Ephesians Bible Studies

Yes, it says everything.
God's sovereign control extends to every part of His creation. There is nothing beyond His control.

The Gospel is called the Word of Truth, because among other things, the Gospel is the truth
If the Gospel were not the truth, it would not be good news
the validity of the Gospel relies completely on its truth
And it is the Good News which brings our salvation

Believing in Christ is the means by which we are saved
Only hearing the Gospel is not enough, we need to respond with trust
We are saved by grace through faith (2:8)
As we believe, we are sealed

-cf. 3:7, 20, 6:10, Col. 1:29, 2 Cor. 13:4
Paul piles on multiple synonyms for God's power to magnify the greatness of His infinite ability

This refers to the devil
In the phrase the domain of the air, the word domain, which is sometimes translated authority, refers to the sphere in which power is exercised. cf. 1:21. And the word air refers to the area between earth and heaven, which in that day was thought to be the battleground between good and evil forces, and in this age, temporarily inhabited by evil forces. It was thought to be the political domain of transcendent beings or powers.
In other words, Paul said we were conforming to the one with ruling influence over all that is evil and opposed to God.

sons of disobedience is all those who are characterized by disobedience, which is everyone without Christ. they are disobedient to God because the devil is working in their lives. Everyone without the ruling influence of Christ is under the ruling influence of the devil, which results in a lifestyle of disobedience.

This resumes the argument begun in v. 1 by repeating the same phrase. This makes the following statements about what God has done even more remarkable by contrast.

made alive with is the first in a series of compound forms, most of which are related to the verbs of 1:20
This is the summary term that introduces the rest
When God raised up Jesus and seated Him above everything, we are included with Him in His triumph
In this passage, Paul says that we benefit from all that Christ accomplished as described in ch. 1.
We, who once were dead, have been made alive with Christ. Though we were dead, that is no longer the case for those who are in Christ. We have new life in Christ, through the new birth, through God's salvation. This is the extremes of before and after - once before and after, once dead, now alive. Once a slave to the ruler and standards of this world, now free.

-cf. Jn. 10:16, 17:11, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:13

-cf. Col. 2:20-22, Acts ch. 10 (Peter), Acts ch. 15 (Jerusalem Council)

"From 1:9 we have seen that 'revealing' and 'making known' go naturally with the word mystery when it is used in connection with the gospel. For this is the truth of God which is no longer hidden, but made plain to those who are willing to receive it." Foulkes en loc.
"The particular aspect of revelation here in Paul's mind is the fact, undisclosed by the Old Testament prophets, that the salvation of the Gentiles would involve the creation of 'one new man' (Eph. 2:15) by the incorporation of Jewish and Gentile believers alike, on the common ground of divine grace, as fellow-members of the body of Christ. The disclosure of this truth came to Paul as his conversion when he was brought by divine call into the circle of the apostles (Eph. 3:3)." Ladd, Theology of the New Testament p. 385-6.

"Something new came into the world when Jesus made His appearance. 'In other generations' this was not known to people (v.5), but Jesus finally brought the way of salvation that God had purposed through eternity." Morris p. 88

"We may take the force of the 'as' to be 'in such measure as' or 'with such clarity as' now". Foulkes en loc
"That the Gentiles had their place in God's scheme of things and that they would receive blessing from God is brought out in the Old Testament. As early as the time of Abraham it was said that in the patriarch 'all the families of the earth' would be blessed (Gen. 12:3; cf. also the relevant passages cited in Rom. 15:9-12). What is not made clear in the Old Testament (and was hidden 'from the ages and from the generations,' Col. 1:26) but is abundantly plain in Paul's exposition of the Gospel is that salvation in Christ means equality. Gentile believers are on the same level as Jewish believers." Morris, p. 89
"That God would bless the Gentiles, then, was not a new revelation. What then was the new revelation, the mystery hitherto concealed? It was this: that God's blessing of the Gentiles would involve the obliteration of the old line of demarcation which separated them from Jews and the incorporation of Gentile believers together with Jewish believers, without any discrimination, in the new, comprehensive community of God's chosen people." Bruce, en loc.
-cf. Rom 16:26
"Apostles and Prophets" - "The church is built upon the twofold foundation of apostles and prophets..., the apostles representing the authority of primary witness to the Gospel facts, while the prophets represent the living guidance of the Spirit by which the facts were apprehended in ever fuller meaning and scope." Dodd, The Johannine Epistles, p. 105
"Through these two ministries - the apostles empowered by the Spirit of Christ and the prophets inspired by the same Spirit - effect was now being given to the divine purpose which had for so long remained unrevealed." Bruce en loc
"Apostles and prophets were of primary importance because they were the vehicles of revelation (Eph 3:5) and thereby provided the foundation for the church (Eph. 2:20)." Ladd, Theology of the New Testament, p. 535
-cf. 2:20

"Paul is saying picturesquely that the riches in Christ that are made known by the gospel are greater than we can ever track down or search out. It is no poverty-stricken gospel that Paul proclaims, but one that is rich beyond all human need and beyond all human telling." Morris, p. 93
"preach to the Gentiles" -cf. Acts 9:15; 22:21; 26:17f. Rom. 11:13; 15:16-21; Gal 1:16;2:7-9
"riches" -cf. 1:7; Matt. 13:44

"We have again the term [administration, dispensation] that was used in 3:2 (as in 1:10), and here its meaning must be God's 'plan' (RSV) or 'purpose' (NEB). Paul is thus expressing again the fact that his work is to show and teach the great purpose of God in Christ. It is a mystery (as he has said in verses 4-5) not at all fully communicated to men before, but by no means an after-thought in the mind of God. God is spoken of here as the One who created all things, in order to imply that this was His purpose from the beginning of the creation, though in His wisdom He chose to reveal it to man in stages." Foulkes en loc.
"bring to light" - "As Paul fulfilled his commission by preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, as through his preaching Gentiles were brought to faith in Christ and found themselves united in church fellowship with fellow-believers of Jewish birth, the long-hidden mystery was being revealed before the eyes of men and women. For the church fellowship in which Gentile and Jewish believers were united was no mere enrollment on a register of membership; it involved their union with Christ by faith and therefore their union with each other as fellow-members of his body. The 'third race' was coming visibly to life: something that had not been seen or imagined before was now a matter of experience. Before all ages God's undisclosed purpose had existed in his own mind; now its accomplishment was evident not only to human beings on earth but also 'to the principalities and powers in the heavenly realm.'" Bruce en loc.
"The verb [should be] taken to mean 'showing forth' or 'bringing to light' God's truth. The word is in fact the natural word to use for the public disclosure of what had been kept secret." Foulkes en loc.
- cf. 2 Cor. 4:6

"Paul makes use again of two of the expressions he used in 1:21. Here they clearly refer to spirit beings - they are 'in the heavenlies' - but the apostle does not stay to specify closely which ones he has in mind." Morris p. 95
"That the terminology designates supernatural beings is quite clear from Ephesians 6:11ff, where the believer's struggle is against the devil and against principalities, authorities, world rulers of this present darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness. Usually they are conceived as being evil and opposing the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, however, these spiritual powers are not cast in a evil light but are represented as created beings who apparently exist to serve the divine glory (Col. 1:16). Christ is the head of all such rule and authority (Col. 2:10); the divine purpose will display to these principalities and power in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God through the church (Eph. 3:10)." Ladd, Theology of the New Testament, p. 401-2
"There is no need to limit the 'principalities and powers' in such a context as this to hostile forces. All created intelligences are in view here." Bruce en loc.
-cf. 1:21; 2:2, 6:12; 1 Cor. 2:8; L&N 12.44
"in the heavenly realms" - this term is used in 1:3, it is the location where 'God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ'; in 1:20, where Christ is seated at God's right hand in vindication of His victory over every rule and power; in 2:6-7 where we are raised and seated with Christ, it is explained that his is 'in order that in the coming ages he might show th incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.'; this sheds light on the present passage; 3:10 where the term either describes the location where 'the manifold wisdom of God should be made known' or more likely it describes the location of the 'rulers and authorities'; in 6:12, the evil forces are described as 'the rulers,...the authorities...the powers of this dark world and...the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.' The 'heavenly realms' are therefore the location of God's opposition; the location of His vindication and victory against the opposition (sort of a divine "I told you so", the thought of 1 Pet. 3:19-20), but more than even that, it is the realm of the fulfillment of God's purposes, in grace and blessing to us, in glory and victory of Christ, and final glory and praise to Himself. In the heavenly realms the church is finally seen sharing in Christ's victory and rule: "And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fill everything in every way." (Eph. 1:22-23)

-cf. Matt 13:21

-cf. 2:21-22, Col. 1:23, 1 Pet. 5:10

pastors and teachers are two terms closely connected with one article and the same conjunction in this series list, while the three other terms each have their own article and a series conjunction separating them
This means the grammar shows these two terms refer to the same person and role
Of course, pastoring and teaching are two different yet related activities, but the grammar shows them to be two parts of the same reality and role
Some speak of the fivefold ministry when they speak about this passage. It would be more accurate to say fourfold ministry according to the grammar of this verse

This word equipping has the connotation of making fully prepared and adequate for the task
This equipping includes mending and restoring what was broken (Mark 1:19, Gal. 6:1 and 1 Pet. 5:10), providing resources for what is lacking (1 Thes. 3:10, Heb. 13:21) and making perfect/fully ready that which is not yet complete (2 Cor. 13:9, 11)

The connotation is being fit together like a building, where each part fits together perfectly into a coherent whole

This connotation is being fit together like a body, where each part fits and works together

sin and rebellion impacts every part of fallen humanity, including our mental processes
"ignorance" does not mean innocence, as in they never had a chance to know
but it means "lack of knowledge" as in they did not know something which they should have known, it is a culpable ignorance

This describes the reason why they are ignorant, not the reason they are estranged from the life of God
"hardening" has the connotation of obstinacy and willful ignorance
their ignorance is culpable, not innocent
It is an issue of Lordship: This rejection of God's Lordship over our mind automatically entails an estrangement from God

Describes "to lay aside"
Tells how to lay it aside - according to the standard of how you lived, this is how you are to change
Go down the list of your old lifestyle and check off what you put away from your life

Paul contrasts life without Christ as being of this age with new life in Christ as being of the age to come
-cf. Rom. 6:1-14, Col. 3:1-10

It is deteriorating and being destroyed
All things of this world are decaying and ultimately will be reduced to nothing
-cf. book of Ecclesiastes

Describes "which is corrupted"
Life without Christ is ruined by lusts which deceive them
-cf. Jms. 1:13-15 sin comes from evil desires and brings death
"deceptive" cf. Col. 2:8, 2 Thes. 2:10

The standard for husbands loving wives is Christ dying for His church
Husbands are to put aside their status, convenience, and ease in order to do whatever is necessary to bring about the good for their wives and families
This includes giving, time, effort and attention, but also includes the possibility (if necessary) of the husband giving his very life on behalf of his wife.

To stand victorious, holding the ground that was defended

-cf. Acts 4:29, Col. 4:3-4, 2 Thes. 3:1