The Epistle to the Ephesians

1. The Epistle to the Ephesians Peace and Grace to the Body: Ephesians 6:21-24 • Ephesians 6:21 – “But that you also may know my affairs [and] how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;” • Who’s Tychicus? • Acts 20:4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia - also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. • Colossians 4:7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. • Titus 3:12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. • 2 Timothy 4:12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. • A beloved brother and faithful minister (servant) in the Lord • he must be, look how many times he’s been mentioned. 1 September 20, 2009 Bob Eckel

2. The Epistle to the Ephesians Peace and Grace to the Body: Ephesians 6:21-24 • Paul also had similar words to say about Timothy (I Cor 4:17), Epaphras (Col 1:7), Silvanus (I Peter 5:12), Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25), and Onesimus (Col 4:9) • you may know my affairs • Which Greek word and tense is know here? • perfect active subjunctive • A familiar and very friendly statement of his condition, together with a solemn prayer • A manner in which Paul is accustomed to ending his epistles. • Define minister – diakonos • Reflects sound doctrine and indicates a Spirit-led and active work ethic – II Cor 6:4-10 • Paul wants to let the Ephesians know how he’s doing • Phil 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, • And Tychicus already knows • In fact some believe that it was Tychicus that brought the epistle to Ephesus 2 September 20, 2009 Bob Eckel

3. The Epistle to the Ephesians Peace and Grace to the Body: Ephesians 6:21-24 • And the Lord will make all things known – future active indicative • Ephesians 6:22 – “whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and [that] he may comfort your hearts.” • Sent to the Ephesians • know our affairs – ginōskō the things concerning us • Why a different Greek verb here for know? • namely, concerning myself. "Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, and Marcus, cousin of Barnabas“ • Col 4:10 ‘Aristarchus my fellow prisoner salutes you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)’ • Aristarchus was a Macedonian, likely of Jewish heritage, who traveled with Paul on his 3rd missionary journey. He ultimately sailed with Paul to Rome where they shared imprisonment. 3 September 20, 2009 Bob Eckel

4. The Epistle to the Ephesians Peace and Grace to the Body: Ephesians 6:21-24 • Marcus, who again became admired and accepted of Paul, was in Ephesus at this time. • Why do you think this was so important to Paul? • and comfort (encourage) your hearts • a calling to one’s side - parakaleō • Phil 1:7 ‘For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother’ • Can you think of a time when someone ministered to you in this way? • Doesn’t this help remind us of the positional truths of Eph 1? • Ephesians 6:23,24 “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” • As was his custom Paul closes with a benediction. • See Rom 16:24, II Cor 13:14, Gal 6:18, Phil 4:20-23 • Why were these all similar? • Did Paul have any ‘special’ brethren relationships? 4 September 20, 2009 Bob Eckel

5. The Epistle to the Ephesians Peace and Grace to the Body: Ephesians 6:21-24 • John 14:27 ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ • love with faith? • Notice, from God • I John 4:7-12 ‘Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. • And true of the Ephesian church • Ephesians 1:15 ‘Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,’ • And what is grace? 5 September 20, 2009 Bob Eckel

6. The Epistle to the Ephesians Peace and Grace to the Body: Ephesians 6:21-24 • And why is grace so very distasteful to an unbelieving world, and also unappreciated by so many believers? • with all them that love – present active participle • in sincerity. • Better interpreted incorruptible • Unending existence • 1 Peter 3:4 ‘rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.’ • Titus 2:7 ‘in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, • Also indicates purity • Wow, we’ve been at this now for 9 months - • How were you impacted by the book of Ephesians? 6 September 20, 2009 Bob Eckel