Ephesians: the Beginning

Snail mail is becoming more and more obsolete, but I still enjoy sending and receiving cards and letters in the mail. Friends and family recognize mail from me right away by the Suzy’s Zoo sticker next to the address. My envelopes are fun, but my initial greetings are boring, a standard “Hi” followed by the person’s name.

Today we begin a journey through Ephesians. Similar to the Suzy’s Zoo stickers I attach to envelopes, Paul’s opening greetings typically contained identifiers of authorship as well as audience, place, and even blessing. I’ll confess, I was tempted to gloss over today’s verses because they have become familiar to me – it’s just a greeting, - but I’m thankful God helped me to slow down and learn the truths in them.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [1]

Ephesians 1:1-2

John MacArthur, in his commentary, noted that these two verses are broken down into four groups containing two descriptions each. I am an organizer, so I can relate to this perspective. From verses 1-2, we can also glean helpful background information as well as themes and structure for the book of Ephesians.

The Author

Paul was originally known as Saul. Both a Jew and a Roman citizen, he was born in Tarsus, a city in modern day Turkey known as a hub for culture and learning. He was highly educated particularly in rabbinic studies under the renowned Gamaliel, a Pharisee. Saul was zealous for God, persecuting the early church including giving his approval to Stephen’s stoning. But, on his way to Damascus intent on arresting Christians, Saul encountered Jesus, changing his life forever. Now called Paul, he became the primary Gospel-bearer to the Gentiles (Acts 22:3-16). Much of the book of Acts chronicles his missionary journeys.

There are two things we learn about Paul. First, he was an apostle. The Greek Apostolos means “sent one.” It was a unique office given to Jesus’ remaining eleven disciples, Matthias who replaced Judas, and Paul (1 Corinthians 15:7-8). God used the apostles to lay the foundation for the church primarily through teaching, preaching, and writing.

The second thing we learn about Paul is he was an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God – the means by which Paul was an apostle. Paul’s apostolic authority was given by the authority of God. To reject or contest Paul’s apostolic authority, which some did (1 Corinthians 9:1; Galatians 1:1ff), was to reject the authority of God. Paul’s apostolic office did not come from his own accomplishments and pedigree or by the appointment of man. It came from Christ Jesus and the will of God the Father. In other words, Paul was an apostle because God said so.

The Recipients

We learn two things about the recipients of Paul’s letter. First they are saints. Saints refers to all believers. God has set apart believers for Himself, has made them holy. Some translations add “who are in Ephesus.” Although most surviving manuscripts do contain this detail, two of the most trustworthy copies do not contain it. Further, compared to Paul’s other letters, Paul doesn’t address specific problems within a particular church, nor does he include greetings or mentions of individuals. So, traditionally, Ephesians is accepted as a circular letter – perhaps originally sent to the church in Ephesus but to be circulated among the various churches in Asia Minor. The phrase “who are in Ephesus” does give us a better idea of the churches who would have read it if not the one church in Ephesus.

Second, the recipients are faithful in Christ Jesus. They have trusted in Jesus and His righteousness. Jesus’ atonement and imputed righteousness alone is why they can be called saints.

Before we continue, we should consider a few more points about Ephesus. It is located in modern day Turkey. It was a key military and commercial city, heavily populated, and hosted the Temple of Diana/Artemis (Acts 19:35). Paul first visited Ephesus on his second missionary journey and later returned (Acts 19-20).

Blessings

Paul spoke two familiar blessings/greetings to the churches in Asia Minor: First, grace. The Greek word for grace is charis. Grace is God’s unmerited favor granted or gifted to sinful man. In Paul’s greeting, it is a reminder of God’s free gift of salvation, an exhortation to respond in thankfulness, and a prayer asking for God’s abiding favor as we face daily needs and trials. We can do nothing apart from Him. What an encouragement it must have been to the Colossians to have Paul’s reminder of God’s grace in their salvation and sanctification.

There is another similar word used thirty-eight times in the New Testament. It is eucharisteō, a verb meaning “to be grateful or to give thanks.” It contains the word charis (grace). Another word based on charis is charameaning joy. The verb form is rejoice or chairō. Together, these three words give me a picture of a beautiful swirl of thankfulness and joy in light of God’s gifts of grace, making this grace-greeting even richer.

Second, peace. The Greek word for peace is eirene. It is the peace or rest we have in the assurance of our salvation through Christ’s atoning work alone. The Hebrew word shalom may be more familiar. As the Jewish people greeted others with shalom akin to our hello, we can gloss over Paul’s greeting without a second thought, but his words are chock-full of meaning. To say peace to someone was to wish for them a foretaste of the Messianic age to come: to be complete and whole, healthy, safe, prosperous, tranquil, rested, happy, and free from discord or agitation.

I know – that is an abundance of Greek and definitions that may still seem like they belong in a seminary and not in your everyday life. However, those words have begun to change the way I approach my day and how I pray for others. I am learning to meditate daily on just how amazing God’s grace is. Sometimes I am vividly aware of my sinfulness. On those days I sink into God’s grace. I am thankful for the blessing of His undeserved grace and mercy; that He sees me with Jesus’ righteousness not covered in my own sin. Other days I miss that log in my own eye, and I forget to show any acknowledgment or gratitude. Some days, I think I’m doing great. My sin seems limited to a stray thought. I’ve nailed righteousness for a little while (probably missing a log in my own eye). But every day, good or bad, every hour, every minute, I need God’s grace. All my righteousness is as filthy rags, and I am just as desperate for God and His grace in my good moments and as in my bad.

Jerry Bridges writes, “The sinner does not need more grace than the saint, nor does the immature and undisciplined believer need more than the godly, zealous missionary. We all need the same amount of grace because the "currency" of our good works is debased and worthless before God.”[2]

Grace and peace will be woven throughout the book of Ephesians. It is grace that makes peace possible.

The Source of the Blessings

First, grace and peace are from God our Father. Second, they are from the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word for “and” indicates equality. Jesus is fully God. As he did with his apostleship, Paul reminds his readers of the source of their blessings. We can’t earn grace and peace. They are not our own doing. They are God the Father’s and the Lord Jesus’ good and lavish gifts to us. Gifts that were bought with a price – Jesus’ sacrificial death in our place, burial, and resurrection.

I want to cover a few more introductory points before we finish today. We’ve looked at the author of Ephesians and the recipients and even the where at least some of the recipients lived. Now, let’s look at the when, purpose, themes, and structure.

When – It is generally accepted that Paul wrote this letter somewhere between AD 60-62 during Roman imprisonment.

Purpose – Paul wanted to encourage his readers in their faith by reminding them who they were in Christ and the subsequent blessings, promote unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, and exhort his readers in pursuing sanctification.

Themes – Three main themes in Ephesians are Christology (the nature and work of Jesus), ecclesiology (the nature and importance of the church), and sanctification (living a godly life).

Structure – Most of Paul’s letters can be divided into two sections. The first section, as in Ephesians, is comprised of indicatives – what God has done, who we are in Christ (Ephesians 1-3). This section is related to specific doctrine or theology. The second section is comprised of imperatives or commands (Ephesians 4-6). It is related to behavior or how we respond rightly to the indicatives. This structure is based on the Gospel.

We can see this Gospel structure in the first two verses of Ephesians. God acted in Paul’s life. Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus. By God’s grace and mercy, Paul was saved. His salvation and role as an apostle were undeserved. They were by God’s grace. Paul responded by fulfilling his role as an apostle, living in obedience to God’s call on his life.

God, in His grace and mercy, sets apart and saves believers (saints). We respond with faithful trust in Jesus’ righteousness and living faithfully.

Grace is what we see throughout Ephesians 1-3 in all the indicatives, all that God does, all that we are in Christ. Peace with God is played out horizontally in Ephesians 4-6 in how we respond to others in light of God’s grace towards us.

Finally, I encourage you to start an “In Him” Truths chart as we journey through Ephesians. Look for the “in Him,” “in Christ,” “with Him,” or “through Him”. Write the reference, the phrase, and the blessing that results from the “in Him” truth.

Reflection

1.        Apostleship was unique to that time and to the thirteen men God chose, but as we saw with the saints Paul wrote to, God in His grace and mercy through Jesus has chosen us who were sinners and enemies of God to be His children. List some specific ways you have responded to being set apart as a child of God seen with the righteousness of Jesus.

2.        How has your understanding of grace and peace changed? How will you respond to God in light of your understanding of grace and peace? How will you respond to others in light of God’s blessings of grace and peace to you? Be specific.

3.        What are some indicatives (what God has done and who you are in Christ) you already know? Take time to meditate on one or two of them and thank God for those blessings.

4.        Read Acts 19-20.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 1:1–2.

[2] Bridges, Jerry, Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress).