making the scriptures plain

Notes

As with all Paul's other epistles, he addresses this letter not just to a particular group of Christians but to the faithful believers everywhere. He speaks with authority as God's chosen representative.

In this powerfully-written book those that believe in Jesus Christ are not only given a glimpse of the Lord's glory but also their part in it! Paul looked far back in time, before 'the foundation of the world' when all believers were chosen to be adopted sons of God. And he looked far into the future when Jesus will be exalted above all, sitting with His chosen ones at God's right hand 'in heavenly places'. He prayed that believers everywhere, and the Ephesians in particular, would come to understand something of the great glory of this inheritance and the power that is available to them. For we were created by God in Christ Jesus to do good works which He has prepared in advance for us to do, Paul declared.

Gentile believers become one with Israel through Jesus' blood, for through the sacrifice of His body on the cross He ended the ordinances which excluded the Gentiles. This united body of believers is the church, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. And He gifts individuals within it to become apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. In this way He equips the church for growth, until its members are mature in love, faith and knowledge in Christ.

Paul's prayer is that we walk in love because Christ lovingly gave Himself for us as a sweetsmelling offering to God. Do what you know is pleasing to the Lord, says Paul. With a song in your heart, always be thankful to God for everything in Jesus' name. Husbands and wives should have the same loving relationship as Christ does with His church. He lovingly gave Himself for her, to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word. Fathers and children, servants and masters, should be courteous to one another, knowing that He Who is Master of all shows no partiality. In short God's word here invites those that love Jesus to be united and empowered through their union with the Lord!

To the saints which are at Ephesus

Eph.1.1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph.1.2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph.1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph.1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph.1.5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph.1.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph.1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph.1.8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

To the praise of his glory

Eph.1.9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph.1.10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eph.1.11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Unto the praise of his glory

Eph.1.12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph.1.13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph.1.14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

May give unto you the spirit of wisdom

Eph.1.15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph.1.17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph.1.18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph.1.19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph.1.20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph.1.21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph.1.22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph.1.23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

And you hath he quickened

Eph.2.1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Eph.2.5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph.2.6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph.2.7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph.2.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph.2.12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph.2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The building fitly framed together groweth

Eph.2.14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph.2.15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Eph.2.16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph.2.17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

The foundation of the apostles and prophets

Eph.2.18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph.2.20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph.2.21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph.2.22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I Paul, the prisoner

Eph.3.1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Eph.3.3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Eph.3.4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph.3.5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The Gentiles should be fellowheirs

Eph.3.6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Eph.3.8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

To make all men see

Eph.3.9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph.3.11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Eph.3.12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Eph.3.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph.3.15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

Christ Jesus throughout all ages

Eph.3.16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Eph.3.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph.3.18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph.3.19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph.3.20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph.3.21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ascended up far above all heavens

Eph.4.1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph.4.4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph.4.5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph.4.6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph.4.7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph.4.8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph.4.9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph.4.10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers

Eph.4.11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph.4.12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph.4.13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph.4.15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph.4.16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

In the vanity of their mind

Eph.4.17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph.4.20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph.4.21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph.4.32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Walk as children of light

Eph.5.2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph.5.5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Eph.5.8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Singing and making melody in your heart

Eph.5.10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph.5.14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Eph.5.17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph.5.19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph.5.20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Submit yourselves, as unto the Lord

Eph.5.22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph.5.23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph.5.24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph.5.25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

I speak concerning Christ and the church

Eph.5.26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph.5.27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph.5.29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph.5.32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Obey your parents in the Lord

Eph.6.1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph.6.4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Eph.6.5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph.6.6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Eph.6.7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph.6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Eph.6.9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Finally, be strong in the Lord

Eph.6.10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph.6.21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

Eph.6.23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph.6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.