EPHESIANS 1v7-12

The work of God the Son in redemption

In the glorious plan of adoption,  God knew that He would need to redeem fallen mankind.   The following verses are an exposition of that work and all the results that would accrue.   First we must understand the biblical meaning of redemption; in essence it means the recovery of all that has been lost, the various words used make this clear:

The nature of redemption

• agorazo   to purchase in the slave market:  1st Corinthians 6v20, 7v23, 2Peter 2v1, Revelation 5v9, 14v3-4.
• exagorazo   to purchase out of the slave market:   Galatians 3v13, 4v5, Ephesians 5v13, Colossians 4v5.
• lytron       the price of release:   Matthew 20v28, Mark 10v45.
• lytroomai    to free by paying a ransom price:   Luke 24v21, Titus 2v14, 1 Peter 1v18.
• lytrosis     act of freeing by paying a ransom price:   Luke 1v68, 2v38, Hebrews 9v12.
• apolytrosis   the accomplishment of setting free by paying a ransom price:   Luke 21v28, Romans 3v24, 8v23, 1 Corinthians 1v30, Ephesians 1v7, 1v14, 4v30, Colossians 1v14, Hebrews 9v15, 11v35.

God views the human race in slavery to sin; chapter2v1-4 expands on that, the full extent of which we will see.   The words used for redemption are very similar, with different shades of meaning.   The first two picture our condition of slavery,  the next three focus on the ransom price,  the last one (which is used here) proclaims our glorious and permanent release from all that separated us from God.   God's beloved Son is our redeemer, in Him all that was lost, because of sin, is recovered and we are free from sin's claims and sin's consequences.   To properly understand the concept of redemption in the bible we must think  RANSOM......RELEASE......REWARD!   All of these aspects will be coming out eventually, God prefers the slow release of truth so that we grasp, with firm hands, His grace to us.

The source of redemption     "In whom we have redemption......"    The phrase "in Christ" or "in Him" to describe the believer's salvation is repeated 48 times in the Greek text of the new testament, according to the scholars,  this corresponds to the 48 boards of the tabernacle which portrays the collective standing of all the saints in the presence of God.   Christ and He alone is the source of redemption.   Who else was free from sin?   Who else could pay the price?   Who else was willing to pay the price?   There is a wonderful picture of redemption in the story of Ruth.   In brief, under the law of levirate marriage in ancient Israel, there were four things must be in place for full redemption;

1. The redeemer must be a near kinsman, indeed he must be the nearest kinsman free from the liens of debt.
2. He must be able to pay the ransom price.
3. He must be willing to pay the price.
4. He must release all other claims on the land and the people, and set them free for all time.

When applied to Christ as our Redeemer, it paints a lovely picture.   He and He alone is the source of our redemption, and what a wonderful redemption it is.

• The price of redemption      "through His blood...."   Nothing less than the precious blood of Christ would satisfy the ransom demand.   When the apostle Peter speaks about the incalculable value of the blood of Christ, he relates it to the highest value on earth in the estimate of men, namely silver and gold. The cherished currency of the world,  that for which many will give their entire lives,  some will even sell their souls,  that which bestows status on those who hold its treasured millions.   Against the precious blood of Christ, Peter describes silver and gold as corruptible things.   It is valueless in heaven, the only thing of value the blood of Christ, which redeemed men to God.   All the gold in the world cannot buy one nanosecond in heaven.   Think about it.... He made all the gold anyway, and to make it He only had to speak!   To redeem even one soul He had to shed His blood.
• The blessing of redemption     "the forgiveness of sins...."     There are many aspects of redemption,  the one stated here is most relevant to our elected position as sons.   This is freedom from sin's guilt, this is the purging of conscience, to enable us to truly enjoy His presence, and represent Him in our new exalted position.   The word for sins is trespasses, i.e. wilful sins,  offences.   In redemption God holds no ill-feelings against us, even though we wilfully offended Him.
• The treasury of redemption      "according to the riches of His grace...."   The blood of Christ has opened the treasury of heaven!   The riches of grace, later described as unsearchable, bespeak the unlimited supply of the currency of heaven's resources.   The much vaunted temple of Artemis, through it's trafficking in idols, and related souvenirs worldwide became so rich, it was known as "the bank of Asia".   This temple fell in 262 A.D.  the temple of God with it's attendant inexhaustible spiritual riches will never fall, it is the eternal home of the redeemed.
• The lavish bounty of redemption      ..."wherein He hath abounded unto us in all wisdom and prudence".     God is a bountiful giver; He never does things by scant measure.   In the words of the hymn "for out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again."   Jesus spoke of abundant life ( John 10v10); in Luke 6v38, He gave a graphic description of this "..give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over....".   In Romans 5, Paul speaks of "much more"..five times and also grace abounding...twice.   There is no lack with God, sure there are pleasures in sin, but life in God has no equal.   Those who  "want the best of both worlds"  should turn to God now.   However, He gives in to us in the measure we can take it, and He knows better than us what we are able to absorb, so He gives His grace to us in wisdom and prudence.
• The revelation of redemption     "..having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to the good pleasure, which He hath purposed in Himself."    It is God's good pleasure to share secrets with His people.   Divine revelation is given only to those in special relationship to Him (Deuteronomy 29v29).   Paul has just established that relationship, predestined to the status of sons, now redeemed at infinite cost to God; to those who are so privileged, God reveals His wonderful plans.   His redeemed people are an enlightened people.   This aspect is developed later.
• The future of redemption      "the dispensation of the fullness of times......"    Wikipedia defines this quite accurately as follows  "thought to be a world order or administration in which the heavens and the earth are under the political and/or spiritual government of Jesus."   This is the great millennial kingdom of Christ predicted by Isaiah and Daniel and others including John the apostle.   There is a dispensation to come, a period of time when God will administer the affairs of earth under the headship of Christ.   He will  HEAD UP  all things in heaven and on earth in Christ.   The babe of Bethlehem will rule the world "...and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel."   It is written that Israel will be the head of nations (Deuteronomy 28v13), so Christ will rule the world  (see also Psalm 2v8-9 with Revelation 12v5)).   God will have the last say in this world, He will bring "times" to a conclusion with the majestic rule of the Son together with many sons.  
• Israel included in the future glorious world administration   verses 11-12   Paul, as he expounds the "big picture" of the plan of salvation, is constantly aware of the position of his own people the Jews, and makes reference to them here.   The "we" of v11 refers to Israel; the use of the word also in verses 10&11, distinguishes between we and you.   He clearly states in v12 the we are those who first trusted (forehoped) in Christ, who are God's ancient people Israel.   He introduces this aspect now and will develop it further in chapters 2&&3.   Despite their present rejection, the purposes of a sovereign God in election will stand.   Israel will inherit a place in this future glorious administration.   The eternal purposes of God will not be frustrated, despite man's failure.   He is the God who works all things after the counsels of His own will, and those counsels determined that the world of men would be blessed in the way He planned....Jew first, then Gentile.  The word for worketh is energeo and means efficient work, effective work, power that sees a plan through; unlike the plans of men which come to nothing, what God plans, He accomplishes.

EPHESIANS 1v3-6

From his humbled situation Paul bursts into praise in the form of a doxology (from the Greek doxa, meaning glory, and logos, meaning word.)   Verses 3-14 contain 202 words in the Greek, and there are no punctuation marks or stops, or paragraphs, just one long spontaneous song of praise. as he considers the wonder of God's salvation.   We can divide the sentence into three stanzas, each one ending with the phrase "to the praise of His glory"  v6, v12, v14.   This is the highest, loftiest, view of salvation in the entire bible.... it is all to the praise of God's glory!   In chapter 2 he views it from the standpoint of man's need (and what a need it was, as we shall see), but in chapter 1 he sees it from the primary standpoint of God's glory.   The truth is that except God be glorified, no one could be saved, but now He is glorified, He brings to men a salvation which is perfect in every way.

• Ephesians 1v 3-6       The work of God the Father in electing grace
• Ephesians 1v 7-12     The work of God the Son in redeeming grace
• Ephesians 1v 13-14   The work of God the Spirit in sealing grace

The tri-une God, all involved in the salvation of man, to the glory of God!   No wonder Paul cannot contain himself as he ponders it.

The electing grace of the Father     Paul blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; he was always conscious of the One he was praising, so should we.   The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, only in the incarnation, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in His eternal being.   The word for blessing is eulogetas which means "to speak well of" and this is the meaning in the rest of the verse.   Transliterated it could read "may God be well spoken of who speaks well of us in terms of every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ."   The God who has blessed us deserves, even demands, blessing from us.   The expression "every spiritual blessing" is an astonishing one.   Some cults speak of the second blessing, how poverty stricken are they, when we have every spiritual blessing, countless blessings, that will last forever.   Blessed in these, so not just an endowment, but a powerful force.   All these blessings flow from the sovereign election and predestination of the Father.

• We were chosen in Christ         Not chosen for any good in us, but chosen in Christ, that is chosen only for the good in Him whom we would embrace.   Both apostles Paul and Peter make it clear in their writings that Divine election is based on foreknowledge ( Romans 8v29 & 1 Peter 1v2).   God does not choose the way we choose, His ways are higher than our ways.   Fundamentally God is no respecter of persons, which He would be if He chose as we do.   This is the Divine side to which we are not privy, the human side is clearly stated in chapter 1v13.   The phrase in Christ  or in Him, that is describing our standing in Him is the very essence of the Ephesian letter and appears no less than 12 times in chapters 1-3.   It refers to our judicial standing before God;  the other phrase more prominent in Colossians Christ in us refers to our state before God.   In the context of election we must avoid any suggestion of merit on our part.   We were chosen in Christ.
• We were chosen before the foundation of the world    Before we were born, before the world began, we were in the mind of God.   Indeed the universe was created because of us to become a stage on which God through the church would educate angels.   They knew His power, His holiness, but they could only learn His love and compassion and longsuffering through redeemed human beings (Ephesians 3v9-10).   He would introduce the church to the world through the nation of Israel(Romans 9v5).   Of Israel He said "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Scriptures like Psalm 139v13-18, Jeremiah 1v4-5, Galatians 1v15, should be read to fully understand this.
• We were chosen to be holy before Him      Our salvation is much more than an escape from hell, or a "meal ticket" for eternity, we were chosen to be conformed to the image of God (Genesis 1v26, Romans 8v29, Romans 12v2, Ephesians 2v10, Ephesians 5v1, Colossians 3v10).   In short He elected us to be holy (set apart exclusively for God's use) and without blame (without blemish, free from sin, faultless in the sight of God, and therefore in the sight of all).
• We were chosen to live in God's presence      "before Him in love".   This has long been God's desire, to have faultless human beings dwell before Him in an atmosphere of love, instead of the environment of suspicion, and fear, and doubt of this world.
• We were predestinated to sonship      Predestination is pro-orizo, which means to determine beforehand.   Before time began God determined beforehand all in Christ to be His sons, that is, not only would they manifest His characteristics, but they would become beneficiaries of all His riches.   This thought is continued to the end of the section.   In our modern society, the noble practice of adoption, though praiseworthy, nevertheless can be considered as secondary.   In the times of the Roman empire when Paul was writing, however it was the opposite.   Adopted children enjoyed greater privileges than natural born, and this fits exactly the picture portrayed here.   Only Paul uses the figure of adoption (Romans 8v15, 8v23, 9v4, Galatians 5v4).   It was very difficult to adopt a child in the Roman legal system.   Features were:  it was a lengthy process; it was very costly;  the outcome was binding on the adopting parent;  the adopted child was endowed with the same rights of inheritance as the natural born.   The process was irreversible!   A biological son could be disinherited because of disgraceful behaviour, not so an adopted child.   Apply this metaphor to the believer and it is a beautiful picture.   It is of the good pleasure to bestow such an honour.
• We are accepted in the beloved      we are highly favoured in heavenly places, there is no thought of past sins, we are the aristocracy of heaven, Divine blessings are ours by right, God has received us with open arms and heart.   Heaven is our home, we belong, we are loved because He is the beloved.

We could sum it all up like this;  God's sovereign act of election was:
         unconditional       it was according to the good pleasure of His will;

         eternal                   the conception of it took place outside of time;

         moral                     it's design was to change us from sinners to saints;

         merciful                 we deserved wrath but we were shown mercy(accepted);

         irreversible            given full adoption rights in the family of God.

EPHESIANS 1v1-2

A unique salutation

Paul commences all his epistles with his new name reminding himself and his readers that he is a truly converted man.   Paul means  "little", and this, his chosen conversion name, is very significant, particularly in the context of Ephesians.   His former name Saul has echoes of the very opposite of little in the bible.   The link with king Saul is evident as they were both born into the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9v1 & Philippians 3v5.)   Saul is described as "the son of Aphiah.....a mighty man of power";  he was a "choice young man and a goodly.......from his shoulders he was higher than any of the people".   Saul was a choice physical specimen from a powerful family, the very combination the world admires.   Saul of Tarsus was a poor physical specimen, ( 2 Corinthians 10v1 "...who in presence am base among you"; 11v6 "rude in speech", his bodily presence  weak and his speech contemptible".   The "little" possibly referred to his stature, but, more likely to his humility.   This was an outstanding feature, and is one which God seeks in those He will use.   This came out many times ;  Ephesians 3v8    "Unto me who am less than the least of all saints";  1Corinthians 15v9 " the least of the apostles";  1 Timothy 1v15 "the chief of sinners".   Such humility becomes those who truly know the wonder of God's grace.

Apostle of Jesus Christ          The thought is this.....lowly man.....lofty office!   A man humble in his own mind, but honoured in the mind of God.   None higher than the apostles of Jesus Christ, no greater task was ever given to men.   The Greek apostolos means one specially commissioned by a higher authority.   The word is used for an ambassador sent to represent the nation in a foreign country; also used for a naval vessel sent on an expedition.   The idea is that the one so sent carries all the authority of the one(s) who sent; also they will have all the resources available.   The designation of an apostle is huge and carries weight in all churches in all times.   The responsibility was also huge in that the mission must succeed.   The commissioned apostles, through their teaching, carry all the authority of the Divine beings who sent them.

By the will of God              Who can oppose His will?   He who works all things in accordance with the counsels of His own will; He who maps out the entire course of time, who proclaims the future as though it were already here.   He chose Paul and others to be His special envoys.   His will is mentioned in 1v5,1v9,1v11 and 6v6.   The prayer of Christ on the sermon on the mount is "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."   It will be in it's own time.

To the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus         Saints are hagazo in the Greek, holy ones, those who display the character of God.   They are so, not by what they have done, but by faith in Christ.   Paul uses this term nine times in the letter ( 1v1, 1v15, 1v18, 2v19, 3v8, 3v18, 4v12, 5v3, 6v18.)   It refers to all believers, and not to any special group based on merit.   "Saints in Ephesus" is in contrast to the unholy practices indulged in the temple of Artemis at Ephesus.   Whenever the temple is mentioned, as in chapter 2v21-22, the people of God are called saints, the holy ones.   We are not only saved from condemnation, we are fitted to serve in God's temple.  If the saints refer to our standing in Christ, the faithful refers to our state and this difference must be observed in scripture. Faithfulness is one of the outstanding qualities of spiritual life.   Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4v2 "...it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful."   Moses was faithful in all God's house."   It means loyalty, trustworthiness, dependability, and Paul was sure that this was true of the Ephesians.   It is not true of all but it should be, considering the commitment God has made to us.   We can trust God, can He trust us?

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ       This is Paul's "hello", his standard greeting in all his letters, and what a greeting it is!   Grace and peace from Divine beings!   Always in that order...no peace if no grace.   Only after the grace of God has dealt with our sin, can we know peace.   Grace is the Greek word charis; it can mean charm, endearing, attracting, it is unmerited favour, it is a gift.   We cannot earn it, we don't deserve it, it is given freely by the sovereign of the universe.   When we think of grace, we think of beauty, and the sheer unreserved nature of the generosity of the heart of God.   It is the whole essence of this epistle.   Peace ( Greek eirene) is it's glorious by-product; not only the absence of enmity, but the enjoyment of Divine favour.   This peace which flows from the river of God's grace, is independent of life's circumstances.   We have the assurance of the Apostle Paul that this is heaven's disposition toward us.             

EPISTLE TO EPHESIANS study 2

It is important to be familiar with the language of any portion of scripture; we have already seen the use of "kata" to portray that God is the source and foundation of all blessing; His good pleasure, His determinate counsels, His immense power, His eternal purpose, His glorious riches, His power within us, His effectual working in us.   We now consider the time factor clearly indicated throughout chapters 1-3 which show that God also spans all periods of time.   There is not a moment in time when God is not involved in this world of ours!

Chapter 1v3    "Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.."
Chapter 3v21  "..glory in the church in Christ Jesus unto all the generations of the age of the ages."

 The grace of God in Christ spans from eternity to eternity, and everything in between!!   Different words are use to describe the world and time periods in the epistle.

• kosmos       this occurs in 1v4, 2v2, and 2v12.   It refers to an ordered arrangement of things; the Greek is the exact opposite of chaos.   Therefore the mathematically and physically precise universe, including the earth, is so ordered of God.   This is God's world in creation and in future horizon.
• aion           this occurs in 1v21, 2v2, 2v7, 3v9, 3v11, 3v21. Usually translated age, it refers to undefined time periods marked out by epoch-making events (age- defining events), which mark each age with diverse characteristics.   The existence of this world is divinely mapped out in ages.
• oikonomia  this occurs in 1v10 and 3v2 and means administration or stewardship ( particular usage is the stewardship of a household).  Translated dispensations it describes the trends of any given period of time. Ages are time periods, dispensations are what God is doing in these periods.   It is God's administration of the world He created.   The present time is said to be the dispensation of grace!
• genea        this is found in 3v5 & 3v21, and the idea, as the root word would suggest, is generation and carries the idea of tribe or family or nation.....if you like, contemporary groups.   Another, similar, word is used, which is oikoumene which means "habitable world", the world of men, as opposed to the material world.   Genea suggests a large group and it's usage suggests huge congregations for ever and ever.

We see then how particular the Holy Spirit is in the use of different shades of meaning to convey the wonders of God's plan for His people.   God exercises control of the time spans, and He is sovereign in all the trends and events of those time spans.   Contrary to the folly of the sceptics, this world is not going round in endless circles, but is moving inexorably, in linear fashion, to it's eternal goal.   When time has run it's course, sinners will be conformed to God's image, angels will be wiser in the ways of God, demons will be banished, unrepentant sinners will go into perdition, God will be glorified.   History will prove to be His story, and believers will dwell with God in His temple.   All of this is in the epistle.   As we, together, tread the sacred steps of this wonderful letter, let us remind ourselves of the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah, in a chapter which began with him weeping tears for the state of his nation; "thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth."

God has always been, is now today, and forever will be, in sovereign control of the world He created with a very definite purpose, which purpose will be realised in it's time.   Differences of interpretation exist regarding the nature and timing of these ages, but we can clearly define three of them; namely the age of law, the present age of grace, and the age to come. What is certain is that God will have His way.  We do well to prepare for the next age, because it will be definitive.

EPISTLE TO EPHESIANS study 1

Outline and introduction

Colossians focuses on the person of Christ, Ephesians on the church the body of Christ.   The church is described as a "new creation" (chapter 2v10) and a "new man" ( chapter2v15 and chapter4v24.)   The late John Stott wrote a booklet which he entitled "God's new society".   This world needs a new society and it is with us right now, largely unseen, yet wielding a powerful influence on the world.   It is the church of Jesus Christ which He predicted in Matthew 16v18, of which the letter to Ephesians is a full exposition.   It is not like Corinthians which was mainly written to solve issues in a local church, it deals with more  universal matters affecting all churches, in all places, in all times.   There is a tendency with some to over- emphasize local autonomy, at the expense of universal principles, which affect all churches who profess the name of Christ. The key thought in Matthew 16 v18 is "I will build my church".   This is the first mention of the church, and this is the overriding principle; it is His church;  the second mention is in Matthew18 where He deals with local issues.   The reality is that local churches will fall short of the ideal, but should always strive towards the perfection which is the body of Christ.   The great comfort to all of us is His assurance "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".   There is no doubt in my mind that "the pattern" referred to in the tabernacle of old finds it's answer in Ephesians.   The following are some leading thoughts which help to crystallize the beauty of the teaching;

• Chapter 1      The conception of the church
• Chapter 2      The construction of the church
• Chapter 3      The calling of the church
• Chapter 4      The conduct of the church
• Chapter 5a    The character of the church
• Chapter 5b    The consummation of the church
• Chapter 6      The conflict of the church

Chapters 1-3 are positional where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places; chapters 4-6 are practical where  we are walking on earth, and standing against the unseen enemy.   Having a firm grasp of the grace of God with the revelation of the Holy Spirit within, we walk on earth as new creatures and stand firm against a determined enemy.

The central message is God's blueprint for the world.   The language makes it clear; the repeated use of the phrase "according to" ( Greek  kata ) proclaims a very definite plan.   The evidence is overwhelming.   Literally kata means "down" and refers to the basis, the foundation of anything.   What is implied is that these things are the bedrock of God's dealings.

• Chapter 1v5   "...predestinated.......according to the good pleasure of His will".
• Chapter 1v9   "...the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure...."
• Chapter 1v11 "...predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will".
• Chapter 1v19 " ..the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe according to the working of His mighty power".
• Chapter 3v11 "..according to the eternal purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
• Chapter 3v16 "..that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory...".
• Chapter 3v20 "..According to the power that worketh in us....".
• Chapter 4v16 "..according to the effectual working in the measure of every part...."

A close look at these astonishing verses reveal that, not only is God working to a plan but that HE provides the means by which that plan will be fulfilled.   No wonder the apostle is overcome with praise to the God of matchless grace.   This plan is taking doomed human beings from the depths of sin to the heights of glory.   In contrast, the devil, who also has a plan, keeps men and women on the downward path. ( chapter 2v2.)

    

EPISTLE TO EPHESIANS

Overview

Paul in prison (3v1, 4v1, 6v20), yet reaches the highest and noblest thoughts to describe the wonders of God's grace.   In the power of the Holy Spirit, in a situation less than ideal, he was enabled to rise above to reach the pinnacle of spiritual revelation.   This letter to Ephesians is a distillation of a lifetime of thinking by a man to whom God revealed secrets, that were the culmination of the Divine plan of the ages, and which now required clear exposition to all who would hear.   Laid aside for the purpose, and, freed from material and social considerations, this brilliant mind, forged in the crucible of Divine refinement, presents the "jewel in the crown" of all scripture writings.   The sweep of thought is breath-taking; it is the mount Everest of all biblical truth, it is the grand canyon of scripture.   Samuel Coleridge called it "the divinest composition of man".   Martin Lloyd Jones said it was "the sublimest and the most majestic expression of the gospel".   His own exposition of it is in 8 volumes!

He takes us into "the heavenlies".   Five times over he marks this position, 1v3, 1v20, 2v6, 3v10, and 6v12 (only in Ephesians is this found).   This is the unseen spiritual world, the world beyond our world, but which is very much involved in our world.   We are viewing things from the other side, we are seeing things from heaven's perspective.

• chapter 1v3        Spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
• chapter 1v20      Christ risen, ascended, exalted, glorified in heavenly places.
• chapter 2v6        Believers seated with Christ in heavenly places.
• chapter 3v10      Angel spirits in heavenly places.
• chapter 6v12      Demon spirits in heavenly places.

In essence it is God's view, and is the only one worthy of consideration.   In Colossians we are on earth looking up ( chapter 3v2...."set your affection on things above"...), in Ephesians we are in heavenly places looking down!   Paul sets for us heaven's perspective.   On the ground the world seems very large, but from 30,000 feet above in an aeroplane, it looks very small.   This is much more true in spiritual things.  His principal subject is the church ( 1v22-23, 3v10, 3v21, 5v23, 5v24, 5v25, 5v29, 5v32.)   Not the local church, with all it's feebleness, and failings, and faults; but the perfect church, the universal church, the church the body of Christ, the church as created by God.   This church is growing, not yet complete.   It is described in Hebrews 12v23 as "the church of the firstborn written in heaven".   (Later we shall learn that local churches should model themselves on this.)  

Paul had spent over three years at Ephesus.   He was well aware of the magnificent, but idolatrous, temple of Artemis, which dominated the city.   It was consecrated to the goddess Artemis, 220 years in the building, having 127 columns, 418ft.x239ft.x56ft, stood four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens, it was a magnificent structure, and a wonder of the world.  It became a centre for global trade, and through it's traffic in gods and statuettes and mementos and trinkets, and books, it achieved such levels of wealth that it became known as "the Bank of Asia".   It was also a centre of debauchery, practicing temple prostitution and the magic arts.   Did Paul have this in mind as he expounded the glorious church, the unsearchable riches, the holy temple in the Lord, and the habitation of God through the Spirit?   The greatest that man can build always ends in sin and self-gratification and injustice, and, worst of all, the wrath of God.   The temple of God is for the glory of God and for the good of all His people.   This is the letter to Ephesians!   The temple of Artemis lasted till 262 A.D.   The temple of Jesus Christ will last for all eternity "unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

We are building day by day,
In our work and in our play,
Not with hammers blow on blow,
Not with timber sawing so —
Building a house not made with hands,
Following Jesus' perfect plans:
Little builders all are we
Building for eternity.            by Fanny J Crosby.

THE PRISON EPISTLES OF PAUL

Introduction.

Of the 14 epistles attributed to Paul (if we include Hebrews as suggested by Peter in 2nd Peter 3v15), 4 of them are described as "prison epistles", because they were written while he was in Roman custody.   The circumstances of his twilight imprisonment are described in Acts chapters 21&22.   By Divine providence his life was spared, but he was removed from public service.  He refers to this imprisonment in the following scriptures:   Ephesians 3v1, 4v1, 6v20; Philippians 1v7, 1v13, 1v14, 1v16; Colossians 4v3, 4v10, 4v18; Philemon 1v1, 1v10, 1v13, 1v23.   According to what we know, this loss of liberty lasted at least 4 years (Acts24v27 & Acts 28v30) and if the chronology of 2nd Timothy 4v16-18 is correct, it was more like 6 years; certainly it appears he was never set free till his death, although he was given more freedom in the last two years.   Consider this;  the greatest missionary of all time, after three missionary journeys, covering two continents, from Jerusalem to Rome: the greatest bible teacher and expositor,  universally so recognised:  the greatest pastor of the flock of God, who devoted his entire life to the things of God:  suddenly and irreversibly removed from public service!   What a shock to his system!   His audiences were reduced to a few Roman guards each day.  He refers to the pain of this in his writings.

Colossians 1v24......."the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church".   Colossians 4v18......."remember my bonds".
Colossians 4v3........."the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds".

The Lord had set aside His servant.   When He does that, it is usually for two reasons, for their protection or for a specific purpose.   In this case it was both, Paul needed protection, and God had a very definite purpose.   This purpose was threefold:

• To enter the very heart of the Roman empire with the gospel;   Philippians 1v13, 4v22.
• To embolden the brethren to engage in more preaching;            Philippians 1v14-17.
• To expound completely the word of God                                    Colossians  1v25-26.  

None of these things would have taken place without Paul's imprisonment, and, meek man that he was, he had accepted the Lord's will for him.   For us the result is that we have in our possession the epistles of Paul to Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, all treasure troves of spiritual truth which we now intend to explore.   Come with me as we take a stroll together through the vaults of heaven's riches, described as "the unsearchable riches of Christ", which are ours for our enjoyment for all eternity.

We pause for a moment to consider the ways of God.   He has oftentimes laid aside his servants, He hides them from public view.   Joseph' soul was "laid in iron" for 13 years; Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert; Jacob spent 20 years of frustration in Laban's farm; David was many years in exile from the throne and had 24 attempts made on his life; Elijah was hidden by God  for 31/2 years in the drought; the prophet Zephaniah, whose name means "hidden of Jehovah", delivered only one prophecy for God; John the Baptist was 30 years preparing for 6 month's ministry; and now the apostle Paul...........has the Lord curtailed my movements, limited my opportunities, in any way?   It may be lack of money or it may be health issues, it may be some form of discipline.   One has said we should see "disappointments as HIS appointments".   He only limits us for the greater good which He alone knows.   Nowhere in the bible is this principle better illustrated than in Paul's loss of public liberty, which in the hand of God was used to save a runaway slave, and bring the gospel into the heartland of the Roman empire.   The following study is the fruit of Paul's imprisonment for the Lord and for us.

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY - 4b

4b.   The grammar of scripture....continued.

• CONJUNCTIONS;  these bind arguments together, and itemise thoughts for our greater understanding.   Take for example Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 1v18-29.   Note his use of the word "for" as he expands the meaning of the cross.   In verse 17 he is concerned "lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."   Using the word "for" five times he binds together the thought of the cross to the end of the section.

          Verse 18     -     the cross viewed evangelically.

          Verse 19     -     the cross viewed historically.

          Verse 21     -     the cross viewed intellectually.

          Verse 22     -     the cross view theologically.

          Verse 26     -     the cross viewed socially.

We can see then how by the use of the word "for" Paul explains the teaching of the cross lest we miss its impact.     Another example is of the repetition of the conjunction "and" in what is known by scholars as polysyndeton.   This refers to multiple use of the word "and;" it is common in Holy Scripture.   In 2nd Samuel 17v28-29 the word is used 13 times to describe provisions that were brought to David, while in exile, by a man called Barzillai.  The multiple use of "and" draws attention to every individual item that was supplied and this is noted by the Holy Spirit.   In Genesis 1 the word "and" is used over 100 times.   In Genesis 22 there is also multiple use particularly in verses 6 - 10 in connection with the offering up of Isaac.   God wants us to pay attention to detail.   In Luke 14v13 the word "and" is omitted altogether but in verse 21, referring to the same people the individual groups named are itemised.   "Bring in the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind."   We dare not miss these emphases in our studies.

• THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION;   This is a very useful principle which enables us to comprehend the meaning of words, place names, etc. throughout.   The law simply states that when God uses something first, He will maintain that meaning to the end.   Some examples are as follows;   Genesis 1v3-4, Light  first use to divide and dispel darkness; Genesis1v22, blessed the core idea is fruitfulness and multiplication;  Genesis 3v1, the serpent deception by subtlety;  Genesis 10v14, the Philistines  a perpetual enemy of Israel, their origin was the rebellion of Babel; they were in the land but never lost their original identity.   There are many more, and the application of this principle is very revealing.
• THE LAW OF PROGRESSIVE REVELATION;   The precious truth of God comes only very slowly, step by wonderful step.  In the language of Isaiah(28v9-10) "here a little, there a little.......line upon line, precept upon precept".   In Genesis He reveals Himself, first as Elohim, then as Jehovah Elohim, then as El Elyon, then as Adonahy, then as El Shaddai etc.   Concerning redemption, we have a lamb for a man in Genesis 22, a lamb for a family in Exodus 12, a lamb for a nation in Leviticus 16, then a lamb for the world in John 1. We are introduced to the seed of the woman, then the seed of Abraham, then of Isaac, then of Jacob, then of Judah, then of David.   The bible is one integral whole and is not complete until the Revelation of Christ at the end.   The climax is astonishing.
• THE LAW OF CONTEXT;   the importance of this cannot be overstated.   The apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 1v20 "....no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."   The revised version rendering is that "no prophecy of the scripture becomes it own solution."   Just as "no man is an island" so no scripture has to be taken on its own.   In 1st Corinthians 2, in the context of the Spirit searching the deep things of God, the apostle speaks of  "comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (verse 13).   To ignore context is to pervert divine truth just as Satan did when he misquoted Psalm 91v11-12, by omitting some words and ignoring the context.   What do we mean by context?   We mean how the thought relates to the verses immediately before and after; how it relates to the portion of the book in question and the author of the book; how it relates to the cultural environment in which it was written; how it relates to the historical period in which it was written; and how it fits in with the rest of revealed scripture.   We should also note in any passage grammatical changes that are made in person, number, tense, voice or mood.   For example, in Psalm 23, the first three verses are in the third person (the Lord verse 1, He maketh me to lie down verse 2, He leadeth me verse 2, He restoreth my soul verse 3, He leadeth me verse 3).   Then in verse 4-5 he changes it to the first person (verse 4 Thou art with me, verse 4 Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me, verse 5 Thou prepares a table, verse 5 Thou anointest my head with oil).   Changes like that in a text reveal the riches in Holy Scripture, change of number, whether singular or multiple, change of tense, whether past, present or future, a change of voice, whether imperative or passive etc. etc.   Like a precious jewel is seen at its best when set in a golden encasement, so the Holy Scriptures are best understood in context.  

PRINCIPLES OF BIBLE STUDY - 4

4.   The grammar of holy scripture.

Language is communication, and God is in the business of communicating with the world, and so the normal rules of grammar apply.   The Holy Spirit uses a number linguistic tools to highlight His message.  The following can be applied across the entire book.

• REPETITION:   Whether in a section or a chapter or a book, look for the repetition of words or phrases.  This is God speaking and He does not waste words, so repetitions are meaningful.   Examples are;  Genesis 1  "And God said" repeated 10 times, a precursor to the 10 words of the Decalogue prescribing the moral code.   In Leviticus the phrase  "The Lord spake" occurs 36 times thus indicating that number of separate revelations.   In Jeremiah we read throughout the book the phrase "Rising up early and sending them" 11 times, thus reminding a backsliding people that they had been well warned.   In Ezekiel the people who disregarded God's warnings are now in exile.   The repeated phrase is "that they may know that I am the Lord" (17 times).   In the letter to Romans various forms of the word "righteousness" are used more than 60 times.   The Roman epistle is all about how human beings can be right with God.   In the letter to Philippians the words "mind", "think," "likeminded," occur 12 times.   The epistle therefore is the psychology of Christianity .   Related to that is the word "joy" which occurs 18 times and is the natural outcome of proper spiritual thinking.   In the letter to Colossians the main idea is found in the words  "fullness," "full" and "filled" which occur 8 times.   This in an epistle where  the false teachers were claiming that Christ was only part of the truth.
• PREPOSITIONS.     These are most important and wrong use of them can altar the meaning of the words.   The following chart visually helps

Students of the word should digest this chart because the prepositions give directions and scope to the thought that is being transmitted.