Ephesians

An Exegetical Commentary

Harold W. Hoehner

© 2002 by Harold W. Hoehner

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Book House Company

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hoehner, Harold W. Ephesians: an exegetical commentary / Harold W. Hoehner. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8010-2614-8 1. Bible. N.T. Ephesians—Commentaries. I. Title. BS2695.53. H64 2002 227′.5077—dc212002026053

Scripture is taken from the Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th Edition © 1898 and 1998 by Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. Used by permission of the American Bible Society, New York, NY 10023 www.americanbible.org

and from

The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition, edited by Barbara Aland, Kurt Aland, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, and Bruce M. Metzger, © 1993 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. Used by permission of the American Bible Society, New York, NY 10023 www.americanbible.org.

For information about Baker Academic, visit our web site:

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Dedicated to our children and their spouses

Stephen and Stacy Hoehner

Susan and Darin McFarland

David and Caren Hoehner

Deborah Hoehner

Who love our Lord and serve him

in various parts of the world

Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Commentaries

Introduction

Authorship of Ephesians

Structure and Genre of Ephesians

City and Historical Setting

Purpose of Ephesians

Theology of Ephesians

Bibliography Regarding Authorship

Commentary on Ephesians

I. The Calling of the Church (1:1–3:21)

A. Prologue (1:1–2)

B. Praise for God’s Planned Spiritual Blessings (1:3–14)

C. Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation (1:15–23)

D. New Position Individually (2:1–10)

E. New Position Corporately (2:11–22)

F. Parenthetical Expansion of the Mystery (3:1–13)

G. Prayer for Strengthened Love (3:14–21)

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)

G. Conclusion (6:21–24)

Excursuses

1. Textual Problem in Ephesians 1:1

2. Views and Structures of Eph 1:3–14

3. In Christ

4. Election

5. A Study of πλήρωμα

6. Mystery

7. Household Code

8. Slavery in Paul’s Time

Author Index

Scripture Index

Preface

This commentary has a long history. It was originally part of a series that was discontinued. Although it later became part of a new commentary series from another publisher, the commentary became too long and no longer fit within that series. Finally, Baker Academic agreed to publish it as a stand-alone commentary, and for this I am grateful.

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