Kress Biblical Resources :: Overview Outline

Overview Outline of Ephesians

Our Riches in Christ Unify the Church, and Manifest His Glory in the Heavenly Realm

1. Introduction (Eph 1:1-2)
   1. The author (Eph 1:1a)
      1. The human author
      2. The Divine Author (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 3:15-16)
   2. The audience (Eph 1:1b)
      1. The original recipients
      2. The current recipients (2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 3:15-16)
   3. The address/prayer—grace and peace (Eph 1:2)
      1. The salutation of grace to you and peace
      2. The Source of grace and peace
   4. The aim
      1. To prepare the church with the truth (cf. Act 20:29-30)
      2. To promote love (Eph. 1:4, Eph 1:6; Eph 6:23-24; cf. Rev 2:1-7)
      3. To promote faith-strengthened, holy living in the Church (Eph 4:1; Eph 6:10)
      4. To promote the cosmic glory of God through a unified Church comprised of redeemed Jewish and Gentile believers (Eph 1:3, Eph 1:9-10; Eph 1:20-21; Eph 2:6; Eph 2:14-22; Eph 3:6; Eph 3:10; Eph 6:12)
2. Worshiping in light of our riches as the Church (Eph 1; Eph 2; Eph 3;)
   1. Rejoice in the Triune God for what He has done for you (Eph 1:3-14)
      1. Praise the Father Who planned your redemption (Eph 1:3-6)
      2. Praise the Son Who purchased your redemption (Eph 1:7-12)
      3. Praise the Spirit Who personally guarantees your redemption (Eph 1:13-14)
   2. Recognize the surpassing greatness of God’s power toward you (Eph 1:15-23)
      1. God’s power can be made known through the intercessory prayers of other believers (Eph 1:15-16, Eph 1:18-19)
      2. God’s power is connected to knowing the Person of God (Eph 1:17)
      3. God’s power is connected to knowing the promises of God (Eph 1:18-19)
      4. God’s power is connected to understanding the preeminence of Christ (Eph 1:20-23)
   3. Remember who you were before Christ and who you are now in Christ (Eph 2:1-22)
      1. You were dead spiritually—but now you are alive in Christ (Eph 2:1-10)
      2. You were hopeless, without God—but now you are part of the Holy Temple of God (Eph 2:11-22)
   4. Recognize the unique purpose of the Church, Christ’s love, and God’s power toward you (Eph 3:1-21) [see Eph 3:10]
      1. The purpose of the Church and the Church itself had been a mystery prior to the Apostolic age and Paul’s ministry (Eph 3:1-13)
      2. The prayer of the Apostle is that the Church comprehend and experience the love of Christ and the power of God—to the glory of God (Eph 3:14-21)
3. Walking in light of our responsibilities as the Church (Eph 4; Eph 5; Eph 6)
   1. Walk worthy of your calling in Christ (Eph 4:1-16)
      1. We reveal God’s wisdom, power, and love by walking in love and unity (Eph 4:1-6)
      2. We reveal God’s wisdom, power and love by doing the work of the ministry (Eph 4:7-16)
   2. Walk with renewed thinking in Christ (Eph 4:17-32)
      1. The Sovereign directive concerning our thinking in Christ (Eph 4:17a)
      2. The summary and sequence of the world’s thinking (Eph 4:17b-19)
      3. The sanctified mindset of those who are in Christ (Eph 4:20-24)
      4. The sacred responsibilities that exemplify renewed thinking in Christ (Eph 4:25-32)
   3. Walk in love as God in Christ has loved you (Eph 5:1-6)
      1. The precept: Be imitators of God and walk in love (Eph 5:1-2)
      2. The practice of love fleshed out (Eph 5:3-6)
   4. Walk in truth and holiness as children of the light (Eph 5:7-14)
      1. Don’t partner with those characterized by disobedience to God (Eph 5:7-10)
      2. Don’t participate in the deeds of those characterized by disobedience to God (Eph 5:11-14)
   5. Walk in wisdom (Eph 5:15-33; Eph 6:1-9)
      1. Being careful and diligent about living for Christ (Eph 5:15-16)
      2. Being cognizant of the will of the Lord (Eph 5:17)
      3. Being controlled by the Spirit (Eph 5:18-33; Eph 6:1-9)
   6. Walk as warriors for Christ, with the full armor of God (Eph 6:10-20)
      1. The Christian warrior¹ (Eph 6:10-11)
      2. The Christian’s warfare (Eph 6:12)
      3. The Christian’s weapons (Eph 6:13-20)
4. Conclusion (Eph 6:21-24)
   1. A faithful messenger commended (Eph 6:21-22)
   2. A final prayer offered (Eph 6:23-24)

¹The Christian warrior; The Christian’s warfare; and The Christian’s weapons are taken from W. Graham Scroggie, Scroggie’s Bible Handbook, Revel, p. 429.