The Glory of God in Salvation
This article contains four speeches that discuss the glory of God in salvation, through the lens of Ephesians 1:3–19 and Ephesians 2:1–10.
The Danger of "Fast Food" Conversation
Can you guess what “fast food” conversations look like? This article talks about the tendency in family life to limit conversation to what is necessary, and about the rarity of offering something that edifies. It reflects on Ephesians 4:29, calling for conversations to reflect how Christ relates to us.
Ephesians 1:3-8
Ephesians – Introduction to Ephesians
This chapter forms an introduction to the letter to the Ephesians. Introductory matters addressed are its authorship, the literary character of the letter, the recipients, the date and setting of Ephesians in Paul’s career, the circumstances that prompted Ephesians, and its structure.
Ephesians 1:1-14 – The Divine Purpose: The Glory and Headship of Christ
Ephesians 1:15-23 – Prayer That Christians May Realize God's Purpose and Power
God's Eternal Purpose
This article reflects on one theme found in the letter to the Ephesians: the eternal purpose of God. God is the One who works all things according to the counsel of his own will. The article also observes the many references to time in the letter.
Inheritance in Paul and Ephesians
This article examines the apostle Paul's use of the theme "inheritance" (kleronomai word group) in Ephesians and his other letters, to support a confirmation of Pauline authorship.
Chosen in Christ – Grace and Peace to You (Ephesians 1:1-2)
Chapter 1 is an exposition of Ephesians 1:1-2. The author explores Paul’s apostleship, and the significance of peace with God and receiving grace from God.
The Christian's War against Satan
Ephesians 1:15-23, Prayer that Christians May Realize God's Purpose and Power
Ephesians 1:1-14, The Divine Purpose: The Glory and Headship of Christ
Ephesians 1:1-14 - Our Glorious Redemption
Ephesians 1:15-23 - The Wealth of Believers
Ephesians 1:21 – The Power of the Ascended Christ
Ephesians 1:4 - Elected unto Holiness
Ephesians 1:19-20 - Knowing Christ's Power in Us
Access by One Spirit
Ephesians 2:1-10 – Salvation of Individuals by Grace
Ephesians 2:11-22 – Reconciliation in Christ and the Mystery of Unity in Christ
Ephesians 2:14-16: A History of Recent Interpretation
This article critically reflects upon recent studies done on Ephesians 2:14-16.
Ephesians 2:11-22, Reconciliation in Christ and the Mystery of Unity in Christ
Ephesians 2:1-10, Salvation of Individuals by Grace
Is the Old Man Dead?
Ephesians 2:19 - Of Siblings and Separations: God’s Household
Ephesians 2:1-10 - Salvation is of the Lord
Ephesians 2:11-17 - Jew and Gentile Brought Together
Ephesians 2:19-22 - Jew and Gentile - Fellow Citizens
Ephesians 6:17 - Protect your Mind, your Heart, your Salvation
This is a basic article on Ephesians 6:17, and how we have to protect our mind and heart from evil.
Ephesians 3:14-16 - Paul’s Prayer
Ephesians 3:1-13 – Revelation of God's Wisdom through the Church
Ephesians 3:14-21 – Prayer for a Deeper Experience of God's Fullness
Gracious Candor: A Tutorial in Speaking Truth in Love
In Ephesians 4:15 Christians are commanded to speak the truth in love. How can we do that? This article unpacks seven ways.
Ephesians 4:30 – Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit
Can God experience sorrow? What does the phrase, "Do not grieve the Spirit," as we read it in Ephesians 4:30, mean? Let the article explain.
"Equipping" Ministry in Ephesians 4?
Can the function of the ordained ministry be reduced to "equipping saints" for service? Ephesians 4:11-12 is often read in that way. The question is therefore whether Ephesians 4:12 teaches that the "ministry of the Church" is done by the "saints" and the only distinctive role of the officers is to equip the saints for such service. The article, through a presentation of a translation and exegesis of these verses in context, argues against such a view.
Spiritual Warfare
Thank God for the Genitive
In this paper the author considers the function of the genitive construction in Ephesians 2:8-10.
Ephesians 3:14-21, Prayer for a Deeper Experience of God's Fullness
Ephesians 3:1-13, Revelation of God's Wisdom through the Church
Works Religion
Ephesians 3:14-19 - The Christian Life in a Prayer from Paul
Ephesians 3:10 - Teaching Angels
This article on Ephesians 3:10 shows that the meeting of God's people in church serves to teach also the angels. Through the church the manifold wisdom of God's grace and mercy is revealed to the angels.
Ephesians 3:8 - The Grand End of Ministry
Ephesians 3:1-13 - Paul Makes Known the Mystery of Redemption
Ephesians 3:14-21 - Paul's Prayer for the Ephesian Church
Three Trademarks of a Growing, Healthy Friendship
Are you in a healthy or unhealthy relationship? How do you know if your relationship is healthy? From Ephesians 4:1-7 there are three trademarks of a healthy relationship.
Seven Trademarks of an Unhealthy Friendship
Are you in an unhealthy or a healthy relationship? How do you know if your relationship is unhealthy? From Ephesians 4:17-32 there are seven trademarks of an unhealthy relationship.
Equip, Don't Enable
Why is proper leadership important for the church? From Ephesians 4:11-13 this article explains that church leaders are Christ's gift to the church, and are responsible to equip believers. Where good leadership is given, Christ is glorified.
Ephesians 4:25-32 – Reflect Christ, Deflect Satan
Christians are transformed into being like Christ. They are called to put off the old nature and put on the new nature. This article looks at Ephesians 4:25-32 to show what this transformation entails.
Ephesians 4:30 – Grieving the Spirit
Ephesians 4:1-16 – Unity and Maturity in the Church
Ephesians 4:17-32 – Renewal of Personal Life
Ephesians 4:30 – Grieving the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30 – “Grieve Not”
Sin grieves the Holy Spirit, for it works contrary to the work of the Spirit. This article shows you how this is so by looking at the sins that grieve the Holy Spirit, from Ephesians 4:30.
Ephesians 4:26 – Be Ye Angry and Sin Not
From Ephesians 4:26 this article shows the nature of holy anger over against sinful anger.
Ephesians 4:11-13 – Every Christian a Minister
This article explains how the task of ministry involves all members of the local church. It takes its cue from Ephesians 4:11-13.
Nine Reasons Pastors Fail to Equip the Saints for Minisitry
Equipping the saints is a phrase every church knows, from Ephesians 4. Yet putting this into practice in the local church is the challenge? This article considers nine reasons why this might not be happening—three relating to pastors, three to church members, and three to both.
Ephesians 4:31 – Destroying Every Form of Bitterness in Us
This article discusses Ephesians 4:31, which pictures a downward spiral in relationship, one that begins with bitterness and ends with malice.
Paul's Use of Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8
The author argues that Paul makes use of Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8. He notes the problems that are raised by Paul's use of the Psalm, the meaning of Psalm 68:18, and the exegetical principles Paul used when he referred to the psalm.
Ephesians 4:17-32, Renewal of Personal Life
Ephesians 4:1-16, Unity and Maturity in the Church
Ephesians 4:10-13 – The King in Residence The Ascension Message in Ephesians 4:10-13
Ephesians 4:25-32 - Specific Admonitions to the Ephesians
Ephesians 4:17-24 - The Contrast Between the Believer's and Unbeliever's Life
Ephesians 4:1-16 – The Unity and Growth of the Church
Ephesians 4:30 - Grieve Not the Spirit
Ephesians 5:16 - Use of Time
What Does It Mean to Submit to One Another in Ephesians 5?
What is the meaning of the apostle Paul's language of "submit to one another" in Ephesians 5:20-21? This article explains that Paul is exhorting us to mutual submission, as an act of reverence to Christ and as evidence of the work of his grace in our hearts.
Ten Things You Should Know about the Filling of the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18
We are commanded in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit. What does this mean? Here are ten things you need to know on the matter.
Mastering Submission Six secrets about what the Bible really teaches
Ephesians 5:18 – To Be Filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:25-30 – An Appeal to Married Christian Men to Submit to Their Wives by Loving Them
Ephesians 5:22-24 – An Appeal to Married Christian Women to Know Their God-Given Position
Ephesians 5:1-21 – Walking in Love and Light
Ephesians 5:22-6:9 – God-Honouring Relationships
Ephesians 5:18 – Filled with the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18-20 and Mealtime Propriety
Ephesians 5:18 contrasts drunkenness with fullness with the Spirit. This essay explores behavioural patterns followed at various Greco-Roman convivial gatherings. Accordingly, the present study suggests that the statements of Ephesians 5:18-20, and ultimately others made throughout the moral teaching in Ephesians, simply reflect the writer's assumption that his readers regularly gathered in a mealtime context.
Being the Fullness of God in Christ by the Spirit: Ephesians 5:18 in Its Epistolary Setting
What is the fullness of the Spirit referred to by Paul in Ephesians 5:18? Often this text is read in terms of the empowerment of individual believers for discipleship and ministry, and this leads to difficulties in relating the text to its immediate literary context.
Ephesians 5:25 – 4 Marks of a Godly Husband's Love
According to Ephesians 5:25 a godly husband is characterized by his love. This article explains the kind of love the Bible refers to.
Ephesians 5:22-23 – One Flesh – The Profound Mystery
This article discusses Scripture's teaching on marriage in Ephesians 5:22-33.
A Radically New Humanity: The Function of the Haustafel in Ephesians
Ephesians is mainly concerned with the internal life of new Christian communities. Gombis focuses in his investigation on the function of the haustafel in Ephesians 5. Gombis argues that Paul is laying out a manifesto for the new humanity in the haustafel in 5:22-6:9.
Ephesians 5:33 – Let the Wife See She Respects Her Husband
What does Ephesians 5:33 mean in saying that the wife must respect her husband? This article explains that this text must be understood in the context of leadership and submission. It explains ways of showing respect.
Ephesians 5:18 – Filled with the Spirit
Ephesians 5:25 – Christ's Love for His Church
This article is an exposition of Ephesians 5:25, which speaks of the love of Christ for the church.
Ephesians 5:22-24 – Wives Submit to Their Husbands
This article is an exposition of Paul's word to wives in Ephesians 5:22-24.
Ephesians 5:22-24 – Wives and Their Husbands
This article is an exposition of Ephesians 5:22-24.
Paul's Mystery in Ephesians 3
Does Paul's teaching in Ephesians 3 concerning "mystery" conflict with the Reformed confessions' view of the unity of the covenant of grace? The purpose of the author is to survey the meaning of the word "musterion" in secular and Jewish literature, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the writings of the Apostle Paul.
Ephesians 5:22-6:9, God-Honouring Relationships
Ephesians 5:1-21, Walking in Love and Light
Ephesians 5:15-21 - Living Wisely
Ephesians 5:1-14 - Imitators of God
Ephesians 5:1-2 – Don’t Be Yourself
Ephesians 5:32 - The Mystery of Christ and the Church: Head and Body, “One Flesh”
Ephesians 5:22–33 is an important passage in debates on headship and submission in marriage. An important aspect of this passage that has not received the attention it deserves, however, is the reference to a “great mystery” (Ephesians 5:32). The term "mystery" occurs consistently throughout Ephesians. An understanding of Paul’s use of the term can help in the understanding of marriage according to Ephesians 5:22–33.
Ephesians 5:17-18 - Be Filled with the Spirit and Not with Spirits!
Ephesians 5:15-17 - Time Management
Ephesians 5:32 - Marriage Is More Than It Appears
Ephesians 5:21-32 – Headship and Submission
Ephesians 6:17 – What Is the Helmet of Salvation?
Christians are expected to put on the helmet of salvation for their engagement in spiritual warfare. What is the helmet of salvation and why is it important? The article explains from Ephesians 6:17.