Studies in Ephesians

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 7, 1913

Studies in Ephesians

Introductory Note.— The apostle Paul resided in Ephesus for more than two years (Acts 19:8, 10), and did a marvelous work there, and must have given them fullest instruction in Christian life. Yet this epistle contains no reference to his experiences in that great city, and no salutations to any persons who may have resided there. The words “at Ephesus” are wanting in the first verse from the best manuscripts, and it has been concluded, therefore, that the epistle was probably a general one, a circular letter for the churches of the provinces of Asia, that perhaps which the Colossians were instructed (Col. 4:16) to receive from Laodicea. By comparing Col. 4:7 with Eph. 6:21, it would seem probable that it was written immediately after the epistle to the Colossians. Tychicus was the bearer of both epistles. Similarities of thought in the two epistles are also marked and clear. God’s eternal purpose in the reconciling all things in Christ, is common to both (Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:19, 20). In both, Christ is set forth as the Head of the church. Practical exhortations are quite similar; but to whomever it was addressed originally, it has come down to us, and the language shows that it is ours.

Chapter 1, Verses 1, 2, A.R.V.

Questioning the Text

1. Who is the writer of the epistle?

“Paul.” Verse 1. Note 1.

2. Who was Paul?

“An apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.” Note 2.

3. To whom is the epistle addressed?

“To the saints that are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.” Note 3.

4. What salutation is given?

“Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Verse 2. Note 4.

Notes on the Text

1. Paul.— Formerly Saul of Tarsus. He was in early life reared a strict Pharisee, and later sat at the feet of the famous Gamaliel as a doctor of the law. As a Jew he was a zealot, and persecuted to the death the Christians, because he thought they perverted the law and were destructive to the commonwealth of Israel. But in his honest, tho mad, career, God arrested him on his way to Damascus, revealed Himself to the greatly humbled man, sent him to an erstwhile despised disciple for further instruction, called him to be an apostle,—nay, more, God would show him what things he must suffer for His name’s sake. Paul therefore became the great apostle to the Gentiles, dropping his Hebrew name, Saul, and designating himself by what was probably his Roman name, Paul—“little.” His later zeal was not surpassed by his earlier, but it was tempered by divine love. The one thing of his life was to preach Christ; the motive,—“the love of Christ constraineth me;” the constant inspiration,—“the heavenly vision.” “In labors more abundant, in perils and suffering above measure,” he fought the fight for his Saviour and God to the triumphant end.

2. An apostle.— The word “apostolos” means one sent,—a messenger of Christ Jesus, one invested with the highest of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:28), an ambassador of God, called to lead out in new fields in the proclamation of the gospel in the establishment of God’s work. “Through the will of God.” God’s gifts for service are not of man’s choosing. There are many who prefer to be apostles, and prophets, and preachers, and strive so to be, with an ambition which will not be satisfied. No one is convinced of this but themselves. Sometimes Satan comes into the ambitious, unsanctified heart and deceives the man, and perhaps others, into believing he is what he wants to be. There is but one test for all manifestations and exercises; that test is the Word of God and the fruit which is borne according to that Word. God knows our limitations, knows what gift we can exercise best, and therefore He bestows upon every one, not as His children will, but “dividing to every man severally as He will.” 1 Cor. 12:11. Is it God’s call? Let us respond. Is it the gift of His Spirit? Let us use it. Working in harmony with His will, the work is always both blessed and successful.

3. To the saints.— The holy ones, those separated from the world and set apart unto Christ,—all true Christians. The word “saint” does not mean necessarily one that is perfect, that he has overcome, that he has won perfect victory in Christ. It simply means the one who has yielded the heart, the perfect heart, and is placed in the way where, through Christ, he will work out all that God designed that he shall be. Over and over again the children of God, with all their imperfections, are called saints. They do not, however, call themselves so. Paul does not speak of himself as a saint. He exalts the gift which God has bestowed, by calling himself sometimes “an apostle.” Sometimes the apostles call themselves “servants.” They do not boast of their holiness, or of their perfection. They leave God to look upon them through His own righteousness, and see in them the character that is expressed in the motive of the heart, and which He will Himself work out if the motive holds true, and perseverance does not fail. And so this epistle, with all its wonderful comfort, its marvelous depths of the revelation of God’s goodness and grace, is revealed to the saints and to the faithful in Christ Jesus everywhere. And, reader, if we are among those, however imperfect we may count ourselves, if we have yielded ourselves to Him, to be all that He would have us to be, all the riches which come to us in this marvelous book are ours.

4. Grace to you.— Unmerited favor, full of love and forgiveness and power. And peace.— How much the old, warring world needs peace. How many hearts there are that long for peace. How many times hearts are disappointed in finding strife where they looked for peace. But God gives not as the world gives. The grace and the peace are from God. He is not at war with us; man is at war with Him. “Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.” Rom. 8:7. But the wonderful grace of God gave His Son to die, that the enmity might be taken away, and that His infinite love might win us to loyalty to Him. The grace and the peace come from both Father and Son. There is perfect union with Them. Let there be perfect union between us and the Giver of grace and peace. Yield all rebellion and enmity to Him, and “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”—the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.”