The Praise of His Glory - Week 1

Ephesians 1:1-14

Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Opening Greeting

Read Ephesians 1:1-2

1. What is an apostle?
(a) The word "Apostle", from the Greek apostello "to send forth", "to dispatch", has etymologically a very general sense. Apostolos (Apostle) means one who is sent forth, dispatched--in other words, who is entrusted with a mission, rather, a foreign mission. It has, however, a stronger sense than the word messenger, and means as much as a delegate. In the classical writers the word is not frequent. In the Greek version of the Old Testament it occurs once, in III Kings, xiv, 6 (cf. ibid., xii, 24). In the New Testament, on the contrary. it occurs, according to Bruder's Concordance, about eighty times, and denotes often not all the disciples of the Lord, but some of them specially called. (Catholic Encyclopedia, CE)

2. Why does Paul specify that he is an apostle "by the will of God"? Isn't that a given? Why mention it?
(a) Paul specifies that he is an apostle "by the will of God" to identify the authority under which he writes. (b) This is only a given if Paul's audience knows him or if the audience is Christian. (c) Paul mentions this to make the distinctive point that he is performing God's will, as opposed to his own.

3. Note that the letter is not addressed "to the saints who are at Ephesus". Some manuscripts contain this greeting, more reliable ones do not. Why would a letter known widely in the early Church as "Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians" not contain a greeting to the Church at Ephesus?
(a) Given that Paul spent more than two years in Ephesus

4. Look at v. 2. What does Paul mean by "grace"? Feel free to use a Bible dictionary.
(a) Grace (gratia, Charis), in general, is a supernatural gift of God to intellectual creatures (men, angels) for their eternal salvation, whether the latter be furthered and attained through salutary acts or a state of holiness (CE). Grace must further be distinguiehsed between the transient help to act (actual grace) and the permanent state of grace (sanctifying grace). Actual grace derives its name, actual, from the Latin actualis (ad actum), for it is granted by God for the performance of salutary acts and is present and disappears with the action itself. For a definition of sanctifying, also known as habitual, grace, we wonce again consulte the Catholic Encyclopedia:

Since the end and aim of all efficacious grace is directed to the production of sanctifying grace where it does not already exist, or to retain and increase it where it is already present, its excellence, dignity, and importance become immediately apparent; for holiness and the sonship of God depend solely upon the possession of sanctifying grace, wherefore it is frequently called simply grace without any qualifying word to accompany it as, for instance, in the phrases "to live in grace" or "to fall from grace" (CE)

Paul means sanctifying grace in this context.

Benediction in Praise of the Father

Read Ephesians 1:3-6

5. Read v. 3. To which person of the Trinity does Paul first address his benediction? By what name is God revealed to us in Christ Jesus? What specifically does he praise him for? How is it that we are in "the heavenly places"?
(a) Paul first addresses God the Father. (b) God is revealed to us by the name "Father" in Christ Jesus. (c) Paul specifically praises God for blessing us "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places". (d) We are in "the heavenly places" in that we are in Christ Jesus, who is in the heavenly place.

6. Read v. 4. Who are we "in"? When were we chosen to be "in" him? Who chose us? What were we chosen to be?
(a) We are "in" God, the Triune God. (b) We were chosen to be "in" him "before the foundation of the world". (c) God chose us. (d) We were chosen to be "holy and blameless before him."

7. Read v. 5. Paul does not say "he destined us in raw power" or "fate" or "irresistibly". He says "he destined us in love". Why the emphasis on love? What do we become through Jesus? Aren't we sons and daughters of God already? If not, what are we before baptism? And what does baptism do? Once again, Paul emphasizes that it is God's will that we be his sons and daughters. Why emphasize this?
(a) Paul places emphasis on love because, in 1 Corinthians, he defines love as the greatest of the theological virtues:

So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13:13, RSV)

(b) Through Jesus we become sons of God. (c) This adoption by God takes place during baptism. (d) Before baptism we were "slaves to sin":

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. (Rom 6:3-6, RSV)

(e) Baptism is the "Sacrament of Regeneration" and thus the means by which we are spiritually reborn in Christ. (f) Paul once again emphasizes that these decrees are the will of God and not merely the will of Paul.

8. Read v. 6. What is the principal thing glorified by the Father's making us his sons and daughters? Does he have to make us his sons and daughters? Why then does he? What does it mean to be loved "in his Beloved"?
(a) The principal thing glorified by the Father's making us his sons and daughters is the grace of God. (b) God is not required to make us sons and daughters. (c) It is only through the grace and mercy of God that this priveledge is granted us. Therefore, we look to God's mercy and love as the reasons for this opportunity. (d) To be loved "in his Beloved" is to be in Christ and with Christ. We remain in Christ by keeping God's commandments:

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:20-21, RSV)

Benediction in Praise of the Son

Read Ephesians 1:6-12

9. Read v. 7-8. In whom do we have redemption? What is redemption (again, feel free to use a Bible dictionary)? How do we enter into the forgiveness of sins? What has the Son done to win that forgiveness? If we do not earn forgiveness then how do we gain it?
(a) In Jesus Christ we have redemption. (b) Redemption is the restoration of man from the bondage of sin to the liberty of the children of God through the satisfactions and merits of Christ (CE). (c) We enter into the forgiveness of sins by repentence and through the Sacrament of Baptism. (d) The Son won this forgiveness for us through his self-sacrifice on the cross. Thus, the forgiveness of sin is through no merit of our own. (e) Though we do not earn forgiveness, we gain it by living in Christ. That is by asking God, with a contrite heart, to mercifully forgive our sins based upon the merits of Christ's redemptive sacrifice, receiving the Sacraments, and by keeping God's commandments, we can gain access to this sanctifiy grace.

10. Read v. 9-11. Why does Paul speak of "making known" a "mystery"? Isn't a mystery something that's not known? What does "mystery" mean in the New Testament (again, check a Bible dictionary)? What is the "mystery of his will"?
(a) Paul speaks of "making known" a "mystery" to underscore that God's will is not something that can be discovered, only revealed. (b) A mystery is not necessarily something that is not known, but is something of which all is not known. (c) A mystery, in the context of the New Testament, is a theological or religious truth about which we can't know everything and about which we wouldn't know anything at all if God hadn't revealed it to us. Frank Sheed explains a mystery as not a museum whose works are sealed off and unatainable, but an infinite museum, that no matter how much you walk, you come no closer to the end (i.e. full understanding). (Feb 1992, This Rock Magazine) (d) The "mystery of his will" is "to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

11. Read v. 11. Paul speaks of God accomplishing "all things" according to the counsel of his will. What are some examples in Scripture of God "drawing straight with crooked lines" and turning "all things" (even evil human choices) to his glory?
(a) There are many examples of God "drawing straight with crooked lines" in Scripture. First and foremost, the ultimate evil of the murder of the Son so that we might all be redeemed. If God is able to take this supreme act of evil and turn it into the supreme act of mercy, we can see how God can use any instance, whether good or evil, to accomplish "all things".

12. Read v. 12. What are we hoping for in Christ? Who destines? Who appoints? Why does Paul keep emphasizing salvation as something done by God and for his glory (as distinct from something we choose and in which we participate)?
(a) We are hoping for salvation in Christ. (b) God is who destines. (c) God is who appoints. (d) Paul continually emphasizes salvation as something done by God in order to keep us from pride in our own accomplishments. As Paul states in his second letter to Timothy:

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Tim 1:8-10, RSV)

Benediction in Praise of the Holy Spirit

Read Ephesians 1:13-14

13. Read v. 13. What is the "word of truth"? With what are we "sealed"? To what Person of the Blessed Trinity is Paul now turning his thoughts?
(a) The "word of truth" is "the gospel of your salvation". (b) We are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit. (c) Paul is now turning his thoughts to the third person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

14. Read v. 14. What is our inheritance? How is the Holy Spirit the "guarantee" or first down payment of that?
(a) Our inheritance is the kingdom of God. (b) The Holy Spirit is the "guarantee of our inheritance" in that the Holy Spirit provides specific charisms which are a foreshadowing of what we will receive in heaven. As Jesus states in the Gospel of John:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: (John 16:7-8, RSV)

The Holy Spirit, or Paraclete (above translated Counselor) is the promise of Christ to always guide us. Thus, the Paraclete (Greek parakletos) is the "guarantee of our inheritance" by God.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
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