Read the book of Ephesians at Bible Gateway.
(Please see the teaching tools of scripture if you are unfamiliar with chiastic structures):
Eph 1:1-6:24
1a) Eph 1:1-2, Salutation;
1b) Eph 1:3-18, The mystery of the gospel:
– 1b.1) Eph 1:3-16, The mystery of the gospel + Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians;
– 1b.2) Eph 1:17-18, That you may know the hope of His calling;
1c) Eph 1:19-21, The authority of Christ:
– 1c.1) Eph 1:19-20a, The greatness of His mighty power;
– 1c.2) Eph 1:20b-21, Seated in heavenly places above principalities;
1d) Eph 1:22-23, Christ the head of the body;
1e) Eph 2:1-3, Our former conduct without Christ;
1f) Eph 2:4-10, The gift of grace;
1g) Eph 2:11-22, Unity in Christ, as the enmity has been abolished;
1h) Eph 3:1, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus;
1i) Eph 3:2-7,
– 1i.1) Eph 3:2-6, Paul’s comprehension of the mystery of Christ;
– 1i.2) Eph 3:7, Effective working of His power;
1j) Eph 3:8, The unsearchable riches of Christ;
1k) Eph 3:9, From the beginning, hidden in God through Christ Jesus;
central axis) Eph 3:10, “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places;”
2k) Eph 3:11-13, The eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus;
2j) Eph 3:14-16, According to the riches of His glory;
2i) Eph 3:17-21,
– 2i.1) Eph 3:17-19, May the church comprehend the love of Christ;
– 2i.2) Eph 3:20-21, His power that works in us;
2h) Eph 4:1, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord;
2g) Eph 4:2-6, Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;
2f) Eph 4:7-16, Gifts of grace and their purpose;
2e) Eph 4:17-5:21, Our present conduct in Christ;
2d) Eph 5:22-6:9, Christ the head of the body, therefore proper leadership and submission;
2c) Eph 6:10-17, The authority of the believer:
– 2c.1) Eph 6:10, The power of His might;
– 2c.2) Eph 6:11-17, Standing against principalities in the heavenly places;
2b) Eph 6:18-22, The mystery of the gospel:
– 2b.1) Eph 6:18-20, Prayer and supplication + the mystery of the gospel;
– 2b.2) Eph 6:21-22, That you may know my affairs;
2a) Eph 6:23-24, Benediction.
Several years ago when I had spent years seeking God for a solution to a circumstance in our life which flew in the face of God’s Word and His revealed will for our family, after years of praying and standing on the Scriptures without seeing any discernable results, I told the Lord, “I am so tired of praying these Scriptures to Your face every day — I feel like I am beating You over the head with Your own Word!” And He brought me to Eph 3:10, and said, “It is not Me you are convincing of the truth – it is the principalities and powers who need to be convinced of the truth. Standing on the truth without giving up or giving in, day after day, is how the church makes known to the principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God.”
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