Day by Day in Ephesians

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am deeply grateful to Jon Atkinson, my identical twin, who continually encouraged me as I planned and wrote this daily devotional. His assistance and support with editing and related tasks were invaluable as I struggled at times through the numerous steps of the editing process.

In addition, I am thankful to Larry Ganshorn who edited parts of the manuscript and to Julie Ieron, of Believers Book Services, who conducted the first full edit of my manuscript. Further, I wish to thank Andrew Mackay, of Believers Book Services, for helping me generate typesetting notes, helping me select typefaces and leading, and for designing my cover.

I have greatly appreciated all the positive, professional and encouraging assistance provided to me by staff members of EA Books Publishing. Specifically, I wish to thank Jessie Collins for her professional formatting of my devotional, and Bob Ousnamer for his encouragement and professional work designing my web page.

In addition, I express my gratitude to Andrew Cullen who patiently, creatively, and artistically worked with me in the development of the Day by Day in the Word ministry logo and later revised both the front and back covers.

I am deeply indebted to my wife, Diane, who listened to me as I initially expressed my sense of being led to write the devotional. Subsequently, she has listened to me and expressed her concern and support as I wrote, edited, and rewrote the devotional. Also, her prayers for me and this literary endeavor have been much appreciated.

PREFACE

Welcome to Day by Day in Ephesians. This daily devotional is a product of Day by Day in the Word, a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian ministry. You are to be commended for selecting a daily devotional that deals exclusively with just one book of the New Testament.

Providing all the daily devotionals from the same biblical book has merit for Christians for at least three reasons. First, context (literary, historical, political) is a vital element in correctly interpreting and applying Scripture in the twenty-first century that was written in the first century AD. Consequently, I have included two introductions—one to the NT and one to the epistle of Ephesians. In addition, because all the devotionals are based on verses in Ephesians, they revolve around verses having the same context. Second, each book of the Bible has a geographical context as well as a cultural context. Therefore, you will find a map of Asia Minor on page 15. Third, continuity or organization of a devotional is important. This devotional follows, verse-by-verse, the content of Ephesians—which is God’s flow of thought.

As you read and reflect on the devotionals, you will be exposed to theological themes such as:

• the nature of salvation

• unity of all believers

• how the gospel relates to the mystery of God

• the universal church or the body of Christ

It is the author’s desire that you will draw closer to God as you better understand the spiritual blessings God included in your salvation. Some of God’s spiritual blessings include:

• being chosen in Christ before foundation of the world —1:4

• though dead, you were made alive with Christ —2:5

• you were predestined to adoption —1:5

• you received redemption through Christ’s blood—1:7

• you were sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit —1:13

• you are Christ’s workmanship created for good works —2:10

• you were chosen to be holy —1:4

Further, I trust this devotional will:

• help you see God and His only begotten Son, Jesus, more clearly so you will be transformed by His Word and the Holy Spirit;

• equip you to discover truths concerning what the Godhead planned for your salvation;

• encourage you to assimilate these truths into your heart and apply them in practical ways in your daily life.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) as you read, reflect on, and apply the truths God presents in His epistle to the Ephesians.

—Don E. Atkinson

SCRIPTURE ABBREVIATIONS

Genesis—Gen

Exodus—Ex.

Leviticus—Lev.

Psalms—Ps.

Proverbs—Prov.

Isaiah—Is.

Jeremiah—Jer.

Matthew—Matt.

Romans—Rom.

1 Corinthians—1 Cor.

2 Corinthians—2 Cor.

Galatians—Gal.

Colossians—Col.

Ephesians—Eph.

Philippians—Phil.

1 Thessalonians—1 Thess.

1 Timothy—1 Tim.

2 Timothy—2 Tim.

Hebrews—Heb.

Revelation—Rev.

THE ROMAN PROVINCE OF ASIA

Included are the two small provinces of Bithynia and Pontus and Lycia.

HOW TO USE THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

At the top of each devotional is a title. Below the title is the Scripture for the day taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB). After the Scripture quotation, I have prepared a brief, biblically based discussion of that Scripture. Each day closes with a Thought for the Day.

It is my desire that you receive the maximum spiritual encouragement and blessing from each one of these devotionals. Therefore, I encourage you to set aside time at least five days a week for your devotional time. To begin each quiet time, I recommend you start with prayer, asking God to reveal truth or truths to you, as He wills. I suggest you start by reading the Scripture for the day slowly and reflecting on it. After slowly reading the Scripture discussion, prayerfully reflect on the biblical truths presented. Please allow God to give you additional thoughts from the discussion of Scripture, as He wills.

As you read the Thought for the Day, consider and honestly analyze your relationship with Jesus as well as your spiritual maturity. Ask God to help you apply any new insights to your life. Then end your quiet time with additional prayer and thanksgiving to God for His many blessings.

These are merely some general recommendations. You are encouraged to alter them as necessary to maximize the spiritual benefits and encouragement you receive from your quiet times.

INTRODUCTION TO THE

NEW TESTAMENT AND EPHESIANS

NEW TESTAMENT

In the OT, God promised Israel that someday He would make a new covenant (testament) with His people (Jer. 31:31–34). Jesus came to earth and established that new testament through His life, death, and resurrection. As a result, the sacred writings that relate to Him and His church, make up the NT.

The New Testament consists of twenty-seven books and divides into four sections:

• The Gospels

• The Acts of the Apostles

• The Epistles (letters)

• Revelation

EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS

Author

This epistle was written by Paul the apostle (1:1; 3:1). This had been the accepted view throughout church history until the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In more recent years, scholars have debated its authorship. Today half of the Bible scholars deny Pauline authorship.

When Written

Paul wrote Ephesians in approximately AD 60–62 near the end of his life, while in prison in Rome.

Purpose

It is not easy to find any problem or occasion that called for this epistle. It probably was written for instructing and edifying Christians over a wide geographical area (western Asia Minor). This assumption is supported by the fact that Paul dealt with the broad subject of God’s majestic saving purposes in the first half of his epistle. In the second half, he gave exhortations regarding a variety of subjects. He intended to inform, strengthen, and encourage Gentile Christian readers by assuring them of their place within the saving purpose of God. Then he urged them to bring their lives into conformity with this divine plan. Paul did this to ground and challenge his readers in their faith.

Audience

Ephesians was probably intended as a circular letter to be passed from church to church in western Asia Minor. Paul wrote this letter to mainly Gentile Christians for whom he had apostolic responsibilities.

Historical Setting

Of all the Pauline epistles, Ephesians is the most general and the least situational. It does not have the urgency of Paul’s other letters. The apostle assumed his readers knew him (1:1; 3:1; 6:21, 22) as well as his sufferings and imprisonment (3:13; 4:1).

Ancient Ephesus was four miles inland from the Aegean Sea on the west coast of modern-day Turkey. It was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, a commercial and political center for the area. Also, it is one of the seven churches Jesus addressed in Revelation 1–2.

Many pagan religions were practiced in Ephesus. The temple of Artemis (Diana), the largest building known in antiquity, was located there. This temple was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Outline

I. The calling of the church —1:1–3:21

A. Praise for God’s spiritual blessings —1:3–14

B. Paul’s first prayer for his readers —1:15–23

C. New position individually—2:1–10

D. New position corporately—2:11–22

E. Expansion of the mystery—3:1–13

F. Paul’s second prayer for his readers—3:14–20

II. The conduct of the church —4:1–6:24

A. Walk in unity—4:1–16

B. Walk in holiness—4:17–32

C. Walk in love —5:1–6

D. Walk in light —5:7–14

E. Walk in wisdom—5:15–6:9

F. Stand in warfare—6:10–20

Key Theological Themes

1. The nature of salvation: In His eternal purpose, God planned, executed, sustained, and directed the salvation of mankind—chapter 1

2. Jew and Gentile are now one in Christ—unity of believers—chapter 2; 4:4

3. The gospel and how it relates to the mystery of God—1:9; chapter 3; 5:32

4. Teachings about Christian living—chapters 4–6

5. Doctrine of the universal church and the church as Christ’s body—1:22–23; and the body—4:4

Types of Writing within Ephesians

1. Eulogy —1:3–14

2. Prayers of Thanksgiving —1:15–23; 3:14–19

3. Didactic (instructional) materials —2:1–22; 3:1–13; 4:3–16

4. Doxology—3:20–21

5. Reprimand —4:17–19

6. Encouragement—1:15; 5:1–2

7. Commands —4:1–3, 17–32; 5:1–11, 15–33; 6:1–19

GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM GOD