All The Difference

Paul uses the image of a building, borrowing both from the Artemision and Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem. He shows how the church is continually growing into a “place” where God dwells & is worshipped. Of course, place is figurative as the whole idea is that humans are themselves the building.

Paul lays out the quintessential statement of God’s grace and describes it’s outworking in good works God prepared for us to perform.

Paul lays out the quintessential statement of God’s grace and describes it’s outworking in good works God prepared for us to perform.

Paul walks us through our past position as a contrast to our present blessed appointment. Once again, the description of who we are (and were) is woven among the beautiful and heavy threads of God’s character and action.

Paul walks us through our past position as a contrast to our present blessed appointment. Once again, the description of who we are (and were) is woven among the beautiful and heavy threads of God’s character and action.

Paul launches into a passionate prayer for God’s people. The statement of gratitude in verses 15-16 is a customary part of Greek letters, and the prayer begins in earnest in verse 17. It is striking how Paul prays for such important things – wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of the Father; enlightenment to know God’s hope, riches, and power; strength of the supremacy of the resurrected Christ; the church made into the beautiful body of Christ filled with the fullness of Jesus (which explains the parallel language in c. 1 between Jesus’ position in heaven & our position in heaven.)

Paul launches into a passionate prayer for God’s people. The statement of gratitude in verses 15-16 is a customary part of Greek letters, and the prayer begins in earnest in verse 17. It is striking how Paul prays for such important things – wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of the Father; enlightenment to know God’s hope, riches, and power; strength of the supremacy of the resurrected Christ; the church made into the beautiful body of Christ filled with the fullness of Jesus (which explains the parallel language in c. 1 between Jesus’ position in heaven & our position in heaven.)

Paul introduces the major themes of theology as he completes this fantastic sentence. Covering these last two sections (the sentence that is 3-14 can be subdivided by the recurring phrase “to the praise of the [His] glory.”) we are introduced to the concepts of redemption, dispensational revelation, the preeminence of Christ who alone is worthy of hope and belief, and the Holy Spirit as sealer & pledge of the saints’ inheritance. The section has a certain symmetry in that redemption as present reality begins verse 7 and final redemption completed ends verse 14.

Paul introduces the major themes of theology as he completes this fantastic sentence. Covering these last two sections (the sentence that is 3-14 can be subdivided by the recurring phrase “to the praise of the [His] glory.”) we are introduced to the concepts of redemption, dispensational revelation, the preeminence of Christ who alone is worthy of hope and belief, and the Holy Spirit as sealer & pledge of the saints’ inheritance. The section has a certain symmetry in that redemption as present reality begins verse 7 and final redemption completed ends verse 14.

Paul describes the exalted and heavenly nature of our choosing and blessing. Doing so, he describes the doctrines of predestination and adoption while declaring all this as a praise unto the glory of God’s grace.

Paul describes the exalted and heavenly nature of our choosing and blessing. Doing so, he describes the doctrines of predestination and adoption while declaring all this as a praise unto the glory of God’s grace.

Paul writes a circular letter addressed originally to the church at Ephesus. He describes them as saints, specifically noting their faith. Paul also introduces the critical concept of being “in Christ,” something he’ll refer to 8 more times in the next 12 verses. He then blesses them with grace and peace from the Father & Son. Thus, the church of Jesus is greeted in its core concepts: as saints, in Jesus, recipients of grace & peace.

Paul writes a circular letter addressed originally to the church at Ephesus. He describes them as saints, specifically noting their faith. Paul also introduces the critical concept of being “in Christ,” something he’ll refer to 8 more times in the next 12 verses. He then blesses them with grace and peace from the Father & Son. Thus, the church of Jesus is greeted in its core concepts: as saints, in Jesus, recipients of grace & peace.