Ephesians 1:1-2 (WEL) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by God’s will, to the saints at Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. [Wilbur Pickering PhD writes: I take it that Paul is claiming to be Christ’s apostle to them, so he is writing with specific apostolic authority. Less than 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit ‘at Ephesus’ [such is the basis for the nasty footnotes in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.]. 2 May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapter summary:
After the inscription and benediction, Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 1:2, the apostle enters on the subject of his epistle, by solemnly and devoutly thanking God for the blessings of the gospel conferred on true believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, in consequence of his eternal purpose to glorify his grace in pardoning, accepting for his children, sanctifying and saving such, through the blood of his Son, and the communication of his Spirit, Ephesians 1:3-14. He assures the Ephesians of the fervency with which he offered his prayers to God on their account, that they might have still higher and worthier conceptions of the gospel, and of its glorious Author, as raised from the dead, and exalted to supreme dominion in the heavenly world, Ephesians 1:15-23.
V1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by God’s will, to the saints at Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.
[Wilbur Pickering PhD writes: I take it that Paul is claiming to be Christ’s apostle to them, so he is writing with specific apostolic authority. Less than 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit ‘at Ephesus’ [such is the basis for the nasty footnotes in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.]].
It was God’s will and commission for Paul to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ (Acts 9:6, Acts 9:15, and 1 Corinthians 9:1-3, etc.).
Saints are not a special, select group of Christians. All Christians are saints. The Greek word for saint is G004 ἅγιος hagios, which means (Baker Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) “The basic meaning of hagios indicates a quality of devotion or consecration to a deity, and by extension it refers to moral purity.”
In the Old Testament, what is holy is something acceptable to God and for God’s use. He refuses the defiled, dirty, and unclean. Sin defiles. Jesus was the Passover Lamb bearing and suffering the penalty for our sins. Redemption, forgiveness, salvation, justification are granted for our faith, believing in Jesus Christ—His message, His Gospel, His character, etc. Our faith is accredited, recognized by God to meet the condition for Him to declare justified because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins.
Saints are these believers just as those who believe today.
Faithfulness is a character trait of Christians. We are faithful to Jesus Christ, Lord of the Church (believers), to His teachings, His rules, His worldview, His promises, etc.
V2 May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace is receiving good things that we do not deserve. Peace is rest and quiet. Here it refers to peace with God. We are reconciled, restored, blessed, and in fellowship with God (1 John 1:3). It does not mean free from troubles, afflictions, or persecution.
We learn:
- What qualifies a person to be a saint (all people who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ).
- The goodness of God in giving us grace and peace.
Questions:
- Have you believed and trusted in Jesus Christ alone for salvation?
- Are you faithful to Jesus?