Ephesians 1:1-23 | Blessed to Glorify God

Context

Standard Letter Format

In all of Paul’s letter there is a basic format, which is based on the Greco-Roman form that was common at the time. Paul’s letters almost always include:

1. Salutation and Greeting

2. Thanksgiving (this is in all Paul’s letter except Galatians)

3. Body

4. Exhortations/Encouragements

5. Closing/Farewell

Ephesians follows this format. In chapter one we see the Salutation (vs. 1) and Greeting (vs. 2). “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2) is how Paul often greets his readers and this can be a wonderful way to begin worship!

The “Thanksgiving” section of the letter is perhaps less obvious – there is some debate about when it begins and ends, however, it is clearly present (see vs. 16). Blessing God (vs. 3) is certainly akin to thanksgiving and the prayer in the second half of the chapter (vs. 17-19) is primarily a prayer of thanksgiving.

Paul's Relation to the Ephesians 

It should be noted that Paul has a developed an ongoing relationship with those he is writing to. The church in Ephesus was started by Paul on his 3^rd Missionary Journey (Acts 18:22-21:17) and it is believed he spent around 3 years in Ephesus. His farewell to the Ephesian elders is recorded in detail in Acts 20:17-38. This appears to have been Paul’s last visit to Ephesus prior to writing the Letter to the Ephesians, which was probably written from Rome during his imprisonment following the events of the book of Acts. What is clear in both Acts 20 and in Ephesians itself is that Paul has a deep relationship with the church in Ephesus. He planted the church and continues to care deeply about its members and their work.

Mission Connection

Paul, the missionary, is writing a mission document to the church in Ephesus, a community that exists for mission!

In this chapter, mission is seen just under the surface in how Paul alludes to the mission of God. He talks about universal concepts: “the praise of [God’s] glory” (vs. 12 and 14) and “all things” (vs. 10-11; 22-23). Paul’s emphasis on the grace of God that the book of Ephesians may be best known for has an impact on all of God’s creation.

Preaching Angles

Blessings (vs. 3-14)

The whole first section is really about God blessing those who’ve believed (in particular, the church in Ephesus). Blessing is connected to being chosen by God (vs. 4) or predestined (vs. 4, 11 – proorizo, this word is a different word in Greek than “foreknowledge,” proginosko – for how Paul uses “foreknowledge” see Rom. 8:29; 11:2).

Grace, which is a key theme throughout Ephesians, is first mentioned here in relation to blessing (vs. 4-6). In addition, adoption (vs. 5), redemption and forgiveness (vs. 7), wisdom and understanding (vs. 8), inheritance (vs. 11, 14), and the Holy Spirit (vs. 13-14) are all part of what amounts to how Paul understands the blessings received by believers. All of this is in accordance with God’s goodness and will (vs. 9-11) and to the praise of God’s glory (vs. 12, 14), to which we are called to live (vs. 11).

Thanksgiving

The discussion of blessing is what leads into the thanksgiving section of Paul’s letter. Paul is thankful to God for the relationship and witness of the Ephesian church. His thanksgiving is expressed in two contexts.           

1. Prayer (vs. 16-18). This is a consistent highlight of Paul’s letters and Ephesians is not different in this regard. Paul gives thanks to God for those he is writing to. The reason for receiving blessing in verse 18 should not be missed: Paul’s prayer is that the Ephesian believers may receive wisdom and revelation (vs. 17) so that they may “perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power" (vs. 18–19, NRSVUE). That blessing is intended to be used in what God has called us to be a part of – God’s mission!

2. Power (vs. 19-23). The “hope to which he called you” is directly connected to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the power that has put Him “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named” (vs. 21 – this also brings to mind Phil. 2:9-11). And this same power of God is available to believers (vs. 19)!

All Things

All of this is a glimpse into God’s bigger plan – God’s universal will to redeem all creation through the redemption of all the peoples of the earth. This concept of the redemption of creation is present in this passage as Paul repeatedly mentions the impact of God’s redemptive blessings on “all things” (vs. 10, 11, 22, 23).

1. Have you ever considered Paul’s letters as mission documents, written by a missionary and sent to a community whose main purpose for existence is mission? How does this reality change your approach to Ephesians as we begin a series walking through the entire letter?

2. How does Paul’s emphasis on “blessing” in Ephesians 1:3–14 shape our understanding of God’s mission to the world, and what might it mean for the church today to live “to the praise of His glory” (vs. 12, 14)?

3. In verses 19–23, Paul describes God’s power as the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. What does this say about the kind of hope and power available to believers today, especially in the context of living out a missional calling?

4. Paul refers multiple times to “all things” being united and redeemed through Christ (vs. 10–11, 22–23). How does this universal vision challenge or expand your understanding of the church’s role in God’s redemptive plan?