Oh it does my heart good to read that Paul pointed out to the saints that we are "accepted in the Beloved". That phrase is only mentioned one other place in scripture when God calls Mary, accepted in the Beloved (highly favored) ❤️ As His children, we are loved, chosen, adopted, predestined, highly favored, sealed by the Holy Spirit, awaiting our Beloved's return. 🙌

A historical note: During the time of the Ephesians, Paul used examples from their everday life like the Romans assimilating the Jews into their society. They were "adopted" by a Roman family, taught how to be good citizens of the kingdom, and given a token as a promise for their future inheritance,

As an "adopted" member of the family, they would be considered a level up from natural children, as they were "chosen"

Can you spot the similarities that Paul was pointing to?

I think it is so cool, so wonderful, to be able to study Scripture and be able to see others' ways of study, it really helps to go deeper and really pulls the body together more, and all for His Glory. Praise God! ❤️

Thank you Sis, appreciate further studies of our brothes and sisters as they dive in and live out their faith in Christ Jesus and help us with their writtings. I also love to do Word studies as I read Scriptures to help understand as well as some commentaries, then I go back and re-read the Scripture and talk to the Lord about it... sometimes, He brings me right back a few times to study further, or He opens up my understanding further. He is So Faithful. ❤️

Thanks for posting this Jen.

I like to get the whole book in my head before I dig in so I write a new outline each time, that way if I get confused I have a quick reference to fall back on.

Outline of Ephesians

Paul describes the churches as:

Chapter 1: A Body

Chapter 2: A Temple

Chapter 3: A Mystery

Chapter 4: A New Creation

Chapter 5: Obedient Children

Chapter 6: A Soldier

Chapter 1:

Creation of the Body (A)

Planned    Purchased     Preserved

(Father)          (Son)          (Holy Spirit)

1:1-6           Vs. 7-12         Vs. 13-14

Consecration of the Body (B)

Paul’s prayer for God to allow His people, the Church,

To understand 4 things bout Himself

1. His Person vs.15-17

2. His Promise vs.18

3. His Power vs.19-20a

4. His Position vs.20-23

Chapter 2

What we were (2:1-3, 11-12)

What God did for us (2:4-6)

Why? (2:7) we are trophies of His grace

How? (2:8-9,13)

What are we now? (2:10, 14-22)

Chapter 3

Paul’s Explanation of His ministry (3:1-12)

Paul’s Prayer for the saints (3:13-21)

Chapter 4

The Church as a New Creation

Position of New Creation: Unity (4:1-6)

The Unifier in Christ: (4:7-16)

The Disposition of the New Creation

Believers to avoid immoral lifestyle (4:17-19)

Believers to adopt a spiritual lifestyle (4:20-23)

Chapter 5

Church likened to obedient children (5:1-21)

Submitting one to another

Husbands and Wives (5:22-33)

(Likened unto a great mystery concerning the Church)

Husbands love your wives

Wives reverence your husband

Chapter 6

Church likened to a Soldier

Section 1: Boot Camp

Example of Children and Parents (6:1-4))

Example of servants & Masters (6:5-9)

Section 2:  Frontline Battle Wisdom in War

Exhortation

Enemy

Equipment

Envoy

Benediction

Moni

I remember a "Common tater" saying that it was a cicular letter, like you said to the community. He said there was a blank line so each of the churches could insert their own church name as it came to them to read.

Ephesians 1: 4-6 "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved"

Stuck out to me. Because He chose me before the begining of the world and there is nothing I can do to change it. He is so good to us it makes your heart want to explode in gratitude to Him for it. There is nothing I can do to change His mind; He chose to save me knowing my extreme wickedness but still loved me and saved me anyway. Glory to God! 💕

Apostle (G652) apostolos [a-poss-to-loss] - official messenger of Christ (of the gospel message, in the case of Paul}

I often like to find the keywords and then look them up in their original language to better understand. Its amazing to me how much deeper my study goes with this simple act.

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Paul wrote this while in prison in Rome to help explain God's plan and the doctrines of Christianity.

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It stood out to me that sometimes we overlook important details when we "skim" over. For instance, "to the saints in Ephesus". This wasn't a letter to everyone in Ephesus but to the saints. This was all about him explaining God's plan for them individually and in the church as a community.

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In my notes I wrote something that jumped off the page to me.. "Paul prayed blessings upon God." I love to use many different commentaries to help me better understand this. It says that Paul prayed this to recognize God's glory, honor and goodness BECAUSE God already blessed Him, Us, the believer, with every spiritual blessing.

This means its always available to us and it from on High, and better than any 'thing' blessing or anyone can offer us. How exciting is that they we already have it. It's the best of the best and we have it. So exciting!!!