Upload
james-eugene-barbush
View
94
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Book Of
Ephesians
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Started March 3, 2015
Ended March 27, 2015
By:
James Eugene Barbush
2021 Blue Mountain Parkway
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Cell: 717-514-5549
E-Mail: [email protected]
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Introduction Page 2 of 2
The Book Of Ephesians Because You Are Saints,
Live In The Kingdom
INTRODUCTION
Paul, an apostle of Christ, speaks several excellent things in this book to the Ephesians. One of
the striking things that he says is “Because of His love”. There are several “because of”
statements in this book, which led me to this “Because You Are Saints”. That means to me that
“Because we are saints”, we should act in certain ways within The Kingdom of God. Thus,
“Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom”. Because we are saints, things are expected
from us such that we can live in the realm of The Kingdom of God, live in the realm of the
supernatural. That is a true blessing. This is only a brief statement about which there is surely an
excellent message to be developed. I hope I can do that soon.
Ephesians 1:5
Because of His love 5
God had already decided that
through Jesus Christ
He would make us His children—
this was His pleasure and purpose.
MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY – EPHESIANS
It is an epistle that bears date out of a prison: and some have observed that
what this apostle wrote when he was a prisoner had the greatest relish and savour in it of the
things of God. When his tribulations did abound, his consolations and experiences did much
more abound, whence we may observe that the afflictive exercises of God’s people, and
particularly of his ministers, often tend to the advantage of others as well as to their own.
The apostle’s design is to settle and establish the Ephesians in the truth, and further to
acquaint them with the mystery of the gospel, in order to it.
In the former part he represents the great privilege of the Ephesians, who, having been in time
past idolatrous heathens, were now converted to Christianity and received into covenant with
God, which he illustrates from a view of their deplorable state before their conversion, Eph. 1:1-
3:21.
In the latter part (which we have in the Eph. 4:1-6:24) he instructs them in the principal duties
of religion, both personal and relative, and exhorts and quickens them to the faithful discharge of
them.
Zanchy observes that we have here an epitome of the whole Christian doctrine, and of almost
all the chief heads of divinity.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Introduction Page 3 of 3
Similar Works:
1. “The Book of Psalms, A Daily Message and Journey”
http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-psalms-a-daily-message-and-journey
2. “The Book of Romans, An Eye Opening Outline of His Truth”
http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/romans-01-to-16
3. “The Book of 1st Corinthians, Paul’s Instructions on The Lord’s Truth”
http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/1-corinthians-01-to-16
4. “The Book of 2nd
Corinthians, Paul’s Instructions from The Lord’s Authority” http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-2-corinthians-pauls-instructions-from-the-lords-authority
5. “The Book of Galatians, Paul The Apostle Preaches The True Gospel” http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-galatians-paul-preaches-the-true-gospel
Jams Eugene Barbush
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Table of Contents Page 4 of 4
The Book Of Ephesians
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ephesians 1(GNT) ...... God’s Secret Plan Leads To Paul’s Prayer
From Paul To God’s People Extending Grace And Peace From Him Spiritual Blessings In Christ – Free Gift Of Glorious Grace God’s Secret Plan For All Of Creation Paul's Prayer
Ephesians 2 (GNT) ..... From Death To Life
All Are Spiritually Dead At The Start God Offers Life To The Spiritually Dead Separated: Gentiles “The Uncircumcised” And Jews “The Circumcised” Joined Together: Jews & Gentiles - One People In Union With Christ Himself
Ephesians 3 (GNT) ..... God’s Secret Plan Is Made Known
Paul's Work For The Gentiles The Love Of Christ
Ephesians 4 (GNT) ..... The Unity Of The Body In Growing To Maturity
An Urgent Plea From Paul To The Ephesians There Is One Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God And Father The Believers Have Received “A Special Gift” Therefore, Go In Unity From Being Children To Becoming Mature People A Warning From Paul To The Ephesians Go From “The Old Self” To “The New Self” Change Your Behavior Be One To Another Through Christ.
Ephesians 5 (KJV) ...... Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Be Followers And Walk In Love Because Your Are Saints, Do Not Sin Because Your Are Saints, Give Thanks And Inherit Because Your Are Saints, Be Not Deceived Because Your Are Saints, You Are Light And Have Fruit Because Your Are Saints, Stay Out Of Darkness Because Your Are Saints, Stay Awake And Walk Wisely Because Your Are Saints, Walk In Submission
Ephesians 6 (GNT) ..... Put On The Armor, Submit, And Pray
The Relationships Of Children And Parents The Relationships Of Slaves And Masters The Whole Armor Of God – Wear It, Be Ready With It, And Use It Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray Final Greetings
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 5 of 5
Ephesians 1
Good News Translation (GNT)
GOD’s SECRET PLAN LEADS TO PAUL’s PRAYER
FROM PAUL TO GOD’S PEOPLE EXTENDING GRACE AND PEACE FROM HIM
1 From Paul, who by God's will
is an apostle of Christ Jesus—
To God's people in Ephesus,
who are faithful in their life
in union with Christ Jesus:
2 May God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ give you GRACE and
PEACE.
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST – FREE GIFT OF GLORIOUS GRACE
3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
For
in our union with Christ
God has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly world.
4 Even before the world was made,
God had already chosen us to be His through our union with Christ,
so that we would be holy and
without fault before Him.
Because of His love 5
God had already decided that
through Jesus Christ
He would make us His children—
this was His pleasure and purpose.
6 Let us praise God for His glorious grace,
for the free gift He gave us in His dear Son! 7
For by the blood of Christ
we are set free, that is,
our sins are forgiven. 8
How great is the grace of God,
which He gave to us in such large measure!
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 6 of 6
GOD’S SECRET PLAN FOR ALL OF CREATION
9 God did what He had purposed
in all His wisdom and insight, and
made known to us
THE SECRET PLAN
He had already decided to complete by means of Christ. 10
THIS PLAN,
which God will complete when the time is right,
is to bring all creation together,
everything in heaven and
on earth,
with Christ as head.
11 All things are done according to GOD'S PLAN AND DECISION; and
God chose us to be His own people in union with Christ
because of His own purpose,
based on what He had decided
from the very beginning. 12
therefore,
let us, who were the first to hope in Christ,
praise God's glory! And also 13
you became God's people
when
you heard the true message,
the Good News
that brought you salvation.
You believed in Christ, and
God put His stamp of ownership on you
by giving you the Holy Spirit He had promised. 14
The Spirit is
the guarantee that
we shall receive
what God has promised
His people, and
this assures us that
God will give
complete freedom
to those who are His.
Let us praise His glory!
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 7 of 7
PAUL'S PRAYER
15 For this reason,
ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and
your love for all of God's people, 16
I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you.
I remember you in my prayers and
17 I ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the glorious Father,
to give you the Spirit,
who will make you wise and
reveal God to you,
so that you will know Him.
18 I ask that your minds may be opened to see His light,
so that you will know
what is the hope to which
He has called you,
how rich are the wonderful blessings
He promises His people, and 19
how very great is His power at work in us who believe.
This power working in us
is the same as the mighty strength 20
which He used
when He raised Christ from death and
seated Christ at His right side
in the heavenly world.
21 Christ rules there
above all heavenly rulers,
authorities,
powers, and
lords;
Christ has a title
superior to all titles
of authority
in this world and
in the next.
22 God put all things under Christ's feet and
gave Christ to the church
as supreme Lord
over all things.
23 The church is Christ's body,
the completion of Him
who Himself
completes all things everywhere.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 8 of 8
Ephesians 2
Good News Translation (GNT)
From Death to Life
ALL ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD AT THE START 1
In the past
you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2
At that time
you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 3
Actually
all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.
GOD OFFERS LIFE TO THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD 4
But
God's mercy is so abundant, and God's love for us is so great, 5
that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience God brought us to life with Christ.
It is by God's grace that you have been saved. 6
In our union with Christ Jesus God raised us up with Christ Jesus to rule with Christ Jesus in the heavenly world. 7
God did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of God's grace in the love God showed us in Christ Jesus. 8-9
For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. 10
God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus God has created us for a life of good deeds, which God has already prepared for us to do.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 9 of 9
SEPARATED: GENTILES “THE UNCIRCUMCISED” and JEWS “THE CIRCUMCISED”
11 You Gentiles by birth—
called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews,
who call themselves the circumcised
(which refers to what men do to their bodies)—
remember what you were in the past. 12
At that time you were apart from Christ.
You were foreigners and
did not belong to God's chosen people.
You had no part in the covenants,
which were based on
God's promises to His people, and
you lived in this world without hope and
without God.
CHRIST HIMSELF MADE THE WAY THROUGH THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE
13 But now, in union with Christ Jesus
you, who used to be far away,
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For
Christ Himself has brought us peace
by making Jews and Gentiles one people.
Christ with His own body broke down the wall that separated them and
kept them enemies.
15 Christ abolished the Jewish Law
with its commandments and rules,
in order to create
out of the two races
one new people in union
with Himself,
in this way making peace.
16 Christ destroyed their enmity
by His death on the cross
Christ united both races into one body and
brought them back to God.
by means of the cross. So
17 Christ came and
preached the Good News of peace
to all—
to you Gentiles,
who were far away from God,
and
to the Jews,
who were near to Him.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 10 of 10
JOINED TOGETHER: JEWS AND GENTILES - One People In Union With Christ Himself
18 It is through Christ that
all of us,
Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit
into the presence of the Father.
19 So then,
you Gentiles are not foreigners or
strangers any longer;
you now are citizens together with God's people and
members of the family of God.
20 You, too, are built upon the foundation
laid by the apostles and prophets,
the cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself.
21 Christ Jesus Himself is
the one who holds the whole building together and
makes it grow into a sacred temple
dedicated to the Lord.
22 In union with Him
you too are being built together
with all the others
into a place
where God lives through His Spirit.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 11 of 11
Ephesians 3
Good News Translation (GNT)
GOD’S SECRET PLAN IS MADE KNOWN
PAUL'S WORK FOR THE GENTILES
1 For this reason
I, Paul,
the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles,
pray to God.
2 Surely you have heard that
God in His grace
has given me this work to do for your good. 3
God revealed His SECRET PLAN and
made it known to me.
(I have written briefly about this, and 4
if you will read what I have written,
you can learn about my understanding of THE SECRET OF CHRIST.)
5 In past times
human beings were not told THIS SECRET, but
God has revealed it now by the Spirit
to His holy apostles and prophets.
6 THE SECRET is that
the Gentiles have a part
with the Jews
in God's blessings
by means of the gospel;
the Gentiles are members of the same body and
share in the promise that
God made through Christ Jesus.
7 I was made a servant of the gospel
by God's special gift,
which He gave me through the working of His power.
8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet
God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles
the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, and 9
of making all people see
how GOD'S SECRET PLAN is to be put into effect.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 12 of 12
God, who is the Creator of all things, kept HIS SECRET hidden through all the past ages, 10
in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of His wisdom in all its different forms. 11
God did this [kept HIS SECRET hidden] according to His eternal purpose, which He achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12
In union with Christ and through our faith in Christ we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence. 13
Therefore, I beg you, not to be discouraged because I am suffering for you; it is all for your benefit.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST 14
For this reason
I fall on my knees before the Father, 15
from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. 16
I ask God from the wealth of His glory to give you power through His Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and 17
I pray that Christ will make His home in your hearts through faith.
I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, 18
so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. 19
Yes, you may come to know His love— although it can never be fully known— and so be completely filled with the very nature of God. 20
To Him who by means of His power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: 21
to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 13 of 13
Ephesians 4 Good News Translation (GNT)
THE UNITY OF THE BODY IN GROWING TO MATURITY
AN URGENT PLEA FROM PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS 1
I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord:
I urge you, then—
live a life that measures up to the standard God set when He called you. 2
Be always humble, gentle, and patient.
Show your love by being tolerant with one another. 3
Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. THERE IS ONE BODY, SPIRIT, HOPE, LORD, FAITH, BAPTISM, GOD AND FATHER 4
There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. 5
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6
there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all. THE BELIEVERS HAVE RECEIVED “A SPECIAL GIFT” 7
Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given. 8
As the scripture says,
“When He went up to the very heights, He took many captives with him; He gave gifts to people.” 9
Now, what does “He went up” mean? It means that first He came down to the lowest depths of the earth. 10
So the one who came down is the same one who went up, above and beyond the heavens, to fill the whole universe with His presence. 11
It was He who “gave gifts to people”; He appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. 12
He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 14 of 14
THEREFORE, GO IN UNITY FROM BEING CHILDREN TO BECOMING MATURE PEOPLE
13 And so
we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and
in our knowledge of the Son of God;
we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature. 14
Then
we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and
blown about by every shifting wind
of the teaching
of deceitful people,
who lead others into error
by the tricks they invent.
15 Instead,
we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.
by speaking the truth in a spirit of love,
16 Under His control
all the different parts of the body fit together, and
the whole body is held together
by every joint with which it is provided.
So when each separate part works as it should,
the whole body grows and
builds itself up
through love.
A WARNING FROM PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS
17 Therefore
In the Lord's name,
I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen,
whose thoughts are worthless and 18
whose minds are in the dark.
They have no part in the life that God gives, for
they are completely ignorant and stubborn. 19
They have lost all feeling of shame;
they give themselves over to vice and
they do all sorts of indecent things without restraint.
20 That was not what you learned about Christ!
21 You certainly heard about Him, and
you were taught the truth that is in Jesus.
as His followers
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 15 of 15
GO FROM “THE OLD SELF” TO “THE NEW SELF” 22
So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to— the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 23
Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and 24
you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR 25
Therefore,
No more lying! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ. 26
If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. 27
do not give the devil a chance. 28
If you used to rob, you must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for yourself and to be able to help the poor. 29
Do not use harmful words, but Do use only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. And 30
Do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. 31
Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger.
No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.
BE ONE TO ANOTHER THROUGH CHRIST. 32
Instead,
be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 16 of 16
Ephesians 5
King James Version (KJV)
BECAUSE YOU ARE SAINTS, LIVE IN THE KINGDOM
1 As dear children
therefore,
BE FOLLOWERS AND WALK IN LOVE
Be followers of God; And 2
walk in love,
as Christ also has loved us, and
has given Himself for us
an offering and
a sacrifice to God
for a sweet smelling savour.
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, DO NOT SIN
3 But
let these not be once named among you, as saints;
which are not convenient:
fornication, and
all uncleanness, or
covetousness, Neither 4
filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor
jesting,
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, GIVE THANKS AND INHERIT
but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that
None of these has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God:
whoremonger, nor
unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater,
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, BE NOT DECEIVED
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words:
for because of those things
the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience.
7 Therefore, do not be partakers with them.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 17 of 17
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, YOU ARE LIGHT AND HAVE FRUIT 8
For you were sometimes darkness, but now you are light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; 10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, STAY OUT OF DARKNESS 11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove the unfruitful works of darkness. 12
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever makes manifest is light.
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, STAY AWAKE AND WALK WISELY 14
Wherefore he says,
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give thee light. 15
See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17
Wherefore be not unwise, but be understanding what the will of the Lord is. And 18
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 18 of 18
BECAUSE YOUR ARE SAINTS, WALK IN SUBMISSION 21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22
Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and Christ is the saviour of the body. 24
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25
Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; 26
That Christ might sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water by the word, 27
That Christ might present the church to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that the church should be holy and without blemish. 28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.
He that loves his wife loves himself. 29
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh;
but nourisheth and cherisheth it,
even as the Lord nourisheth and cherisheth the church: 30
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. 31
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33
Nevertheless
let every one of you in particular
so love his wife even as himself; and
the wife see that she reverence her husband.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 19 of 19
Ephesians 6
Good News Translation (GNT)
PUT ON THE ARMOR, SUBMIT, AND PRAY
THE RELATIONSHIPS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS
1 Children,
it is your Christian duty to obey your parents,
for this is the right thing to do.
2 “Respect your father and mother”
is the first commandment that has a promise added: 3
“so that all may go well with you, and
you may live a long time in the land.”
4 Parents,
do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry.
Instead, raise your children with Christian discipline and instruction.
THE RELATIONSHIPS OF SLAVES AND MASTERS
5 Slaves,
obey your human masters with fear and trembling; and
do it with a sincere heart,
as though you were serving Christ. 6
Do this not only when they are watching you,
because you want to gain their approval; but
with all your heart
do what God wants,
as slaves of Christ. 7
Do your work as slaves cheerfully,
as though you served the Lord, and
as though you served not merely human beings.
8 Remember the Lord will reward each of us,
whether slave or free,
for the good work we do.
9 Masters,
behave in the same way toward your slaves and
stop using threats.
Remember you and your slaves
belong to the same Master in heaven,
who judges everyone by the same standard.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 20 of 20
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD – WEAR IT, BE READY WITH IT, AND USE IT
10 Finally,
build up your strength in union with the Lord and
by means of the Lord’s mighty power.
11 Put on all the armor that God gives you,
so that you will be able to stand up against the devil's evil tricks.
12 For
we are not fighting against human beings but
we are fighting against the wicked spiritual forces
in the heavenly world,
the rulers,
authorities, and
cosmic powers of this dark age.
13 So
put on God's armor now!
Then when the evil day comes,
you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and
you will still hold your ground after fighting to the end.
14 So
stand ready, with truth as your belt tight around your waist,
with righteousness as your breastplate, and 15
with readiness as your shoes.
to announce the Good News of peace 16
with faith, as your shield,
at all times carrying
for with the shield
you will be able to put out
all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17
with salvation as your helmet, and
with the word of God as your sword
which the Spirit gives you.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 21 of 21
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help.
Pray on every occasion,
as the Spirit leads.
pray always for all God's people.
For this reason keep alert and
never give up. 19
pray also
for me,
that God will give me a message
when I am ready to speak,
so that I may speak boldly and
make known the gospel's secret.
20 Pray that I may be bold in speaking
about the gospel
as I should.
I am an ambassador,
For the sake of this gospel
though now I am in prison.
FINAL GREETINGS
21 Tychicus,
our dear brother and
faithful servant in the Lord's work,
will give you all the news about me,
so that you may know how I am getting along. 22
That is why I am sending him to you—
to tell you how all of us are getting along and
to encourage you.
23 May God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ give to all Christians
peace and
love with
faith.
24 May God's grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love.
The Book of Ephesians Version Dated March 27, 2015
Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdom
Page 22 of 22
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Ephesians
MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY – EPHESIANS
Some think that this epistle to the Ephesians was a circular letter sent to several churches, and that the
copy directed to the Ephesians happened to be taken into the canon, and so it came to bear that particular
inscription. And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all Paul’s
epistles that has nothing in it peculiarly adapted to the state or case of that particular church; but it has
much of common concernment to all Christians, and especially to all who, having been Gentiles in times
past, were converted to Christianity.
But then it may be observed, on the other hand, that the epistle is expressly inscribed (Eph. 1:1) to the
saints which are at Ephesus; and in the close of it he tells them that he had sent Tychicus unto them,
whom, in 2 Tim. 4:12; he says he had sent to Ephesus.
It is an epistle that bears date out of a prison: and some have observed that
what this apostle wrote when he was a prisoner had the greatest relish and savour in it of the things of
God. When his tribulations did abound, his consolations and experiences did much more abound, whence
we may observe that the afflictive exercises of God’s people, and particularly of his ministers, often tend
to the advantage of others as well as to their own.
The apostle’s design is to settle and establish the Ephesians in the truth, and further to acquaint them with
the mystery of the gospel, in order to it.
In the former part he represents the great privilege of the Ephesians, who, having been in time past
idolatrous heathens, were now converted to Christianity and received into covenant with God, which he
illustrates from a view of their deplorable state before their conversion, Eph. 1:1-3:21.
In the latter part (which we have in the Eph. 4:1-6:24) he instructs them in the principal duties of religion,
both personal and relative, and exhorts and quickens them to the faithful discharge of them.
Zanchy observes that we have here an epitome of the whole Christian doctrine, and of almost all the chief
heads of divinity.