Overview Article
Paul is taken up with the overwhelming goodness that God in Christ has showered on believers, and with his amazing plan to unite Gentiles with Jews in a new community—the church, the body of Christ. Here, Paul provides one of the finest descriptions of the Christian life in the entire New Testament. Though written from prison, this letter is full of joy, praise, and thanksgiving. It is a fitting reply to the wonder of God’s amazing grace in Christ, poured out in abundance on those chosen to know his love—Gentiles as well as Jews.
Key People, Places, and Terms
Places 1
Key Terms 101
Themes
The Church 24 The church is the community of people who acknowledge Christ as Lord and obey him ( Ephesians 5:21–24 ). The New Testament word for "church" comes from the Greek word ekklēsia (meaning "a group of people who gather to... The Mystery of the Good News 5 In his letters, the apostle Paul often uses the word mystery to describe the good news about Jesus (some translations use the word secret ). Sometimes, Paul uses mystery as a way of referring to the good news itself (... The Old Realm and the New 4 The Jewish people in Paul's time saw a clear difference between the "present evil age" and a "glorious age to come." Throughout Romans 5–8 , Paul uses these contrasting "realms" or "kingdoms" to explain our experience... Faith and Good Deeds 4 Jesus did not teach that we are saved by doing good things ("works"). Instead, he taught that we need to be changed on the inside. This change (or conversion) happens when God works in us through his grace. When God c... The Grace of God 4 Grace is an important word in the Bible. It shows God's kindness and favor. It is often related to how he saves those who do not deserve it. The New Testament emphasizes that grace came through Jesus Christ ( John 1:1... Living for Christ 3 The apostle Paul writes from prison, “ For to me, to live is Christ ” ( 1:21 ). Why should Christians commit their lives to Jesus Christ? Christians recognize that they owe everything to Christ. This includes their sa... Overcoming the Devil 3 The New Testament writers believed in the reality of evil and the dangers of the spiritual world. They saw Satan, also known as "the evil one" or "the devil," as a serious threat. The devil blocks the work of God's pe... Paul’s Role as an Apostle 3 To understand Paul's role as an apostle of Jesus Christ, a good place to read is the description in the second letter to the Corinthians. In this letter, Paul shares the core of his ministry. Paul was God's special me...
See all (20)
The Promise of New Life 3 The resurrection is a key belief in Christianity. Without it, the Christian faith has no value ( 1 Corinthians 15:14 ). God promises that his people will share in this resurrection with Christ ( Colossians 3:1 ). It i... Baptism 3 Baptism has been a key part of Christianity since it began ( Acts 2:38 ). In Judaism, "baptism" and "baptize" referred to a religious cleansing ceremony. The law of Moses required water to cleanse people from ceremoni... God as Holy Warrior 3 The Arabic term jihad, now familiar in English, refers to a "holy war" where men fight for God. Yet, the Bible describes a "holy war" differently. In the Bible, a holy war is a conflict where God fights for his people... God’s Anger 3 God is just and righteous in his judgment ( Psalm 7:11 ). He responds with righteous anger toward sin and injustice. God's anger is not like human anger. It is not an emotional outburst or loss of control. It is his p... God’s Covenant Love 3 The Bible talks about God's love in two main ways. First, there is the common understanding that God deeply cares about and has great affection for all people. Second, in some parts of the Bible, like Deuteronomy (whe... The Church as a Living, Active Body 3 The apostle Paul considered the church as the living body of Jesus Christ made up of believers. Paul did not make any formal difference between professional church leaders and ordinary members, where only the leaders... The Church as God’s Temple 3 The idea of the church as God's temple comes from the Old Testament. The kings David and Solomon received a promise that the temple in Jerusalem would be where God lived among his people (see 2 Samuel 7:12–16 ; 1 King... Anger 3 Wise people do not get angry quickly. “ A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly ” ( Proverbs 14:29 ). Anger can cause bad judgment, so wise people think before they act ( 14:16 )... Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility 2 The Bible shows that everything is under God's control. In other words, God is sovereign over everything. For example, rain falls on both good and bad people as part of God's plan ( Matthew 5:45 ). God is not responsi... Jews and Gentiles (Non-Jews) 2 A key theme of the New Testament is that God has included non-Jewish people (called gentiles) in his people while keeping his promises to Israel. In Romans 11:11–32 , the apostle Paul explains God's plan to save all n... The Ascension of Jesus 2 When Jesus went up to heaven, he gave his apostles their final instructions and authority for their work ( Acts 1:6–11 ; Luke 24:45–53 ). This event (the ascension) prepares the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit a... The Good News Message 2 The apostles shared the good news about Jesus (or "gospel") in a specific order, with these parts: The Old Testament promises came true through Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection.
Related Articles
Outline
Use of the Old Testament in Ephesians
8 quotations from 5 Old Testament books
Total quotations 8
Connected books 5
Most-connected book Exodus 2
All References
| Ephesians | OT Passage | Compare |
|---|---|---|
| Ephesians 4:8 | Psalm 68:18 | Compare |
| Ephesians 4:25 | Zechariah 8:16 | Compare |
| Ephesians 4:26 | Psalm 4:4 | Compare |
| Ephesians 5:31 | Genesis 2:24 | Compare |
| Ephesians 6:2 | Exodus 20:12 | Compare |
| Ephesians 6:2 | Deuteronomy 5:16 | Compare |
| Ephesians 6:3 | Exodus 20:12 | Compare |
| Ephesians 6:3 | Deuteronomy 5:16 | Compare |
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