit through Christ, now for both Jews and Gentiles. In chapter 3 verse 12, we again see that it is through our faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, but also have the added idea of  having boldness with confid...