THE

EPISTLE OF PAUL

to the

EPHESIANS

by

KARL BRAUNE, D. D.

general superintendent at altenburg, saxony

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN, WITH ADDITIONS,

by

M. B. RIDDLE, D. D.

The

Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians

___________

Introduction

§ 1. contents of the epistle

1. SYNOPSIS*

ADDRESS AND SALUTATION (1:1, 2)

PART FIRST:

The Glory of the Church of Christ (1:3–3:21)

A. the ground and goal of the church (1:3–23)

a. Grateful praise of the decree of grace (1:3–14). After the opening verse (ver. 3) the triple foundation of the praise, through the election of eternal mercy (vers. 4–6), the carrying out of the eternal election (vers. 7–12), the personal appropriation of salvation (vers. 13, 14).

b. Exhortation springing out of the Apostle’s supplication for the Church as the Body of Christ, who is the Head (1:15–23). With thanksgiving for the reader’s faith and love (vers. 15, 16) there is joined the petition, that God would make known to them the glory of their calling and inheritance as well as of His power (vers. 17–19), which glory is manifest, actual and efficient in the exaltation of Christ over all as Head of the Church, that as His Body is the fulness of Him who filleth all in all (vers. 20–23).

B. the extent and mission of the church

a. Reminder of the previous condition of death and the glorious new creation (2:1–10). From the Resurrection and Exaltation of Christ the Apostle arrives first at the thought of the similar condition of death in the case of the Gentiles (vers. 1, 2) and the Jews (ver. 3), and then of God’s mercy, which has quickened and blessed these miserable ones in, with and through Christ (vers. 4–7), of grace through faith (vers. 8, 9), as new creatures in Christ (ver. 10).

b. Extolling comparison of the previous and the present condition (2:11–22). After a detailed description of the previous condition without Christ, promise and God (vers. 11, 12), Paul sets forth the fundamental trait of the present status as nearness to God (ver. 13), explaining the nature and origin of the same in and through the Person and sufferings of Christ (vers. 14–18); sketching the present condition as that of citizens in the kingdom of God, members in His family, as built into the temple and house of God (vers. 19–22).

C. the office and service of the church (3:1–21)

a. The office in and for this church (3:1–13). In spite of bonds (ver. 1) it is an office of that grace (ver. 2), in which God has made known the mystery of Christ (ver. 4), now made manifest (ver. 5): The acceptance of all nations into the kingdom of God through the Gospel (vers. 6, 7); to the humble minister the riches of Christ are entrusted (ver. 8), that thus on earth and in heaven the wisdom of God might be manifested in the Church (vers. 9, 10), according to God’s eternal purpose (ver. 11), and that we might be comforted (ver. 12, 13).

b. The Apostle’s petition with an exhortation for the church (3:14–19). Addressed to the Father (vers. 14, 15), it respects strengthening in the inner ...