The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV

by John MacArthur

  Interpretive Challenges

  The general theology of Ephesians is direct, unambiguous, and presents no ideas or interpretations whose meanings are seriously contended. There are, however, some texts that require careful thought to rightly interpret, namely: 1) 2:8, in which one must decide if the salvation or the faith is the gift; 2) 4:5, in which the type of baptism must be discerned; and 3) 4:8, in its relationship to Ps. 68:18.

  Outline

  I. Salutation (1:1, 2)

  II. God’s Purpose for the Church (1:3-3:13)

  A. Predestination in Christ (1:3-6a)

  B. Redemption in Christ (1:6b-10)

  C. Inheritance in Christ (1:11-14)

  D. Resources in Christ (1:15-23)

  E. New Life in Christ (2:1-10)

  F. Unity in Christ (2:11-3:13)

  III. God’s Fullness for the Church (3:14-21)

  IV. God’s Plan for Faithful Living in the Church (4:1-6)

  V. God’s Son Endows and Builds the Church (4:7-16)

  VI. God’s Pattern and Principles for Members of the Church (4:17-32)

  VII. God’s Standards for Faithfulness in the Church (5:1-21)

  A. Walking in Love (5:1-7)

  B. Living in Light (5:8-14)

  C. Walking in Wisdom and Sobriety (5:15-18a)

  D. Filled with God’s Spirit (5:18b-21)

  VIII. God’s Standards for Authority and Submission in the Church (5:22-6:9)

  A. Husbands and Wives (5:22-33)

  B. Parents and Children (6:1-4)

  C. Employers and Employees (6:5-9)

  IX. God’s Provision for His Children’s Spiritual Battles (6:10-17)

  A. The Believer’s Warfare (6:10-13)

  B. The Believer’s Armor (6:14-17)

  X. God’s Appeal for Prayer in the Church (6:18-20)

  XI. Benediction (6:21-24)

  The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the

  EPHESIANS

  Ephesians 1

  Greeting

  1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

  To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

  2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  Redemption in Christ

  3aBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

  4just as bHe chose us in Him cbefore the foundation of the world, that we should dbe holy and without blame before Him in love,

  5ehaving predestined us to fadoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, gaccording to the good pleasure of His will,

  6to the praise of the glory of His grace, hby which He 1made us accepted in ithe Beloved.

  7jIn Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to kthe riches of His grace

  8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and 2prudence,

  9lhaving made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure mwhich He purposed in Himself,

  10that in the dispensation of nthe fullness of the times oHe might gather together in one pall things in Christ, 3both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

  11qIn Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to rthe purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

  12sthat we twho first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

  13In Him you also trusted, after you heard uthe word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, vyou were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

  14wwho4 is the 5guarantee of our inheritance xuntil the redemption of ythe purchased possession, zto the praise of His glory.

  Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

  15Therefore I also, aafter I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

  16bdo not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

  17that cthe God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, dmay give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

  18ethe eyes of your 6understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is fthe hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

  19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, gaccording to the working of His mighty power

  20which He worked in Christ when hHe raised Him from the dead and iseated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

  21jfar above all kprincipality7 and 8power and 9might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

  22And lHe put all things under His feet, and gave Him mto be head over all things to the church,

  23nwhich is His body, othe fullness of Him pwho fills all in all.

  Ephesians 2

  By Grace Through Faith

  1And ayou He made alive, bwho were dead in trespasses and sins,

  2cin which you once walked according to the 1course of this world, according to dthe prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in ethe sons of disobedience,

  3famong whom also we all once conducted ourselves in gthe lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and hwere by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

  4But God, iwho is rich in mercy, because of His jgreat love with which He loved us,

  5keven when we were dead in trespasses, lmade us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

  6and raised us up together, and made us sit together min the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

  7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in nHis kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

  8oFor by grace you have been saved pthrough faith, and that not of yourselves; qit is the gift of God,

  9not of rworks, lest anyone should sboast.

  10For we are tHis workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

  Brought Near by His Blood

  11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called uthe Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—

  12that at that time you 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.

  13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

  Christ Our Peace

  14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

  15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one vnew man from the two, thus making peace,

  16and that He might wreconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby xputting to death the enmity.

  17And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

  18For ythrough Him we both have access zby one Spirit to the Father.

  Christ Our Cornerstone

  19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

  20having been abuilt bon the foundation of the capostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being dthe chief cornerstone,

  21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into ea holy temple in the Lord,

  22fin whom you also are being built together for a gdwelling place of God in the Spirit.

  Ephesians 3

  The Mystery Revealed

  1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

  2if indeed you have heard of the 1dispensation of the grace of God awhich was given to me for you,

  3bhow that by revelation cHe made known to me the mystery
(as I have briefly written already,

  4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

  5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

  6that the Gentiles dshould be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

  7eof which I became a minister faccording to the gift of the grace of God given to me by gthe effective working of His power.

  Purpose of the Mystery

  8To me, hwho am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ithe unsearchable riches of Christ,

  9and to make all see what is the 2fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who jcreated all things 3through Jesus Christ;

  10kto the intent that now lthe 4manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church mto the 5principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

  11naccording to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

  12in whom we have boldness and access owith confidence through faith in Him.

  13pTherefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, qwhich is your glory.

  Appreciation of the Mystery

  14For this reason I bow my knees to the rFather 6of our Lord Jesus Christ,

  15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

  16that He would grant you, saccording to the riches of His glory, tto be strengthened with might through His Spirit in uthe inner man,

  17vthat Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, wbeing rooted and grounded in love,

  18xmay be able to comprehend with all the saints ywhat is the width and length and depth and height—

  19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled zwith all the fullness of God.

  20Now ato Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly babove all that we ask or think, caccording to the power that works in us,

  21dto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

  Ephesians 4

  Walk in Unity

  1I, therefore, the prisoner 1of the Lord, 2beseech you to awalk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

  2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

  3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit bin the bond of peace.

  4cThere is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

  5done Lord, eone faith, fone baptism;

  6gone God and Father of all, who is above all, and hthrough all, and in 3you all.

  Spiritual Gifts

  7But ito each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

  8Therefore He says:

  j“When He ascended on high,

  He led captivity captive,

  And gave gifts to men.”

  9k(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also 4first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

  10He who descended is also the One lwho ascended far above all the heavens, mthat He might fill all things.)

  11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

  12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, nfor the 5edifying of othe body of Christ,

  13till we all come to the unity of the faith pand of the knowledge of the Son of God, to qa perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

  14that we should no longer be rchildren, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of sdeceitful plotting,

  15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the thead—Christ—

  16ufrom whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

  The New Man

  17This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should vno longer walk as 6the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

  18having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the wblindness of their heart;

  19xwho, being past feeling, yhave given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

  20But you have not so learned Christ,

  21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

  22that you zput off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

  23and abe renewed in the spirit of your mind,

  24and that you bput on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

  Do Not Grieve the Spirit

  25Therefore, putting away lying, c“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for dwe are members of one another.

  26e“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

  27fnor give 7place to the devil.

  28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather glet him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something hto give him who has need.

  29iLet no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but jwhat is good for necessary 8edification, kthat it may impart grace to the hearers.

  30And ldo not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

  31mLet all bitterness, wrath, anger, 9clamor, and nevil speaking be put away from you, owith all malice.

  32And pbe kind to one another, tenderhearted, qforgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

  Ephesians 5

  Walk in Love

  1Thereforea be imitators of God as dear bchildren.

  2And cwalk in love, das Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God efor a sweet-smelling aroma.

  3But fornication and all funcleanness or gcovetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

  4hneither filthiness, nor ifoolish talking, nor coarse jesting, jwhich are not fitting, but rather kgiving of thanks.

  5For 1this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any linheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

  6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

  7Therefore do not be mpartakers with them.

  Walk in Light

  8For you were once darkness, but now you are nlight in the Lord. Walk as children of light

  9(for othe fruit of the 2Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

  10pfinding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

  11And have qno fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather 3expose them.

  12rFor it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

  13But sall things that are 4exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

  14Therefore He says:

  t“Awake, you who sleep,

  Arise from the dead,

  And Christ will give you light.”

  Walk in Wisdom

  15uSee then that you walk 5circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

  16vredeeming the time, wbecause the days are evil.

  17xTherefore do not be unwise, but yunderstand zwhat the will of the Lord is.

  18And ado not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

  19speaking to one another bin psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making cmelody in yo
ur heart to the Lord,

  20dgiving thanks always for all things to God the Father ein the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

  21fsubmitting to one another in the fear of 6God.

  Marriage—Christ and the Church

  (cf. Col. 3:18, 19)

  22Wives, gsubmit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

  23For hthe husband is head of the wife, as also iChrist is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

  24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands jin everything.

  25kHusbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and lgave Himself for her,

  26that He might 7sanctify and cleanse her mwith the washing of water nby the word,

  27othat He might present her to Himself a glorious church, pnot having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

  28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

  29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

  30For qwe are members of His body, 8of His flesh and of His bones.

  31r“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the stwo shall become one flesh.”

  32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

  33Nevertheless tlet each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she urespects her husband.

  Ephesians 6

  Children and Parents

  (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16)

  1Children, aobey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

  2b“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

  3“that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

  4And cyou, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but dbring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

  Bondservants and Masters

  5eBondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, fwith fear and trembling, gin sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

  6hnot with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,