We are sharing a special series about teaching the Book of Ephesians in small groups. If you haven’t read the Introduction to the series, we invite you to read it here.

Whether you are interested in studying Ephesians for the purpose of teaching it to small groups or for your own personal study, we believe you will find this series helpful.

Basic Premises for Studying Scripture

  • God is worth knowing
  • His Word is worth learning and obeying
  • Because God is worth knowing and His Word is worth learning, we will follow a proven method of knowing Him and learning His Word.
  • We will use the I – M – D – I method of Bible study:
  • Inductive – Methodical – Direct – Independent
  • Inductive study – “logical, objective, impartial reasoning” … examining specifics of Scripture before reaching conclusions
  • Methodical study – “a way or path of transit” (Greek – methodos) … focused on taking the proper path to gaining knowledge about God
  • Direct study – “relying on Scripture as the primary tool for learning”
  • Independent study – “original thinking combined with Spirit insight”
  • Observe (See and Record)
  • Question (Ask and Answer)
  • Interpret (Determine the Holy Spirit’s Intent)
  • Apply (How God’s Truth applies to your life)

Bible Study – The Group Process

We invite you to model the process of observing, asking questions for interpretation, interpreting for meaning, and applying for discipleship for your small group. This process may be new to some of the people in your group, so going through it with them for awhile may help them feel comfortable with how to do it.

One of the biggest mistakes people make in reading the Bible is trying to interpret the meaning of individual verses before observing everything in the verses. Studying in context also helps keep us from making incorrect interpretations. That means starting the observation process at the beginning of each Bible book.

The challenge in studying alone or with the group is trying to determine the meaning of passages in the Bible before assuring that we’ve observed everything in the passages and asked every possible question. We carefully answer all of the questions before reaching a conclusion to the meaning.

Read the Scripture and go through each step with your group. You may be able to cover observation,questions, interpretation and application in one meeting, but don’t rush the process. It takes time to see everything in a text, ask good questions, get good answers to those good questions, interpret the meaning of the text and apply the meaning to life. If it takes two or three meetings to do that for each text, that’s fine! The goal is to rightly divide God’s Word, not finish by a certain date.

Observe – Write what you see

Ephesians 1:19-23

“… and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Ephesians is known as one of the great “theological” writings of Scripture and is often given this general outline:

  • Chapters 1 – 3 … Doctrinal
  • Chapters 4 – 6 … Practical

In the first half of Ephesians, Paul explained the great “teachings” he received directly from God for the Church. In the second half of Ephesians, Paul explained the great “actions” God expects from His people.

It’s important to remember that good Theology is both “doctrinal” and “practical” at the same time. Wrong doctrine leads to wrong practice. Wrong practice often leads to wrong doctrine.

A church that emphasizes doctrine without practice can become a “dead” group of people accomplishing almost nothing good for God. A church that emphasizes practice without doctrine can become a “dangerous” group of people accomplishing the wrong things in the Name of God.

The best churches are those that emphasize both “doctrine” and “practice,” in balance. May we be that kind of church.

Ephesians 1:19-23 in Greek

and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe … και τι το υπερβαλλον μεγεθος της δυναμεως αυτου εις ημας τους πιστευοντας

exceeding is a translation of the word υπερβαλλον (huperballon) and means “to surpass, exceed, excel, transcend”

greatness is a translation of the word μεγεθος (megethos) and means “greatness, vastness”

power is a translation of the word δυναμεως  (dunameōs) and means “strength, ability to perform, might”

believe is a translation of the word πιστευοντας (pisteuontas) and means “be persuaded, trust in, have faith in”

Paul’s point to the believing Ephesians was that God’s power is exceedingly great toward those who are persuaded to trust in Him.

according to the working of His mighty power … κατα την ενεργειαν του κρατους της ισχυος αυτου

working is a translation of the word ενεργειαν (energeian) and means “action, productive work”

mighty is a translation of the word κρατους (kratous) and means “strength, might” .. comes from a root meaning of “to perfect, complete”

power is a translation of the word ισχυος (ischuos) and means “force to overcome, might, strength”

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead … ην ενηργησεν εν τω χριστω εγειρας αυτον εκ νεκρων

worked is a translation of the word ενηργησεν (enērgēken) and means “accomplish, engaged in, energized, made to work”

raised is a translation of the word εγειρα (egeira) and means “to waken, raise up”

dead is a translation of the word νεκρων (nekrōn) and means “lifeless, corpse, dead body”

and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places … και εκαθισεν εν δεξια αυτου εν τοις επουρανιοις

seated is a translation of the word εκαθισεν (ekathisen) and means “to make to sit down, to sit down”

right hand is a translation of the word δεξια (dexia) and means “right hand or side”

heavenly places is a translation of the word επουρανιοις (epouraniois) and means “heavenly realm, heavenly sphere”

Paul wrote that he wanted Christians to have their spiritual eyes enlightened so that they might “know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Paul continued that these truths that he wanted Christians to “know” were according to God’s mighty power “which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”

It’s important to carefully review the context in ongoing Bible studies so Scripture is not seen as disconnected thoughts.

far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come … υπερανω πασης αρχης και εξουσιας και δυναμεως και κυριοτητος και παντος ονοματος ονομαζομενου ου μονον εν τω αιωνι τουτω αλλα και εν τω μελλοντι

far above all principality and power and might and dominion … υπερανω πασης αρχης και εξουσιας και δυναμεως και κυριοτητος

far above is a translation of the word υπερανω (huperanō) and means “high above, far above”

all principality is a translation of the words πασης αρχης (pasēs archēs) and means “every kind of preeminent rule”

power is a translation of the word εξουσιας (exousias) and means “authority, delegated power”

might is a translation of the word δυναμεως (dunameōs) and means “ability to perform, might, strength, power”

dominion is a translation of the word κυριοτητος (kuriotētos) and means “lordship” .. used in the sense of divine or angelic lordship or domination

Paul introduced Christian readers to a hierarchy of angelic power by naming four tiers in the early part of his letter to the Ephesians. He returned to that hierarchal description at the end of his letter (Ephesians 6:12).

The conjunction και (kai) between each description demonstrates that supernatural connection:

  • all principality and
  • power and
  • might and
  • dominion

and every name that is named … και παντος ονοματος ονομαζομενου

every name is a translation of the words παντος ονοματος (pantos onomatos) which means “every kind of authoritative name, character”

that is named is a translation of the word ονομαζομενου (onomazomenou) which means “calling upon the name of”

not only in this age but also in that which is to come … ου μονον εν τω αιωνι τουτω αλλα και εν τω μελλοντι

this age is a translation of the words τω αιωνι τουτω (tō aiōni toutō) which means “era, the space of time this, perpetual”

that which is to come is a translation of the words τω μελλοντι (tō mellonti) which means “the one about to happen”

Paul used the word aiōni many times in his letters. He used the word to describe periods of time that were marked by spiritual or moral characteristics (W.E. Vine). The Greeks understood it to reference endless duration (Spiros Zodhiates) in the future or in the past (Strong’s). Paul’s reference to “this age” concerns the “present age.” His reference to “the one about to happen” concerns the “future age.” That’s important to remember during your study.

  • past age
  • present age
  • future age

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church … και παντα υπεταξεν υπο τους ποδας αυτου και αυτον εδωκεν κεφαλην υπερ παντα τη εκκλησια

And He put all things under His feet … και παντα υπεταξεν υπο τους ποδας αυτου

put under is a translation of the words υπεταξεν υπο (hupetaxen hupo) which means “to place or rank under, arrange under”

all things is a translation of the word παντα (panta) which means “the whole, every kind of”

and gave Him to be head over all things to the church … και αυτον εδωκεν κεφαλην υπερ παντα τη εκκλησια

gave Him is a translation of the words αυτον εδωκεν (auton edōken) which means “bestowed on Him, placed on Him”

to be head is a translation of the word κεφαλην (kephalēn) which means “to be the head, cornerstone, ruler”

over all things is a translation of the words υπερ παντα (huper panta) which means “beyond, above, every kind of, the whole”

to the church is a translation of the words τη εκκλησια (tē ekklēsia) which means “to the called-out assembly”

Paul wrote that God put everything, all things, under Christ’s feet and bestowed on Him the position of being the Head, the Ruler, over every kind of thing to His called-out assembly, the Church.

which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all … ητις εστιν το σωμα αυτου το πληρωμα του παντα εν πασιν πληρουμενου

which is His body is a translation of the words ητις εστιν το σωμα αυτου (hētis estin to sōma autou) which means “which is the body of Him” .. the word σωμα can mean physical or figurative

the fullness of Him is a translation of the words το πληρωμα του (to plērōma tou) which means “the sum total, completion of Him”

who fills all in all is a translation of the words εν πασιν πληρουμενου (en pasin plēroumenou) which means “all in all filling, completing”

The Church is the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Amazing!

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Observe – Write what you see

“… and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23

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Question – Ask and answer questions based on observations

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Interpret – What is the Holy Spirit’s intent in these verses?

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Apply – How can you apply these spiritual truths to your life?

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Next Time

We will look at Ephesians 2:1-3 in the next part of our series, Teaching Ephesians – The Gospel of Your Salvation.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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