Ephesians 1:1-14 (NIV)
Read by: Sarah Ammen
The apostle Paul is writing this letter to a group of churches in and around the ancient city Ephesus. He’d planted churches there, but now is imprisoned, and is writing to encourage and exhort the church to live as good witnesses in society; especially as they overcome the challenges of persecution, division, and the temptation to give their allegiance to something other than Jesus.
As the letter opens we hear a long Jewish style poem, praising God for carrying out his promises to Israel in and through Jesus. With this Paul starts the first half of the letter designed to help the Ephesians to remember the bigger story that they are living in--the story of God’s faithfulness in King Jesus.
----------REFLECT----------
1. In what ways does this passage cause you to be grateful for God’s love? Bring that to the LORD with thanksgiving.
2. As Paul retells the story of God’s covenant faithfulness, he helps the Ephesians see that when God chose Israel, he had them in mind! That reality extends to us today. We too were adopted, and not just for our own sake! Like Israel was chosen as a people through whom God could bless the nations, we have been chosen for the sake of what God wants to accomplish through us. In what way might God want to bless others through you or your community this week?
3. Paul calls the Spirit a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, the genuine life in a new creation that is given to us by Jesus. One scholar calls this deposit a down payment: a part of the promised future coming forward into the present. What difference will it make in your life today to know that you will receive, in full, the promise of new creation?
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Bible Project Podcast: New Testament Letters >>
Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Historical Context >>
Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Literary Context >>
Bible Project Video: Ephesians >>
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