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.
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.
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