Ephesus Was Great, Ephesians Is Theological, The Unity of Christ’s body the church, Dispensation, Administration, The Times Plural, What Is A Dispensation, Chosen, Predestined, Why Pray Without Ceasing, Our Inheritance

1. Ephesians:
The Origin, Nature, and
Purpose of the Church
One Body! Christ’s
One Head Of The Church

2. Pastor Dave Kooyers
Valley Bible Fellowship
Box 433
Boonville CA 95415
www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org
(707) 895-2325
God bless you as you examine His Word,
Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5,
Dave

3. EPHESUS 2004

4. Welcome To Ephesus

6. Ephesus Harbor Silted

7. Ephesus View From Harbor

10. Clay sewer pipes

11. Christian Symbols

12. That distant flat valley would have
been where Paul sailed, all silted in.

13. Library of Celsus

14. Earthquake Coverage

15. Christian Symbols

17. Ephesus, Theater

18. Ephesus, Theater & street ruins

19. Ephesus Was Great
• Ephesus was capital of the Roman province of
Asia, and one of the greatest cities of the
ancient world. It proclaimed its title, “The first
and the greatest metropolis of Asia” or
"Lumen Asiae" meaning the light of Asia. 2nd.
largest city of the 1st. Century. 250,000500,000 population. 2nd. largest library,
amphitheater seats 25,000, beautiful harbor,
great water canal system.

20. The magnificent Library of Celsus

21. What About The Book Of Ephesians?

22. The Christmas Story Starts Before The
Foundation Of The World
creationmoments.Com
• Ephesians 1:3-4 "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly [places] in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in
him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love."
• The story of Christmas begins with the beginning of the work
of the Son of God. And His first work is recorded in Genesis
chapter 1. The story of His love for us that led Him to give up
the glory, beauty and perfection of heaven to come to our
dirty, dusty, pain-filled world begins not in Bethlehem, or in
the Old Testament prophets. We must go to the beginning of
His story lest His birth become simply the beginning of
another story of a tragic and misunderstood life…

23. The Christmas Story Starts Before The
Foundation Of The World
creationmoments.Com
• The cross of Golgotha stands firmly planted in Genesis chapter 1.
Even before the creation, Christ's pain and suffering on that
coarse structure was anticipated. Ephesians 1:4 reveals that even
before the foundation of the world God's plan of salvation was
already in place.
• Even the coarse Roman soldiers knew that His robe could not be
cut into pieces without destroying it. Likewise, the Bible is one
complete piece – woven of one thread. Cutting out anything
leaves the whole thing to unravel. To remove the beginning of
the story of the Word and His work in Genesis is to remove the
foundation on which His work of salvation stands.
• Yes, the Christmas story is far more than the story of the birth of
an important baby. It is the center of the story of creation itself!

24. Ephesians:
The Origin, Nature, and
Purpose of the Church
One Body! Christ’s
One Head Of The Church

25. Ephesians Is Theological
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
It’s about the church, the body of Christ
It’s an Owner’s Manual for the body of Christ
Extremely important at this time!
No local problems
No personal greetings or conclusions
Encyclical
Eph 1:1 “in Ephesus”, not in some good Mss

26. The Divisions The Book Of Ephesians
• DLK divides it;
• Chapters 1-3 = Our Position
• Chapters 3-6 = Our Practice

27. Dividing The Book Of Ephesians
• Our Position
• Chapters 1-3 tell us about our position and
identity in the church, the body of Christ. Who
we are, where we’re seated, and who we’re in?
• Our Practice
• Chapters 4-6 tell us how our position in the body
of Christ should direct our walk

28. The Divisions The Book Of Ephesians
• Eric divided it; Sit, Walk, Stand
• Chuck Smith: “The book falls into three natural
divisions. Ruth Paxon sees it as the wealth of the
believer. Chapters 1-3. The walk of the believer
chapter 4:1 to 6:9. And the warfare of the
believer. 6:10 to end. Watchman Nee and many
others saw it as the position of the believer,
seated together in Christ Chapter 1-3; our walk
4:1-6:9 and our stand 6:10 to end.”

29. The Ephesian Church Starts
• Ac 18:18-21 Paul…arrived at Ephesus, where
Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went
into the synagogue and reasoned with the
Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more
time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left,
he promised, "I will come back if it is God's
will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.

30. The Ephesian Church Grows
• Ac 18:24-26 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a
native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a
learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the
Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way
of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and
taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew
only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak
boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and
Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home
and explained to him the way of God more
adequately.

31. Who Are These
Ephesians
• Acts 19:1-41
• Diana in Roman religion
was the goddess of wild
animals and the hunt. She
is almost indistinguishable
from the Greek goddess
Artemis. An important
center for her worship
was located at Ephesus.
The Temple of Artemis
(Diana) in Ephesus was
one of the Seven Wonders
of the World.

32. Ac 20:17, Paul Departs Ephesus
• Ac 20:17-18 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the
elders of the church.
• Ac 20:27-28 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the
whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all
the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
Be shepherds of the church of God…
• Ac 20:31…Remember that for three years I never stopped
warning each of you night and day with tears.
• Ac 20:32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his
grace…
• Ac 20:37-38 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed
him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that
they would never see his face again. Then they
accompanied him to the ship.

33. The Temple of Apollo

34. Who Ministered To These Ephesians
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paul
Priscilla and Aquila
Apollos
some disciples
Alexander
Timothy
Mary
John

35. Paul’s Prison Epistles
• God didn’t write the Bible as a dry theological
treatise, but as a vibrant history of His dealing
with and interacting with His people. It’s
personal, relational, instructional, and more
engaging than any best selling novel.
• This forces us to interact with the text and God
more. Not just a set of rules for us, and facts
about God. So we must read the story, then
determine, from the example, what God would
have of us, and who He is, and what’s in store.
• Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians

36. Ephesians Main Theme
• The Unity of Christ’s body the church
• Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit—
just as you were called to one hope when you
were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all.

37. Key Verses in Ephesians
• Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you
followed the ways of this world and of the
ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who
is now at work in those who are disobedient.
• Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit…
• Eph 4:12 to prepare God's people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up

38. Let’s Read Eph. 1:1-14
• Eph. 1:3-14 is
one sentence
in the Greek,
longest
sentence in
Bible, 1 main
verb in vs. 3=
blessed,

39. Eph 1:4
Ephesians 1:4
just as He
chose us in Him
before the
foundation of
the world, that
we would be
holy and
blameless
before Him. In
love

40. Eph 1:10, When “Under Christ”?
• Eph 1:10 to be put into effect when the times
will have reached their fulfillment — to bring
all things in heaven and on earth together
under one head, even Christ.

41. Eph 1:10, When “Under Christ”?
• Eph 1:10 to be put into effect when the times
will have reached their fulfillment — to bring
all things in heaven and on earth together
under one head, even Christ.

42. Eph 1:10, Dispensation, Administration
• Eph 1:10 to be put into effect… NIV
• KJV, NKJ Ephesians 1:10…that in the
dispensation of the fullness of the times…
• CSB Ephesians 1:10…for the administration of
the days of fulfillment… (NET, NAS , NAU)
• ESV Eph. 1:10…as a plan for the fullness of time
• So many translations;

43. So Many Translations
• A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her
grandmother, was becoming quite
knowledgeable about the Bible. Then, one
day, she floored her grandmother by asking,
• "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus ? The
virgin Mary or the King James Virgin ?"

44. Eph 1:10, Dispensation, Administration
• KJV, NKJ Eph…the dispensation…of the times
• 3622 οἰκονομία oikonomia {oy-kon-om-ee'-ah}
• Meaning: 1) the management of a household or of
household affairs 1a) specifically, the management,
oversight, administration, of other's property 1b) the office
of a manager or overseer, stewardship 1c) administration,
dispensation
• Origin: from 3623; TDNT - 5:151,674; n f….
• [GING] οἰκονομία, ἡ management of a household,
administration, office Lk 16:2–4; Col 1:25; commission 1 Cor
9:17; stewardship Eph 3:2. Plan of salvation 1:10; 3:9.
Training in the way of salvation 1 Ti 1:4, * [economy]

45. Eph 1:10, The Times, Plural
•
KJV, NKJ
Eph…the dispensation…of the times
• καιρῶν, noun genitive masculine plural
common from καιρός
• [GING] καιρός
καιρός, οῦ, ὁ time, i.e. point of time as well as
period of time

46. Both are plural
•
•
•
•
present, past, future=5 At Least,
Eph 2:7
the coming ages
NIV
• Eph 3:9
• which for ages past
• NIV

47. Ephesians, The Times, 5 At Least
•
KJV, NKJ
Eph…the dispensation…of the times
• Eph 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power
and dominion, and every title that can be given,
not only in the present age but also in the one to
come. [DLK, present age=times of the Gentiles]
• Mt 11:11…not risen anyone greater than John the
Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he.
• Eph 3:9…the administration of this mystery,
which for ages past was kept hidden in God…
• 5 at least

48. What Is A Dispensation? Bible.org
• “A “dispensation” is an administration, a system
of management. Every four years, our nation
elects a new president. When the president takes
office, he creates a new administration. Usually,
this involves a new emphasis or philosophy (at
least in terms of his campaign promises), new
legislation proposed to carry out his plans, and
new appointed officials (such as the cabinet).
Certain things do change from one administration
to the next. Other things seem to remain
changeless from administration to
administration.”

49. What Is A Dispensation? Bible.org
• “Certain elements are common
• (1) Divine revelation (2) The making of a
covenant (3) The declaration of rules and
regulations which are pertinent to the new
dispensation (4) A clarification of the relationship
between men and God. (5) A new dispensation
signals the need for change, but it also reveals
continuity.”
• DLK adds; Starts with breaking God’s Law,
resulting in judgment of God

50. Jesus Taught Dispensations
• Lk 16:16-17 "The Law and the Prophets were
proclaimed until John. Since that time, the
good news of the kingdom of God is being
preached, and everyone is forcing his way into
it.
• Mat 11:11

51. How Many Dispensations?
• graceambassadors.com

52. How Many Dispensations?
• www.matthewmcgee.org

53. How Many Dispensations?

54. Eph 1:11, Chosen, Predestined
• Eph 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having
been predestined according to the plan of him
who works out everything in conformity with
the purpose of his will,
• God doesn’t make “bad choices”
• Chosen by God is the greatest security
possible

55. Eph 1:11, Chosen, Predestined
• Eph 1:11…predestined according to the plan…
• 4309 προορίζω proorizo {pro-or-id'-zo}
• Meaning: 1) to predetermine, decide
beforehand 2) in the NT of God decreeing
from eternity 3) to foreordain, appoint
beforehand
• Pro= before
• Horidzo= marking out

56. Eph 1:13-14, Holy Spirit Is A Deposit
• Eph 1:13-14…Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit
guaranteeing our inheritance…
• NET Notes (Eph 1:14)
• 36 tn Or "first installment," "pledge," "deposit."
• sn Down payment. The Greek word ἀρραβών
(arraboÒn) denotes the first payment or first
installment of money or goods which serves as a
guarantee or pledge for the completion of the
transaction…

57. Let’s Read Eph. 1:15-23

58. Eph. 1:15, Your Love = Your Faith
• Eph 1:15…your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for
all the saints
• Remember that they are commended for their “love”
• your faith = your love
• your love = your faith
• Jas 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead.
• 1 Co 13:2…if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing…
• Gal 5:6…The only thing that counts is faith expressing
itself through love…

59. Eph 1:16, Not Stopped Giving Thanks
• Eph 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for
you, remembering you in my prayers.
• 1 Th 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17 pray without
ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. NKJV

60. Why Pray Without Ceasing?
• Eph 1:17…so that you may know him better…
• Eph 1:18…your heart may be enlightened in
order that you may know the hope to which
he has called you…
• Good reasons to be obedient!

61. Eph 1:18, His Glorious Inheritance
• Eph 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart
may be enlightened in order that you may know
the hope to which he has called you, the riches of
his glorious inheritance in the saints,
• Eph 5:25-27…Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing
her by the washing with water through the word….
• Mt 13:45-46 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he
found one of great value, he went away and sold
everything he had and bought it.

62. Eph 1:18, Our Inheritance
• Don’t confuse “our inheritance” with His
• Eph 1:13-14…the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who
is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…
• 1 Pe 1:4 and into an inheritance that can never
perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you,

63. Eph 1:22-23, One Body
• This little book of Ephesians uses the word
“body” 11X’s in the NIV
• Eph 1:22-23 And God placed all things under
his feet and appointed him to be head over
everything for the church, 23 which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills everything
in every way.

64. In Only One Generation
• Ephesians was written from Rome during
Paul's imprisonment, approximately 60 A.D.
Only about 35 years later Jesus dictated a
letter to the Ephesian church. By the time
John wrote Revelation 2:4, Jesus said the
church had “forsaken your first love”, and
needed to return. They were just being
religious. They had kept out the “savage
wolves” of Ac 20:29 but forsaken Jesus. 1/6th
of Paul’s uses of “love” are to the Ephesians.

65. THE END

66. • NET Notes (Eph 1:3)…Eph 1:3–14 comprises one long
sentence in Greek, with three major sections. Each
section ends with a note of praise for God (vv. 6, 12,
14), focusing on a different member of the Trinity. After
an opening summary of all the saints' spiritual
blessings (v. 3), the first section (vv. 4–6) offers up
praise that the Father has chosen us in eternity past;
the second section (vv. 7–12) offers up praise that the
Son has redeemed us in the historical past (i.e., at the
cross); the third section (vv. 13–14) offers up praise
that the Holy Spirit has sealed us in our personal past,
at the point of conversion.