Ephesians 1-6 Overview

Greeting

• Apostle Paul addresses the faithful in Ephesus.
• Blessings of grace and peace from God and Jesus Christ.

Believers’ Blessings

• God has blessed believers with every spiritual blessing.
• Chosen to be holy and blameless before creation.
• Destined for adoption through Christ due to God’s love.
• Redemption and forgiveness through Christ’s blood.
• Revelation of God’s plan to unite all in Christ.
• Inheritance received in Christ, with the Holy Spirit as a seal.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

• Prayers for wisdom and revelation.
• Hope in God's call and inheritance.
• Recognition of God’s power, demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection and positioning above all powers.
• Christ as the head of the church, which is His body.

Saved from Sin to New Life

• Previously spiritually dead due to sin and disobedience.
• Saved by God’s mercy and grace.
• Raised with Christ to demonstrate God’s grace.
• Salvation is a gift from God, not earned.
• Created for good works preordained by God.

Reconciliation of God’s People

• Unity between Jews and Gentiles through Christ.
• Christ broke down barriers and ended hostility.
• Believers are citizens of God’s household, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets.

Paul’s Mission to the Gentiles

• Paul’s responsibility to share God’s grace.
• Revelation of God’s mystery: Gentiles share in God's promises.
• Preaching the gospel’s riches to the Gentiles.
• Encouragement not to be discouraged by Paul’s sufferings.

Paul’s Second Prayer for the Ephesians

• Prayers for strength through the Spirit and faith.
• Understanding the vastness of Christ’s love.
• Filled with the fullness of God.

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

• Encouragement to live worthy of God’s call with humility and patience.
• Unity in the body and spirit; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
• Gifts given to build up the body of Christ towards maturity.

The Former and New Life

• Call to abandon former sinful ways.
• Embrace renewal and live in truth, avoiding corruption.
• Encourage truthfulness, anger management, and positive speech.
• Be kind, compassionate, forgiving, and imitate God’s example.

Living as Children of Light

• Avoiding deeds of darkness; live as children of light.
• Testing what pleases the Lord and exposing darkness.

Filled with the Spirit

• Live wisely, filled with the Spirit, encouraging one another.
• Wives submit to husbands as the church submits to Christ.
• Husbands love wives as Christ loves the church.
• Parents and children: Honor and obey; nurture in the Lord.

Spiritual Warfare: The Armor of God

• Strength from the Lord; stand against evil with God's armor.
• Truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, and Spirit as armor.
• Prayer as a constant support.

Final Greetings

• Tychicus updates and reassures the Ephesians.
• Blessings of peace, love, and grace.

Footnotes

• Several references to mysteries revealed, the unity of Jews and Gentiles, and proper conduct and relationships for believers.