Bible Verse:What does Ephesians chapter 1 mean?
Chapter Context
The first three chapters of Ephesians are doctrinal, while the last three are practical. Chapter 1 establishes Paul's view on the value of our salvation in Christ, and the blessings we obtain from it. He does this in the form of praise, directed at God, and describing in detail what it means to have an inheritance in heaven. Later chapters will build on these ideas as Paul connects who we are in Christ to how we should live as Christians.
What does Ephesians chapter 1 mean?
Chapter 1 includes a brief introduction (Ephesians 1:1–2) followed by two key sections. First, Paul describes the spiritual blessings which believers have in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–14). Second, he focuses on thanksgiving and prayer for his readers (Ephesians 1:15–23).
The introduction (Ephesians 1:1–2) offers Paul's standard greeting, beginning with the author and information about him. It also mentions his audience: the Ephesians and perhaps other churches in the area. This is followed by a greeting: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:2).
The first section (Ephesians 1:3–14) begins with a word of blessing to God, beginning a long sentence in the original Greek which continues for several verses. Paul emphasizes predestination (Ephesians 1:5), which is the idea that God knew before creating that He would choose certain people to be His followers (Ephesians 1:4). Paul also highlights the importance of grace (Ephesians 1:6). Further, Paul reminds his readers of the redemption through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7), noting the revelation of God's mystery through Jesus as a fulfillment of the plan of God (Ephesians 1:9–10).
Paul further describes the inheritance of believers (Ephesians 1:11) which results in the glory of God (Ephesians 1:12). Paul's readers shared in this inheritance when they heard and believed in the gospel (Ephesians 1:13) and were sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the guarantee of the believer's future heavenly hope (Ephesians 1:14).
Predestination is a clear theme in this section, noted directly twice (Ephesians 1:5, 11). God chose "us"—Paul's readers specifically, and Christian believers in general—for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:5). He also "predestined" believers for certain purposes (Ephesians 1:11). The salvation believers receive is "sealed" by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) as a guarantee of the believer's future heavenly home. These words strongly support the teaching of eternal security. This is the doctrine that a person who truly believes in Jesus for salvation can never be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:37–39).
The second section (Ephesians 1:15–23) highlights Paul's thanks and prayers. He thanks God for his readers in his prayers (Ephesians 1:16), asking the Lord to give them wisdom and knowledge (Ephesians 1:17). His words extend into praise of God for His great might (Ephesians 1:19), a description of the resurrection (Ephesians 1:20), Christ's exalted status (Ephesians 1:21), Christ's authority (Ephesians 1:22), and the significance of the church (Ephesians 1:22–23).
