Ephesus Ephesians 1:1

Paul the apostle journeyed throughout the Gentile world as he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. His normal approach within a city was to find the Jewish synagogues first and witness to the Jews. If they rejected the gospel, he turned to the Gentiles. After leaving the city of Corinth where he faced great controversy and trial, he visited the Asian metropolis of Ephesus. He began a church there, and as we begin the letter to the Ephesian Christians, Paul gives his normal introduction that begins with his name. We read:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

The verse begins, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,...” Paul began with his Roman name, which means “small or little” and he was “the most famous of the apostles who wrote a good part of the New Testament and fourteen Pauline epistles” “an apostle” or “delegate, messenger and one sent for with orders” “of Jesus” which means “Jehovah is Salvation” and was “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” which means “anointed” and refers to “the Messiah and the Son of God” “by the will” or “desire, pleasure and what one wishes, commands and precepts” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead, trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul was “sent out” by “Jesus Christ” by God's will.

The verse goes on to say, “...to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” Paul continued with the phrase, “to the saints” or “holy, pure, morally blameless or religious and ceremonially consecrated” “which are at Ephesus” which means “permitted” and was “a maritime city of Asia Minor, capital of Ionia and under the Romans, of proconsular Asia, situated on the Icarian Sea between Smyrna and Miletus”, “and to the faithful” which means “” “in Christ” or “which means “anointed” and refers to “the Messiah and the Son of God” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and and refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. This letter extended not only to the “Ephesians” but also to all who are “faithful” in their relationship to “Christ Jesus”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we notice straightaway Paul's introduction of himself, his calling as “an apostle of Jesus Christ” and by whose purpose he was called - “by the will of God”. The Lord has a “calling” upon everyone's life who will yield themselves to Him and His will. The “highest calling” we have is the “calling” God has given us. Though some are “called” to be “ministers” or “missionaries” by “the will of God”, others may be “called” “the will of God” to their vocations as well. Paul was sent to the people of Ephesus, and this letter is to the Christians he called “faithful” who resided there. Are we “faithful” to our Lord Jesus Christ? Are we “faithful” to His call? Perhaps as we see Paul's approach to the Ephesians through this letter, we will note first the Lord's “faithfulness” to us and secondly how our “faithfulness” to Him is a proper response.

Next time Paul greets the church at Ephesus with “grace and peace”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.