Discipleship Material
Ephesians
The Letter of Paul
to the Ephesians
Block Diagrammed
One of the pressing needs of any serious student of Scripture is an understanding of the syntax of a given passage. Syntax refers to the interrelationships of paragraphs, sentences, phrases, clauses, and words. The purpose of Block Diagramming is to graphically illustrate the syntax of a passage of Scripture. The Block Diagramming process involves the laying out of a passage of Scripture by indenting subordinate linguistic units while maintaining the word order of the given text or translation. This allows the student of Scripture to determine the Divinely-inspired structure of the passage, its key features, and main points, so as to enhance the study and understanding of God’s Word.
Ronald Jay Frasco
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE (R), (C)
Copyright The Lockman Foundation
1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977
Used by permission.
I. Doctrinal: The Glory of Our Redemption 1:1-3:21
A. Greetings 1:1-2
B. The Song of Praise for Spiritual Blessings 1:3-14
1. Election – “No Strings Attached” :3-4
2. Predestination :5-6
3. Redemption unto Forgiveness :7-8
4. Revelation: “Truths and Treasures Untold” :9-10
5. Inheritance :11-12
6. Sealed: “Divine Down-Payment” :13-14
C. Prayer – “Maximum Power” 1:15-23
D. God’s Marvelous Work of Grace 2:1-10
1. “The Hideous Carcass of Sin” :1-3
2. Regeneration in Christ – “God’s Power toward Us” :4-10
E. The One People of God 2:11-22
1. The Godless History of the Gentiles :11-12
2. The Glorious Ingathering of All Saints :13-16
3. The Savior’s Preaching of Peace :17-18
4. Christ: The Foundation of God’s Household :19-22
F. The Apostolic Foundations of Ministry 3:1-20
1. Paul’s Revelation :1-3
2. Spiritual Standing of the Gentiles :4-12
3. Paul’s Prayer :13-19
a. More of the Spirit’s Power :16
b. More of Christ’s Love :17-19a
c. More of God’s Character :19b
4. Doxology :20-21
II. Practical: The Response for Our Redemption 4:1-6:24
A. The Results of Our Calling in Christ 4:1-24
1. Unity in Christ :1-6
2. Diversity of Gifts in Christ: “Victor’s Spoil” :7-13
a. Generally Stated :7
b. Prophetically Foretold :8-10
c. Purposefully Distributed :11-13
3. “Maturity in Christ” :14-16
a. Our Former Pattern of Waywardness :14
b. Our New Pattern in Christ :15-16
4. A New Walk :17-24
a. Repudiation of the Old Life :17-19
b. Putting on the New :20-24
B. Principles for Walking in Christ 4:25-6:9
1. Walking in Truth :25
2. Walking in Peace :26-27
3. Walking in Financial Integrity :28
4. Walking in Graciousness of Speech :29
5. Walking in the Spirit :30
6. Walking Unencumbered :31
7. Walking Graciously with Sinning Brothers :32
8. Walking as Christ Walked 5:1-2
9. Walking in Purity :3-5
10. Walking in Discernment :6
11. Walking in Light: “This Little Light of Mine” :7-14
a. Life in the Light :7-10
b. Shining the light :11-14
12. Walking in Wisdom :15-17
13. Walking in Sobriety :18-21
14. Walking with Others 5:22-6:9
a. Wives and Husbands :22-24
b. Husbands and Wives :25-33
c. Children 6:1-3
d. Fathers :4
e. Slaves :5-8
1). Obedience :5-6
2). Service :7-8
f. Masters :9
C. The Great Battle: “This Is War!” 6:10-20
1. Strength for the Christian Battle :10
2. Purposeful Protection :11-12
3. Strategic Protection :13
4. Strategy for Christian Battle :14-20
a. The Saint’s Posture :14-17
b. The Saint’s Prayer :18-20
1). Vigilant Prayer :18
2). Opportunistic Prayer :19-20
D. Closing Remarks 6:21-24
1. Personal remarks :21-22
2. Blessing :23-24
I. Doctrinal: The Glory of Our Redemption 1:1-3:21
A. Greetings 1:1-2
:1 Paul,
an apostle of Christ Jesus
by the will of God,
to the saints
who are at Ephesus,
and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
:2 Grace to you and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. The Song of Praise for Spiritual Blessings 1:3-14
1. Election – “No Strings Attached” :3-4
:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places in Christ,
:4 just as He chose us
in Him
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
2. Predestination :5-6
In love
:5 He predestined us
to adoption as sons
through Jesus Christ
to Himself,
according to the kind intention of His will,
:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace,
which He freely bestowed on us
in the Beloved.
3. Redemption unto Forgiveness :7-8
:7 In Him
we have redemption
through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace,
:8 which He lavished upon us.
4. Revelation: “Truths and Treasures Untold” :9-10
In all wisdom and insight
:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His kind intention
which He purposed in Him
:10 with a view to an administration
suitable to the fullness of the times,
that is, the summing up of all things
in Christ,
things in the heavens
and things upon the earth.
5. Inheritance :11-12
In Him
:11 also we have obtained an inheritance,
having been predestined
according to His purpose
who works all things after the counsel of His will,
:12 to the end that we
who were the first to hope in Christ
should be to the praise of His glory.
6. Sealed: “Divine Down-Payment” :13-14
:13 In Him,
you also,
after listening to the message of truth,
the gospel of your salvation —
having also believed,
you were sealed
in Him
with the Holy Spirit of promise,
:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance,
with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession,
to the praise of His glory.
C. Prayer – “Maximum Power 1:15-23
:15 For this reason [:3-14?]
I too,
having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus
which exists among you,
and your love for all the saints,
:16 do not cease giving thanks for you,
while making mention of you in my prayers;
:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory,
may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation
in the knowledge of Him.
:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,
so that you may know
what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe.
These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
:20 which He brought about
in Christ,
when He raised Him from the dead, Psalm 2
and seated Him at His right hand
in the heavenly places,
:21 far above
all rule
and authority
and power
and dominion,
and every name that is named,
not only in this age,
but also in the one to come.
:22 And He put all things in subjection
under His feet,
and gave Him as head
over all things
to the church,
:23 which is His body,
the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
D. God’s Marvelous Work of Grace 2:1-10
1. “The Hideous Carcass of Sin” :1-3
2:1 And you were dead
in your trespasses and sins,
:2 in which you formerly walked
according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air,
of the spirit that is now working
in the sons of disobedience.
:3 Among them
we too all formerly lived
in the lusts of our flesh,
indulging the desires
of the flesh
and of the mind,
and were
by nature
children of wrath,
even as the rest.
2. Regeneration in Christ – “God’s Power toward Us” :4-7
:4 But God,
being rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us,
:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together
with Christ
by grace you have been saved,
:6 and raised us up
with Him,
and seated us
with Him
in the heavenly places,
in Christ Jesus,
:7 in order that
in the ages to come
He might show the surpassing riches of His grace
in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
:8 ? For by grace you have been saved
through faith;
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God;
:9 not as a result of works,
that no one should boast.
:10 ? For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.
E. The One People of God 2:11-22
1. The Godless History of the Gentiles :11-12
:11 Therefore remember,
that
formerly
you, the Gentiles in the flesh,
who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called Circumcision,”
which is performed in the flesh by human hands —
:12 remember that you were
at that time
separate from Christ,
excluded from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope
and without God in the world.
2. The Glorious Ingathering of All Saints :13-16
:13 But now
in Christ Jesus
you
who formerly were far off
have been brought near
by the blood of Christ.
:14 For He Himself is our peace,
who made both groups into one,
and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
:15 by abolishing
in His flesh
the enmity,
which is the Law of commandments contained in
ordinances,
that
in Himself
He might make the two into one new man,
thus establishing peace,
:16 and might reconcile them both
in one body
to God
through the cross,
by it having put to death the enmity.
3. The Savior’s Preaching of Peace :17-18
:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away,
and peace to those who were near;
:18 for through Him we both have our access
in one Spirit
to the Father.
4. Christ: The Foundation of God’s Household :19-22
:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,
but you are fellow citizens with the saints,
and are of God’s household,
:20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
:21 in whom the whole building,
being fitted together
is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
:22 in whom you also are being built together
into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
F. The Apostolic Foundations of Ministry 3:1-21
1. Paul’s Revelation :1-3
3:1 For this reason
I, Paul,
the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles —
:2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
which was given to me for you;
:3 that
by revelation
there was made known to me the mystery,
as I wrote before in brief.
2. Spiritual Standing of the Gentiles :4-12
:4 And
by referring to this,
when you read
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
:5 which
in other generations
was not made known to the sons of men,
as it has now been revealed to His holy
apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs
and fellow members of the body,
and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus
through the gospel,
:7 of which I was made a minister,
according to the gift of God’s grace
which was given to me
according to the working of His power.
:8 To me,
the very least of all saints,
this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
:9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the
mystery
which for ages has been hidden in God,
who created all things;
:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be
made known
through the church
to the rulers
and the authorities
in the heavenly places.
:11 ? | This was in accordance with the eternal purpose
which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
:12 in whom we have boldness
and confident access through faith in Him.
3. Paul’s Prayer :13-19
:13 Therefore
I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf,
for they are your glory.
:14 For this reason,
I bow my knees before the Father,
:15 from whom every family
in heaven
and on earth
derives its name,
:16 that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory,
a. More of the Spirit’s Power
to be strengthened
with power
through His Spirit
in the inner man;
b. More of Christ’s Love
:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
? and that you,
being rooted and grounded in love,
:18 may be able to comprehend
with all the saints
what is
the breadth
and length
and height
and depth,
:19 and to know the love of Christ
which surpasses knowledge,
c. More of God’s Character
that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
4. Doxology :20-21
:20 Now
to Him
who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or
think,
according to the power that works within us,
:21 to Him be the glory
in the church
and in Christ Jesus
to all generations
forever and ever. Amen.
II. Practical: The Response for Our Redemption 4:1-6:24
A. Practical Results of Our Calling in Christ 4:1-24
1. Unity in Christ :1-6
4:1 I,
therefore,
the prisoner of the Lord,
entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling
with which you have been called,
:2 with all humility and gentleness,
with patience,
showing forbearance to one another in love,
:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
: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.
2. Diversity of Gifts in Christ :7-13
a. Generally Stated
:7 But
to each one of us
grace was given
according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
b. Prophetically Foretold
:8 Therefore it says,
“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”
:9 Now this expression, “He ascended,”
what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower
parts of the earth?
:10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended
far above all the heavens,
that He might fill all things.
c. Purposefully Distributed
:11 And He gave
some as apostles,
and some as prophets,
and some as evangelists,
and some as pastors and teachers,
:12 for the equipping of the saints
for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;
:13 until we all attain
to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
:14 As a result [that], we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves,
and carried about
by every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men,
by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
:15 but
speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up
in all aspects
into Him,
who is the head, even Christ,
:16 from whom the whole body,
being fitted and held together
by that which every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each individual part,
causes the growth of the body
for the building up of itself in love.
3. A New Walk :17-24
a. Repudiation of the Old Life
:17 This I say therefore,
and affirm together with the Lord,
that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk,
in the futility of their mind,
:18 being darkened in their understanding,
excluded from the life of God,
because of the ignorance that is in them,
because of the hardness of their heart;
:19 and they,
having become callous,
have given themselves over to sensuality,
for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
b. Putting on the New
:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
:21 if indeed you have heard Him
and have been taught in Him,
just as truth is in Jesus,
:22 that,
in reference to your former manner of life,
you lay aside the old self,
which is being corrupted
in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
:24 and put on the new self,
which
in the likeness of God
has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
B. Principles for Walking in Christ 4:25-6:9
1. Walking in Truth :25
:25 Therefore,
laying aside falsehood,
speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor,
for we are members of one another.
2. Walking in Peace :26-27
:26 Be angry,
and yet do not sin;
do not let the sun go down on your anger,
:27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
3. Walking in Financial Integrity :28
:28 Let him who steals steal no longer;
but rather let him labor,
performing with his own hands what is good,
in order that he may have something to share
with him who has need.
4. Walking in Graciousness of Speech :29
:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,
but only such a word as is good for edification
according to the need of the moment,
that it may give grace to those who hear.
5. Walking in the Spirit :30
:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
6. Walking Unencumbered :31
:31 Let all
bitterness
and wrath
and anger
and clamor
and slander
be put away from you,
along with all malice.
7. Walking Graciously with Sinning Brothers :32
:32 And be kind to one another,
tender-hearted,
forgiving each other,
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
8. Walking as Christ Walked 5:1-2
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God,
as beloved children;
:2 and walk in love,
just as Christ also loved you,
and gave Himself up for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
9. Walking in Purity :3-5
:3 But do not let
immorality
or any impurity
or greed even be named among you,
as is proper among saints;
:4 and there must be no
filthiness
and silly talk,
or coarse jesting,
which are not fitting,
but rather giving of thanks.
:5 For this you know with certainty,
that no
immoral
or impure person
or covetous man,
who is an idolater,
has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
10. Walking in Discernment :6
:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words,
for
because of these things
the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
11. Walking in Light :7-14
a. Life in the Light
:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
:8 for you were formerly darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord;
walk as children of light
:9 for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness
and righteousness
and truth,
:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
b. Shining the light
:11 And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness,
but instead even expose them;
:12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things
which are done by them in secret.
:13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
:14 For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
12. Walking in wisdom :15-17
:15 Therefore
be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men,
but as wise,
:16 making the most of your time,
because the days are evil.
:17 So then do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
13. Walking in the Spirit :18-21
: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;
:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
14. Walking with Others 5:22-6:9
a. Wives and Husbands :22-24
:22 Wives,
be subject to your own husbands,
as to the Lord.
:23 For the husband is the head of the wife,
as Christ also is the head of the church,
He Himself being the Savior of the body.
:24 But
as the church is subject to Christ,
so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
b. Husbands and Wives :25-33
:25 Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;
:26 that He might sanctify her,
having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
:27 ? | that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory,
having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;
but that she should be holy and blameless.
:28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his own wife loves himself;
:29 for no one ever hated his own flesh,
but nourishes and cherishes it,
just as Christ also does the church,
:30 because we are members of His body.
:31 ? For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife;
and the two shall become one flesh.
:32 This mystery is great;
but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
:33 Nevertheless
let each individual among you also love his own wife
even as himself;
and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband.
c. Children 6:1-3
6:1 Children,
obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right.
:2 Honor your father and mother
which is the first commandment with a promise,
:3 that it may be well with you,
and that you may live long on the earth.
d. Fathers :4
:4 And, fathers,
do not provoke your children to anger;
but bring them up
in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
e. Slaves :5-8
1). Obedience
:5 Slaves,
be obedient to those who are your masters
according to the flesh,
with fear and trembling,
in the sincerity of your heart,
as to Christ;
:6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers,
but as slaves of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart.
2). Service
:7 With good will
render service,
as to the Lord,
and not to men,
:8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does,
this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether slave or free.
f. Masters :9
:9 And, masters,
do the same things to them,
and give up threatening,
knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven,
and there is no partiality with Him.
C. The Great Battle: “This Is War!” 6:10-20
1. Inner Protection the Christian Battle :10
:10 Finally,
be strong
in the Lord,
and in the strength of His might.
2. Purposeful Protection :11-12
:11 Put on the full armor of God,
that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but
against the rulers,
against the powers,
against the world forces of this darkness,
against the spiritual forces of wickedness
in the heavenly places.
3. Strategic Protection :13
:13 Therefore,
take up the full armor of God,
that you may be able to resist in the evil day,
and
having done everything,
to stand firm.
4. Strategy for Christian Battle :14-20
a. The Saint’s Posture :14-17
:14 Stand firm therefore,
having girded your loins with truth,
and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of
peace;
:16 in addition to all,
taking up the shield of faith
with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.
:17 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
b. The Saint’s Prayer :18-20
1). Vigilant Prayer
:18 With all prayer
and petition
pray
at all times
in the Spirit,
and
with this in view,
be on the alert
with all perseverance
and petition for all the saints,
2). Opportunistic Prayer
:19 and pray on my behalf,
that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains;
that in proclaiming it [gospel] I may speak boldly,
as I ought to speak.
D. Closing Remarks 6:21-24
1. Personal remarks :21-22
:21 But that you also may know about my circumstances,
how I am doing,
Tychicus,
the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord,
will make everything known to you.
:22 And I have sent him to you for this very purpose,
so that you may know about us,
and that he may comfort your hearts.
2. Blessing :23-24
:23 Peace be to the brethren,
and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ
with a love incorruptible.
- The word document: Ephesians
