The Ephesian Letter Summarized

The Ephesian letter begins with high lighting the gifts or blessings that God has given them. And if that were not enough Paul tells them some specific gifts/blessings that he personally asked God to give them.

Paul does does this presumably to stimulate their gratitude and encourage them on to spiritual maturity and “oneness” There was a problem with Jewish and Gentile Christians not fully assimilating with each other… a divided church.

Paul uses three figures to help their understanding of what they must do and be.

First (chapter two) he identifies them as each being a building and the buildings (Jew and Gentile) are assembled together to make a Holy Temple that God through then Spirit and live in. God can’t live in a partially built or divided Temple.

Secondly (chapter four) he tells them that they need to grow into the “stature and fullness” of Jesus Christ. That is accomplished by the “work of ministry” and “speaking truth in love” That work builds up Christ’s body… the church.

Thirdly (chapter six) Christians are supposed to strap on the armor and equipment of a soldier because we are in a war with Satan. We armor ourselves by following the preceding instructions on how to live our lives… eliminating sin and replacing sin with righteousness. Once that is done we are fully equipped to battle and conquer Satan.

The text is also heavy on the the attributes and work of the Holy Spirit and growing into the fullness of deity.