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Outline and Comments on Chapter One: I. Introduction: 1:1-2
A. Characteristic of Paul in his letters, he introduces
himself as the author in the first verse.
1. Paul claims apostleship. 1:1
2. Paul’s apostleship ordained and accomplished by
God, not by men. 1:1
B. Addressees the letter to:
1. Saints which are at Ephesus. 1:1
2. The faithful in Christ Jesus. 1:1
a. This would make the lessons applicable to all
Christians everywhere and at all times.
C. Pronounces grace and peace from God and Christ upon
them. 1:2II. Paul fills the chapter (also the entire letter) with
rapturous thanksgiving to God for the great discoveries
and/or blessings made to the Ephesians in the gospel.
a. These discoveries or blessings were not made nor
obtained by the law of Moses.
b. These discoveries or blessings were not made nor
obtained by the heathen mysteries.
A. All spiritual blessings are to be obtained in Jesus
Christ. 1:3
1. Christians are said to have been chosen in Christ
from before the foundation of the world. 1:4
2. Christians are said to have been predestinated
unto the adoption of children in or by Jesus
Christ. 1:5
a. This is not an unconditional choosing or
predestination.
b. Individuals become the chosen of God when they
believe and are baptized into Christ where all
spiritual blessings are. Galatians 3:26-27;
Mark 16:15-16
3. Christians are said to be accepted in the beloved
or in Christ. 1:6
4. Christians are said to have redemption, that is,
the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ
when they are in Christ. 1:7
5. Christians are said to have obtained an
inheritance in Christ. 1:11
6. The Gentile Christians had been sealed with the
Holy Spirit of promise. 1:13
a. Paul describes this word of Truth as the
gospel of your salvation. 1:13
7. The Gentile Christians had been sealed with the
Holy Spirit of promise. 1:13
a. Note the shift from the use of the personal
inclusive pronoun “we” in the previous
mentioned blessings to “ye” in verse 13.
b. Christ marked or sealed the Gentiles as his
children, thus as heirs, by bestowing the
gifts of the Spirit on them. Acts 11:18
B. Having mentioned some of these discoveries or
blessings, he called the “the mystery of his will.”
1:9
a. “The mystery.” 3:3
b. “The mystery of Christ.” 3:4
c. “The mystery of the gospel.” 4:19
1. Paul states that God has made known to us “the
mystery of his will.” 1:9
a. The mystery was made known to the Holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 3:5
b. The Gospel was a mystery only in the sense
that it had not been made known unto the sons
of men in ages past. 3:5
c. But it is now made known or revealed.
2. The gospel or the mystery of God’s will or
purpose in Christ was not to be concealed, like
the heathen mysteries, but to be published that
both Jews and Gentiles receiving it, might be
gathered together into one church. 1:10
C. Paul praises God and gives thanks for their faith
and love unto all the saints. 1:15-16
1. Paul prays that:
a. God may give them the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Christ. 1:17
b. That the eyes of their understanding might be
enlightened. 1:18
c. That they may know what is the hope of his
calling. 1:18
d. That they may know the riches of the glory of
his inheritance in the saints. 1:18
e. That they may know the exceeding greatness of
God’s power toward those who believe. 1:19
D. God demonstrated his great power in Christ. 1:19-20
1. When he raised Christ from the dead. 1:20
2. When he exalted Christ to his own right hand in
heavenly places. 1:20
3. God exalted Christ far above. 1:21
a. All principality and power.
b. Might and dominion.
c. Every name that is named.
4. God put all things under the feet of Christ. 1:22
5. God gave Christ to be the head over all things to
the church. 1:22; cf. Colossians 1:18; Ephesians
5:23
a. The church, therefore, is to be subject or
obedient to Christ. Ephesians 5:24
6. The church is the body of Christ. 1:22-23; cf.
Colossians 1:18
7. The church or the body of Christ is the fullness
or completeness of Christ. 1:22-23
a. Christ is complete. Colossians 1:19; 2:9-10
b. The church is the completeness or fullness of
Christ.
c. One can no more add to, take away from, change
or improve upon the completeness or fullness
of the church than he can do so to the
fullness or completeness of Christ.
d. Indeed, to attempt to add to, take from,
improve or change the church in any way is to
attempt to do so to Christ.
E. It is in essence an attempt to change the
completeness or fullness of Christ when:
1. One attempts to change God’s terms of entrance
into the church. 1 Corinthians 12:13
2. One teaches that obedience is not necessary to
salvation. Matthew 7:21-23; Hebrews 5:8-9
3. One attempts to eliminate the necessity of Godly
living. Galatians 5:19-21
4. One teaches that the church is not essential to
salvation. Ephesians 2:16; 5:23
5. One attempts to eliminate elders and deacons from
each local church. Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1
6. One attempts to eliminate the observance of the
Lord’s Supper upon the first day of each week.
Matthew 26:26-30; Acts 20:7
7. One teaches that attendance is not essential.
Hebrews 10:25; James 4:17
8. One takes the work which God has given the church
away from the church and turns it over to a
separate human organization.
9. One changes the organization of the church.
Examples of such human changes are:
a. Add an ecclesiastical hierarchy. Priests,
Bishops, Archbishops, Cardinals, Pope, etc.
b. Add central associations, councils, synods,
etc.
c. Add central agencies or societies for
universal church action.
d. Add central eldership; steering committees;
etc. for the church in the universal sense.
e. Add separate human organizations for doing the
work of the church in evangelism, edification,
and caring for the needy.
10. One changes the worship of the church: Examples
of such human changes:
a. Add mechanical instruments of music to the
worship.
b. Add the washing of feet as an item of
worship.
c. Add unscriptural plans for raising money.
(1) Pie suppers, business enterprises,
renting parking lots, etc.
d. Add the wearing of robes, etc.
e. Add the burning of incense, etc.
11. One changes the work of the church. Examples of
such human changes:
a. Placing theological schools to train
preachers.
b. Substituting theological schools to train
preachers.
c. Establishing church kindergartens, charging
tuition.
d. Establishing church owned, operated and
financed programs to teach crafts, hobbies,
etc.
Howard I. See © 1970
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