Ephesians Series: Introduction-More Major Themes in the Ephesian Epistle

Truth is another major theme, which appears in Ephesians.

This is indicated by the fact that the noun alētheia (ἀλήθεια), “truth” appears seven times in this epistle (Eph. 1:13; 4:15, 21, 24, 25; 5:9; 6:14).

In Ephesians 1:13, Paul uses the word and defines it as “the gospel of your salvation.”

It appears again in Ephesians 4:15 where Paul commands the recipients of the letter to practice “the truth” when interacting with each other by means of obeying the command to love one another.

He asserts that “truth” is in Jesus in Ephesians 4:21 and then states that righteousness and holiness come from “the truth.”

The apostle teaches in Ephesians 4:25 that the recipients were to speak “the truth” with each other because they are members of one another.

Then, in Ephesians 5:9, he teaches that the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and “truth.”

Lastly, the apostle in Ephesians 6:10-18 employs a military metaphor when addressing the recipients of the letter, which speaks of the full armor of God.

One of the items which form the Christian soldier’s armor is that of the belt of “truth” (Eph. 6:14).

Reconciliation is another major theme in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:11-22 speaks of the reconciliation of Jews with Gentiles through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Another major theme which is found in Ephesians is that of the church.

This is indicated by the fact that the term ekklesia, “church” appears in Ephesians 1:22, 3:10, 21, 5:23, 24, 25, 29and 32.

The church is also referred to with the “body” metaphor in Ephesians 1:23, 2:16, 4:4, 12, 16, 5:23, and 30.

The gospel is another major theme found in Ephesians as evidenced by the fact that the term euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον), “the gospel” appears four times in this epistle, namely Ephesians 1:13, 3:6, 6:15 and 6:19.

Another major theme that appears in Ephesians is that of the Christian’s union with Christ and position in Christ which means that the Christian is identified with Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session at the right hand of the Father.

This is indicated by Paul’s use of the prepositional phrase en Christō Iēsou (ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ), “in Christ Jesus,” which appears seven times in the Ephesian epistle (cf. Eph. 1:1; 2:6, 7, 10, 13; 3:6, 21) and five times with reference to the believer’s union and identification with Jesus Christ (cf. Eph. 1:1; 2:6, 7, 10, 13).

This union and identification is also alluded to with the prepositional phrase en Christō (ἐν Χριστῷ), “in Christ,” which occurs in Ephesians 1:3.

Another major theme, which appears in Ephesians is the believer’s sanctification, which is alluded to in Ephesians 1:1, 15, 18, 2:19, 3:8, 18, 4:12, 5:3 and 6:18 by the adjective hagios (ἅγιος), “the saints.”

This doctrine is also being referred to by the verb hagiazō (ἁγιάζω), “to sanctify.”

These two words describe church age believers from the perspective that they have been sanctified or set apart through the baptism of the Spirit at the moment of justification in order to order serve God exclusively.

Salvation is another theme in the Ephesian epistle.

It is alluded to in Ephesians 2:8 with the verb sōzō (σῴζω), “have been saved” and by the noun sōtēria (σωτηρία), “salvation” in Ephesians 1:13 and 6:17.

These two words speak of the believer’s deliverance from their personal sins, enslavement to the sin nature, Satan, his cosmic system, condemnation from the Law, spiritual and physical death and of course eternal condemnation. Specifically, it speaks of all three stages of the Christian’s salvation.

The person and work of the Holy Spirit is noted quite a bit by the apostle Paul in the Ephesian epistle since He is mentioned in Ephesians 1:13, 17, 2:18, 22, 3:16, 4:3, 4, 30, 5:18, 6:17 and 18.

Thus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit is yet another great theme, which appears in the Ephesian epistle.

Another one of the major themes of the Ephesian epistle is that of spiritual warfare since it is mentioned in great detail in Ephesians 6:10-19.

The church age believer has three great enemies according to the Scriptures: (1) Satan, our chief adversary, the devil: (1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:12; John 16:11; Colossians 2:15; but note 1 John 2:13-14). (2) The world, a system and arrangement of the affairs of the human and government under the control of the evil one and opposed to God and His purposes for the human race (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4; Ephesians 2:2). (3) Indwelling Adamic sin nature or the flesh and all its corrupting power and life-dominating patterns: (Rom. 7:15; 8:4-8, 13; Gal. 5:16-26).

Lastly, the Trinity is a major theme that appears in the Ephesian epistle.

The word, “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture.

However, the word is used by theologians to describe what the Scriptures reveal about who and what God is, namely, it describes God as being three co-equal, co-infinite and co-eternal persons with each sharing the same divine essence.

It means that in the one God (1 Corinthians 8:4) there are three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So there is one God and in God there are three persons.

They describe themselves in Scripture as Father, Son and Spirit and each of whom is identified in Scripture as God.

The Father, Son and Spirit are identical in being.

No one person is of higher or lesser status than any other.

Ephesians 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (NASB95)

In this verse, the apostle instructs the Ephesians that through Jesus Christ they have access by means of the Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (NASB95)

Paul exhorts the Ephesians to unity by reminding them that there is one Sprit, one Lord and Father.

In other words, God is a unity of three persons and so as members of their family, they should be united through obedience.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. (NASB95)

The apostle Paul commands the Ephesians to be totally and completely influenced by means of the Spirit, which will result in them speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in their hearts to the Lord, always give thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Ephesians 1:3-14 presents the work of all three members of the Trinity on behalf of the church age believer.

As we noted, these verses constitute the preface of the letter. Paul begins by asserting that along with the Father, the Lord is worthy of praise and glorification (Eph. 1:3).

The apostle then states that the Father chose the Ephesian Christian community “in Christ” before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) because of their union and identification with Christ which took place at the moment of their justification through the baptism of the Spirit.

Paul then teaches that the Father predestined them for adoption as His sons through their union and identification with Christ (Eph. 1:5).

He asserts that they received the Father’s grace through His Son, Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:6).

Not only this, but they have received redemption through the blood or death of Jesus, namely the forgiveness of our trespasses (Eph. 1:7).

The Father did this when He revealed to the church the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that he set forth through the person of Christ (Eph. 1:9-10).

Paul teaches that all things will be summed up in Christ, namely the things in heaven and the things on earth.

The Christian has been claimed as the Father’s own possession because of their union and identification with Jesus Christ because they were predestined according to the Father’s purpose (Eph. 1:11).

They were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit because they trusted in Jesus Christ at their justification (Eph. 1:13).