 |  |
A | a | 13: 11. Judicial blindness foreshadowed.
\
Antioch.
b | 13: 12. A typical Gentiles (Paulus) blessed. } Not connected
c | 13: 14. Paul's independent ministry.
/ with the twelve.
B | 15:-21: Paul's ministry in connection with Jerusalem and the twelve.
A | a | 28: 25-27. Judicial blindness fulfilled.
\
Rome.
b | 28: 28. The Gentiles blessed.
} Not connected
c | 28: 30, 31. Paul's independent ministry. / with the twelve.
The disposition of the subject helps us to see that the ministry of Paul from
Acts 15:-21: was parenthetical to his real commission. The independent ministry,
unassociated with Jerusalem and the twelve, foreshadowed in Acts 13:, is entered on its
fulness in the writing of the epistle under consideration. Let it suffice for us to realize
that an apostle is one sent from another. He is a legate, a representative. We do not
magnify the earthen vessel, but with the Scriptures we "magnify his office." What
Moses, the mediator, was to Israel during the dispensation of law, so Paul is to the
present dispensation of grace. Both were servants, yet both had authority and power by
virtue of the stewardship entrusted to them.
There is another item worthy of notice. The companion epistles, Philippians and
Colossians, open with the names of Paul and Timothy. The epistle to the Ephesians
stands alone, it is associated with no other instrument than Paul.
The reader will note the change from the A.V. It is not "Jesus Christ," but "Christ
Jesus." The change is important. The former title points to the man Jesus, Who is the
Messiah, whilst the latter looks to the glory, where Christ the Messiah is, and realizes that
the glorified One is Jesus.
The reader will be interested to know that the epistle is marked with the same
marvellous numeric phenomena that has been brought to light recently through the
instrumentality of Mr. Ivan Panin. We are not in a position to publish any discoveries in
this direction, but one thing has been established, the words "in Ephesus," over which
such a deal of scholastic effort has been expended, must be retained as part of the sacred
text.
Since the publication of Mills' edition of the Greek New Testament, a great many
have adopted his opinion that the epistle to the Ephesians was not written to the church of
that name. Some said it was addressed to the church of the Laodiceans, whilst others said
that a space was left to be filled in--making the epistle a circular letter. Nearly all the
ancient MSS. And versions, including the Syriac, Vulgate, Persian and Arabic, agree in
including the words "in Ephesus" in the text. We will not take up precious time over this,
however, but shall rest assured that the church mentioned in Acts 20: is the one to which,
in the first place, this wondrous epistle was sent for their further instruction. The reader
may profitably compare Acts 20: 17-38 with the teaching of the epistle.
Returning to Ephesians 1: we consider the salutation. The inspired salutation is one
which familiarity has in some degree robbed of its preciousness--"Grace." Who can