Ephesians Chapter 1 Series

Ephesians Chapter 1

Eph 1:1 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: (KJV)

1:1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice], To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus: (Amplified Version)

A. Paul was Saul, named after King Saul. He changed his name to Paul which means “small.” (CM)

B. Saints—Simply “set apart.” Not a sinless person; but a saved person. “in Christ Jesus” is used 27 times in this letter! Paul always emphasized the name Christ (His title) 1st.

C. A member of the body of Christ, vitally united with Him by the work of the Holy Spirit.

“at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” It is clear that Paul meant for others to read the epistle.

D. PAUL begins his letter with the only two claims to fame which he possessed.

1. He is an apostle of Christ. When Paul said that there were three things in his mind. (a) He meant that he belonged to Christ. His life was not his own to do with as he liked; he was the possession of Jesus Christ, and he must always live as Jesus Christ wanted him to live. (b) He meant that he was sent out by Jesus Christ. The word apostolos comes from the verb apostellein, which means to send out. It can be used, for instance, of a naval squadron sent out on an expedition; it can be used of an ambassador sent out by his native country. It describes a man who is sent out with some special task to do. The Christian all through life sees himself as a member of the task force of Christ. He is a man with a mission, the mission of serving Christ within this world. (c) He meant that any power he possessed was a delegated power. The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of the Jews. In matters of religion the Sanhedrin had authority over every Jew throughout the world. When the Sanhedrin came to a decision, that decision was given to an apostolos to convey it to the persons whom it concerned and to see that it was carried out. When such an apostolos went out, behind him and in him lay the authority of the Sanhedrin, whose representative he was. The Christian is the representative of Christ within the world, but he is not left to carry out that task in his own strength and power; the strength and power of Jesus Christ are with him. (Barclay)

2. Paul goes on to say that he is an apostle through the will of God. The accent in his voice here is not that of pride but of sheer amazement. To the end of the day Paul was amazed that God could have chosen a man like him to do his work. A Christian must never be filled with pride in any task that God gives him to do; he must be filled with wonder that God thought him worthy of a share in his work. (Barclay)

Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A. The word “grace” occurs 12 times in Ephesians and is not used by any of the other writers of epistles.

B. Paul goes on to address his letter to the people who live in Ephesus and who are faithful in Jesus Christ. The Christian is a man who always lives a double life. Paul's friends were people who lived in Ephesus and in Christ. Every Christian has a human address and a divine address; and that is precisely the secret of the Christian life. Alister MacLean tells of a lady in the West Highlands who lived a hard life, yet one of perpetual serenity. When asked the secret of it, she answered: "My secret is to sail the seas, and always to keep my heart in port." Wherever the Christian is, he is still in Christ. Paul begins with his usual greeting. Grace to you," he says, "and peace." Here are the two great words of the Christian faith. (Barclay)

C. Grace has always two main ideas in it. The Greek word is charis which could mean charm. There must be a certain loveliness in the Christian life. A Christianity which is unattractive is no real Christianity. Grace always describes a gift, and a gift which it would have been impossible for a man to procure for himself and which he never earned and in no way deserved. Whenever we mention the word grace, we must think of the sheer loveliness of the Christian life and the sheer undeserved generosity of the heart of God. (Barclay)