1. An Inductive Bible Study
Ephesians 1:1-14
An Inductive Bible Study

2. Background
Ephesians is one of the mountains peaks of Biblical revelation and has a unique place among Paul’s letters. Rather than being hammered out on the anvil of doctrinal controversy or pastoral problems as many of Paul’s other letters were, Ephesians conveys the impression of a rich overflow of revelation in the growing out of Paul’s personal prayer life. Paul wrote this letter while in prison on behalf of Christ. (3:1, 4:1, 6:20), most likely at Rome. Ephesians has numerous affinities with Colossians and probably was penned shortly after Colossians. Both letters may have been carried simultaneously to their destination by a co-worker of Paul’s named Tychcus (6:21; cf. Col 4:7).
It is commonly believed that Paul wrote Ephesians with a wider readership in mind than just the church in Ephesus- perhaps intending it to serve as a circular letter for churches throughout the province of Asia. Originally each church in Asia Minor may have inserted its own name in 1:1, testifying to the relevance of its profound message for all true churches of Jesus Christ. Many think Ephesians is the so-called letter to the Laodicea's mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:16. (Life in the Spirit Study Bible, KJV, Zondervan).

3. Overview Passage Content Theme Structure Mood 1:1-14
Salutation and benediction for all God’s blessings in Christ.
Salvation
New Life
1:15-23
Prayer of thanksgiving for knowing God’s glorious work in Christ
2:1-10
Saved by grace through faith in Christ.
Indicative: What God has done for believers in Christ
2:11-22
Gentiles and Jews united in Christ
Reconciliation
New Society
3:1-13
Paul’s calling to preach Christ to Gentiles

4. Overview continued Passage Content Theme Structure Mood 3:14-21
Prayer of Intercession for Christ’s love, power, and glory in the Church
4:1-16
Exhortation to use a diversity of gifts to promote unity in the Body of Christ
New Standards
Imperative: What God tells believers to do in Christ.
4:17-32
Put off the “old self” and put on the “new self” in Christ
Sanctification
5:1-21
Walk in the light and love of Christ
5:21-23
Husbands and Wives
Domestic Duties
New Relationships
Overview continued

5. Overview continued… 6:1-9 Passage Content Theme Structure Mood
Parents and Children
Masters and Servants
Domestic Duties
New Relationships
Imperative: What God tells believers to do in Christ
6:10-20
The Full Armor of God
Spiritual Warfare
6:21-24
Closing Greetings and Benediction
Imperative: What God tells believers to do in Christ.

6. Who Author: The Apostle Paul1
Author: The Apostle Paul
Recipients : The Church at Ephesus (possibly meant to go through out the wider region including Colossae).ha
Tychcus (6:21; cf. Col 4:7)- Paul’s co-laborer and helper. Acts 20:4 states that Tychicus was from the Roman province of Asia. The Western text indicates that he was an Ephesian.
Tychcus delivered the letters of Ephesians and Colossians to their destinations

7. What Themes are found in the text?2
Themes are found in the text?
Do we learn about the people in the text?
Instructions are given in the text?

8. When Date of writing: A.D. 62.3
Date of writing: A.D. 62.
Paul was executed at Rome in A.D. 66, He likely wrote this letter to the Ephesians as he was in the Roman prison.

9. Where 4
A city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans a proconsular of Asia, situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus.
Marine city, a province or territory under Roman rule in Asia Minor.

10. Ephesus and Surrounding Areas

11. Why 5
Why was it written (What was Paul’s purpose in writing to the Ephesians?
Why is something said or mentioned?

12. Purpose of Writing
Paul’s immediate purpose for writing Ephesians is implied in 1: He prayerfully longs for his readers to advance in their faith, love, wisdom, and revelation of the Father of glory. He earnestly desires that they grow in Christian character and live lives worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. 4:1-3; 5:1-2). Paul therefore, seeks to strengthen their faith and spiritual foundations by revealing the fullness of God’s eternal purpose of redemption “in Christ.” (1:3-14; 3:10-12) for the church (1:22- 23; (Life in the Spirit Study Bible, KJV, Zondervan)

13. Purpose of Writing continued…
Celebrate sovereign grace that God shows to His people in Christ
Tell of the blessings of salvation and inspire people to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Exalt Christ and expand people’s knowledge of his awesome power and surpassing love.
Model spiritual vocabulary that should characterize fervent prayer in the Church
Exhort Jewish and Gentile believers to walk reconciliation with Christ and in the Unity of the Holy Spirit.
Contrast the “old life” of sin and death and the “new life” of love and unity in Christ.
Show believers how to live pleasing to God both at home and in the world.
Use the metaphors of a building the body, and marriage to describe life in the Christian community.
Equip the believer for spiritual warfare.

14. How Does Paul illustrate his message?6
Does Paul illustrate his message?
How will the themes be accomplished? How is it going to be done?
How will it happen?

15. Ephesians 1:1-6 (NKJV) 7
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

16. Key Words glory Spiritual blessings(3) Holy(1,4) Chose (4) United (1)vv
1-6
Spiritual blessings(3)
Holy(1,4)
Chose (4)
United (1)
Perfect (4)
Peace (2)
glory
Praise
Adopt (5)
Kindness

17. Ephesians 1:1-6 (GW) 8
From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will.
To God’s holy and faithful people who are united with Christ in the city of Ephesus.
2 Good will[b] and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours!
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.
4. Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence.
5 Because of his love he had already decided to adopt us through Jesus Christ. He freely chose to do this
6 so that the kindness[c] he had given us in his dear Son would be praised and given glory.

18. Ephesians 1:7-14 (NKJV) 8
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed In Himself,
 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both[a]which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

19. Ephesians 1:7-14 (GW) 9
7 Through the blood of his Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness. 8 He poured out his kindness by giving us every kind of wisdom and insight
9 when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ.
10 He planned to bring all of history to its goal in Christ. Then Christ would be the head of everything in heaven and on earth.
11 God also decided ahead of time to choose us through Christ according to his plan, which makes everything work the way he intends.
12 He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory.
13 You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised.
14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

20. Key Words choose Guarantee praise Inheritance the blood
v. 7-14
choose
Guarantee
Inheritance
Set free to belong to him.
praise
the blood
set free from sins.
glory.
forgives
every kind of wisdom and insight
mystery of his plan
planned
sealed with the Holy Spirit
whom He promised.
decided