Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Ephesians

Commentary on Selected Verses
Verse 1.  The thought of God's gracious activity in Jesus Christ leads Paul to exhort his readers to be imitators of God, or to pattern their lives and actions after God.

Verse 2.  Christian love is to be expressed in self-giving sacrifice.  Paul describes Christ's giving of himself as a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  In other words, what Christ did for sinful humanity pleased the Father.  Similarly, when we demonstrate sacrificial love, this also pleases the Father.

Verses 3-4.  The way of love requires the people of God to put away ungodly character and actions.

Verse 5.  Paul states that immorality, impurity and greed exclude a person from divine inheritance.  Paul's warning here is similar to his warning in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

 Verses 6-7.   Paul warns his readers that eventually all wrongdoers will be punished for their sins.  To believe otherwise is to be deceived by empty words.  The only way to escape punishment is through genuine repentance and acceptance of God's standards.

 Verse 8-10.  In verses 8-14, Paul talks about the Christian life using familiar language of darkness and light.  The fruit of the "enlightened life" is goodness, righteousness, and truth.  This reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-2).  This fruit "pleases the Lord."

Verse 11.  In contrast to the fruitful works of light, the works of darkness are unfruitful.  The Christian is not only to avoid evil, but also to engage in exposing it.

Verses 12-13.  When shameful deeds are brought into the light, then people can see the true nature of evil and hopefully turn to the light.

Verse 14.  Finally, Paul stresses that darkness cannot exist in the presence of light.  This verse contains three metaphors for turning to God: awakening from sleep, rising from the dead, and coming out of darkness into the light.

Verse 15.  In verses 15-20, Paul further reminds his readers of who they are in Christ by encouraging them to walk in wisdom.  Wisdom here has a very practical side to it.  Generally, wisdom is "a right application of knowledge."  Here in these verses, wisdom is the ability to discern between right and wrong.  However we define the term, the point is that wisdom is not abstract, but rather practical.  This is the message of James 3: 13-18.

Verse 16.  The one who is wise does not squander chances to do good.  God's appointed season for his people to do good and to walk in wisdom is right now!

Verse 17.  To walk according to the will of the Lord is to escape foolishness.  It requires reflection and careful thought.

Verse 18.  Paul instructs his readers to "be filled with the Spirit."  Whereas intoxication with wine and other substances tears down the body, "intoxication" with the Holy Spirit builds up the spirit.  The filling with the Holy Spirit is a continual and repeatable process and should be sought on a daily basis.

Verse 19.  Paul states that the evidence of the Spirit-filled life is an attitude of worship and a mouth full of encouragement for others.

Verse 20.  Another indication of the Spirit-filled life is thanksgiving, or as one author put it, "an attitude of gratitude."

Verse 21.   Christians are not to be self-assertive, each insisting on getting his or her own way.  Instead, Christians should respond to each other in an attitude of humility (as in Ephesians 4:2-3).  One of the key words in 5:21 - 6:9 is "submit."  The Greek word that is translated "submit" is the word hypotassō.  It refers to a voluntary placing of oneself under another.  Therefore, Christians are to voluntarily place themselves under each other "out of reverence to Christ."   Jesus Christ performed the ultimate act of submission in his becoming a human being (Philippians 2:5-11).  Therefore, we can submit to one another, preferring one another over ourselves.  Notice that Paul instructs his readers to submit to one another "out of reverence for Christ."  One scholar reminds us that "we are not asked to yield to the wishes of others, no matter what they wish, but only when what they ask of us is in line with reverence for Christ."

Verses 22-24.  The same submission that was mentioned generally in verse 21 is now applied to the wife in a marriage relationship.  According to the apostle, a Christian wife's submission to her husband is one aspect of her submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul states that the husband is the head of the wife. Paul uses the Greek kephalē, "head," in a number of ways.  Here, the best translation is "leader."  Wives are called to accept their husband's leadership.  This acceptance of a husband's leadership does not mean that husbands are the "boss" of the family; it simply means that husbands are held responsible for providing Godly leadership in the home.  These verses in Ephesians are not teaching male superiority.  Paul teaches equal value and standing before God (Galatians 3:28).  Verse 24 means that at all times and in every situation, a wife is to have a "submissive" (i.e., humble, or meek) attitude toward her husband just as at all times in every situation Christians are to have a "submissive" attitude toward Christ.  Yet, we must not forget that complete obedience is to Christ alone.  The husband is the "head" of the wife, not the "Lord" of the wife.

Verse 25.  Recall that Ephesians 5:21 spoke of mutual submission.  Therefore, husbands are also required to submit to their wives.  In fact, verse 25 actually puts a greater responsibility upon husbands than has been put upon wives.  Agapē (love) means to subordinate one's own interests, pleasures, desires, and personality for the benefit of someone else.  True "leadership" of the family involves complete self-sacrifice and selflessness as demonstrated by the selflessness and self-giving of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, the husband's role in the family naturally derives from Jesus' statement in Mark 10:42-45.

Verses 26-27.  In these verses, Paul continues to describe what Christ has done for his Church.  Christ both cleanses the people of God and makes us holy (i.e., sanctifies us).  The mention of water is a reference to Christian baptism.  Baptism is the outward symbol that one has been cleansed.  The actual cleansing, though, takes place through the Word.

Verses 28-29.  The fact that husband's are to love their wives as their own bodies is based on the fact that they have become one flesh (5:31; Genesis 2:24).  As a consequence, husbands must seek the highest spiritual good both for themselves and for their wives.

Verse 30.  This verse reminds the reader of the concept of intimacy.  Husbands and wives are intimately united to each other just as Christians are intimately united to Christ.

Verse 31.  This verse quotes Genesis 2:24.  The verse confirms the intimacy and unity that exist between husband and wife.

Verse 32.  As important a topic as marriage is, Paul still cannot keep his mind off Christ.  The principles of unity and love that underlie our marriages also underlie the relationship between Christ and his Church.

Verse 33.  Everything that Paul has said has a practical consequence: love and respect.  Both qualities are essential in a relationship of mutual submission.

Review Questions
Answering the following questions will help you to understand the fifth chapter of Ephesians and to clearly articulate some of its major themes.

1. Are you doing a good job of imitating God and walking in the love of Christ?  In what ways can you better display the love of the Lord in your relationships with other people?
2. Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and foolish talk are all clearly ungodly and unchristlike.  In what way are these things also unloving?
3. What is the benefit of exposing sin to the light?
4. How can believers be filled with the Holy Spirit?
5. How can the people of God find out what pleases the Lord and understand what his will is?
6. What does the word "submit" mean?  How can we practice biblical submission without being abused by others?