The book of Ephesians is one of the most sublime gems of literature. Indeed, Grotius called it "one of the most sublime compositions of the kind, that ever came from the pen of man." Modern writers have called it "the jewel case" of the Bible and "the Grand Canyon of Scriptures." I have called it "the Fort Knox of the Bible," but the analogy breaks down, as the gold of Fort Knox has all been counted, whereas the gold of Ephesians has never been ascertained. I have often spoken of it as the Mount Everest of Scriptures. But now, since Mount Everest has at last been scaled, the metaphor has lost some of its force and meaning, for Ephesians has never been conquered. The book contains heights never scaled by man and depths never plumbed. It contains riches and treasures unexplored. No one has ever exhausted the possibilities and rich potentialities of this wonderful book.
The theme of the book is the "unsearchable riches of Christ." We find the phrase in Ephesians 3:8, and it is translated "unsearchable riches" in our Authorized and Revised versions of the Bible. This phrase gives the suggestion of the mystery of this vast invisible treasure. Dr. Weymouth translated the phrase "exhaustless wealth," which gives us a hint of its vast, astonishing, unsuspected treasure and of its everlasting duration. "Unexplorable wealth" is the way Dr. Rendel Harris translated it as he thought o£ its boundless breadths and uncharted immensities. Dr. James Moffatt in his translation gives us the rendering "fathomless wealth" * in an effort to point out the immeasurable profundities and unplumbed depths.
We should begin the study of Ephesians as though we were approaching a vast treasure house containing many of the crown jewels of the King of kings. A careful, prayerful journey through this spiritual museum provides one of the richest experiences of life. To see the treasures and to handle some of the rare gems leaves one enriched and inspired by these precious contacts.
Exegetical Studies in Ephesians
I. The one great treasure of the book of Ephesians is "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8).
II. The twofold theme of the book concerns two R's: Resources and Responsibilities.
1. The resources of the Christian.
2. The responsibilities of the Christian, (a) To preserve the unity of the faith; (&) to practice the diversity of the gifts; (c) to promote the growth of the church; (d) to perform exploits as a Christian warrior.
III. The threefold gift of the book contains three G's: Grace, Glory, God.
1. "Riches of his grace" (Eph. 1:7). (a) Redemption; (b) reconciliation; (c) regeneration. 2. "Riches of his gory" (Eph. 3:16). (a) Rev elation; (b) restoration; (c) re-creation. 3. "Fulness of God" (Eph. 3:19). (a) Realization; (b) rehabilitation.
IV. The fourfold message of the book deals with four Ws:
1. The wealth of the Christian, chapters 1 to 3.
2. The walk of the Christian, chapters 4 and 5. (a) In holiness; (b) in harmony; (c) in helpfulness; (d) in happiness.
3. The work of the Christian (Eph. 4:11-32). (a) Speaking the truth; (b) singing the songs of Zion; (c) serving in the Spirit; (d) sanctification of the soul (body, mind, and spirit): (1) separation from sin (complete); (2) surrender to the Spirit of God (entire).
4. The warfare of the Christian (Eph. 6: 10-18). (a) Character required (Eph. 4: 1-16); (&) conduct (Eph. 4:17; 6:9); (c) conflict (Eph. 6:10-18).
V. The fivefold experience of the Christian in volves five E's:
1. Enlightenment (Eph. 1:18).
2. Enlistment (Eph. 4:1; 1:4; 1:18).
3. Enablement (Eph. 3:16).
4. Enrichment (Eph. 3:16, 17).
5. Enlargement (Eph. 3:16, 17).
VI. The sixfold life of the Christian "in Christ" six P's ("in Christ" found 27 times in Ephesians, 14 times in the first chapter):
1. Our position in Christ denotes our position. Where He is, we are!
2. Our privileges in Christ defines our privileges. What He is, we are!
3. Our possessions in Christ describes our possessions. What He has, we share!
4. Our policies in Christ directs our policies. As He plans, we perform!
5. Our practices in Christ determines our practices. What He does, we do!
6. Our progress in Christ designs our progress. Where He goes, we go!
VII. The sevenfold panoply of God.
1. The girdle of the truth (Eph. 6:14).
2. The breastplate of Christ's righteousness (Eph. 6:14).
3. The sandals of preparation (Eph. 6:15).
4. The shield of faith (Eph. 6:16).
5. The helmet of salvation's hope (Eph. 6:17).
6. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph. 6:17).
7. The radio of the Spirit, prayer (communication system) (Eph. 6:18).
VIII. The eightfold measure of mercy eight A's:
1. According to His choice (Eph. 1:4).
2. According to His will (Eph. 1:5).
3. According to His pleasure (Eph. 1:9).
4. According to His purpose (Eph. 1:11; 3:11).
5. According to His power (Eph. 1:19).
6. According to His grace (Eph. 3:7).
7. According to His riches in glory (Eph. 3:16).
8. According to His fullness (Eph. 3:19, 20).
IX. The ninefold phases of our task. To woo and win by being:
1. Courteous in contacts (Eph. 4:32a; 5:21).
2. Cheerful under changes (Eph. 4:31; 6:5-8).
3. Considerate in conversation (Eph. 4:29; 4:15).
4. Calm under calumny (Eph. 4:32; 4:26b).
5. Consistent in conduct (Eph. 4:22-24).
6. Candid in counsel (Eph. 4:25; 5:3-6).
7. Capable and competent (Eph. 4:29; 5: 14-17).
8. Careful and circumspect (Eph. 4:28; 5:15).
9. Certain in our convictions (Eph. 4:14-16; 5:17).
X. The tenfold description of our wealth.
1. The wealth glimpsed (Eph. 1:3). (Through the keyhole of the treasure house "in Christ." A small key can open a very complex lock and a large door of a building in which vast treasures are stored. We catch a glimpse of the treasure in the vestibule in the 3d verse.)
2. The wealth bequeathed (Eph. 1:3). ("Blessed us.")
3. The wealth designated (Eph. 1:3). ("All spiritual blessings.")
4. The wealth measured (Eph. 1:3). ("Every," R.V. Godward side and manward side.)
5. The wealth located (Eph. 1:3). ("In heavenly places.")
6. The wealth deposited (Eph. 1:3). ("In Christ.")
7. The wealth defined (Eph. 1:4). (Who? He! What? Hath chosen. Whom? Us. How? "In him.")
8. The wealth revealed (Eph. 1:17, 18). (When? "Before the foundation of the world.")
9. The wealth unfolded (Eph. 1:19). (The meaning, the magnitude, the manifestation, the measure.) (Why? "That we should be holy and with out blame before him in love.")
10. The wealth realized (Eph. 3:14-21). (The ultimate in Christian experience filled with the fullness of God!)
