Ephesians Manuscript Study

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with Intro [1]  and then continue in order. Ephesians 5:1-2 English Standard Version (ESV) 5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Paul encouraged us to "be imitators of God as beloved children". Now, just take a minute and let that sink in... if you are in Christ, the God of the universe, the LORD and Creator of all, the rightful Judge and Ruler of the universe loves you as his child! Wow! Paul could have exhorted us to imitate God as his bondslaves, or his royal subjects, or as his creatures. Any of those would have been true and appropriate. But Paul encourages us to imitate God AS BELOVED CHILDREN. And we are to walk in love, as Christ loved us, by giving himself up for us and making himself, a sacrifice to God. This makes me think of John. 1 John 4:19 English Standard Version (ESV) 19 We ...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with  Intro [1]  and then continue in order. These are my answers to the questions I asked in my previous post [19]: DAY 1 General Statements: - be imitators of God, as beloved children. - And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us DAY 2 Verse 6 Cause: I think the cause goes back to verse 5 and refers to sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. It is because of "those things" that... Effect: the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience But: Verse 4 no filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking, BUT thanksgiving Verse 8 (at one time) you were darkness, BUT now you are light (in the Lord) Verse 11 take no part (in the unfruitful works of darkness) BUT expose them DAY 3 Do: Don't: +be imitatiors of God v1 +walk in love v1 -name sexual immorality -or all impurity -or covetousness +give thanks v4 -talk filthy    -or f...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with  Intro [1]  and then continue in order. DAY 1 Read 4:1 - 5:21 and mark every instance of "walk". 4:1 gives a general statement that is fleshed out more specifically in the rest of the book, that we should "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called". Do you see any general statements like that in the beginning of 5? If so, what is/are it/they? DAY 2 This whole passage, 5:1-21, has a lot of contrasts throughout. It also contains something we haven't talked about yet, a cause and effect. Whenever you see the word "because" you know there is one, just like a "but" alerts you to a contrast. Look at the because in v6 and write down what the cause is and what the effect is. Write down 2 "but"s from vv1-14 and what is being contrasted. Spend some time thanking and praising God for some of the truths you have seen in your study in days 1 and 2. ...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with  Intro [1]  and then continue in order. I am going to start with 4:20-24: 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. I am going to give some thoughts on 25-32, but before we look at putting off and putting on, referred to in verses 22 and 24, I think we need to look at 20-21. Because the only way we are going to be able to put off the old self, or even know what that is, is with God's help. And we need to have heard of Jesus and be taught in him, and recognize that "the truth is in Jesus" (v 21). We can't just be good people and try to follow all th...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with  Intro [1]  and then continue in order. DAY 1 AND 2 I decided to make a list regarding the Gentiles and how they walk. walk as the Gentiles do 1. in the futility of their minds v17 2. darkened in their understanding v18 3. alienated from the life of God 4. with ignorance 5. with hard hearts 6. become callous v19 7. given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity And then look at what we are to do in light of the fact that we have heard about Christ and were taught in him. But assuming you have heard about Christ and were taught in him v21 1. put off old self v22 2. be renewed in the spirit of your minds v23 3. put on the new self v24 -created after the likeness of God -in true righteousness -and holiness DAYS 3- 6 Sets Generally these lists are: -what to put off -what to put on -reasons given 1. having put away falsehood speak the truth with your neighbor ...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with  Intro [1]  and then continue in order. Every day, pray and ask God to help you. DAY 1 AND 2  Read chapter 4. Make a couple of observations on 4:17-24. You could write a list, find some key words, look for a contrast and write what is being compared, or just ask and answer some basic who, what, where, when, and why questions. V 21 says "assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him" so once again this speaks to making sure you are really a believer. If the spirit of God does not dwell in you, you are not going to be able to do 25-32. Do you believe in Jesus and have you repented of your sin? DAYS 3-6 Verse 22 talks about putting off the old self and then 24 speaks of putting on the new self. In 25-32 there are several things we are to put off and put on. Write out each set, including what is to be put off, what is to be put on, and why, if a reason is given. Some other questions to con...

If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order. Ephesians 4:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV) "4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians is all about unity! Back in chapter 1, Paul shares that God's will and purpose "which he set forth in Christ" was "to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth." (1:9-10). That focus on unity is seen here as Paul exhorts us to be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond o...