Overview
Noted New Testament scholar Frank Thielman offers pastors, students, and teachers a substantive yet accessible commentary on Ephesians in this addition to the award-winning BECNT series. With extensive research and thoughtful chapter-by-chapter exegesis, Thielman leads readers through all aspects of the book of Ephesians--sociological, historical, and theological--to help them better understand its meaning and relevance. As with all BECNT volumes, this commentary features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text and an acclaimed, user-friendly design. It admirably achieves the dual aims of the series--academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Ephesians
I. Prescript and Greeting (1:1-2)
II. Blessing God Who Has Blessed His People in Christ (1:3-14)
A. Praise to God for His Grace in Making Believers His People (1:3-6)
B. Praise to God for His Grace in Redemption and Revelation (1:7-10)
C. Praise to God for Making His People Heirs and Giving Them Hope in Christ (1:11-12)
D. Praise to God for the Conversion and Future Salvation of Paul's Readers (1:13-14)
III. Thanksgiving for Conversion and Intercession for Understanding (1:15-23)
A. Thanksgiving for Faith and Love, and Intercession for Illumination (1:15-19)
B. God's Great Power Displayed in Christ and for the Church (1:20-23)
IV. From Children of Wrath to New Creation (2:1-10)
A. Children of Wrath Like All the Rest (2:1-3)
B. Objects of God's Mercy (2:4-7)
C. The Nature and Consequences of God's Grace (2:8-10)
V. From Existence without God to Membership in the People of God (2:11-22)
A. The Special Plight of the Gentiles and God's Response (2:11-13)
B. Christ Is the Believing Community's Peace (2:14-18)
C. Gentile Christians as an Integral Part of God's Household (2:19-22)
VI. Paul's Divinely Given Task and His Suffering for the Gentiles (3:1-13)
A. Paul's Role in the Administration of the Mystery (3:1-7)
B. How Paul Fulfills His Task (3:8-13)
VII. Paul Prays for His Readers' Inner Strength and Praises the God Who Can Give It (3:14-21)
A. Paul Prays for His Readers' Inner Strength (3:14-19)
B. Paul Praises the God Who Is Able to Strengthen His Readers (3:20-21)
VIII. The Growth of the Church toward Unity and Maturity (4:1-16)
A. Christian Unity and Its Theological Basis (4:1-6)
B. The Gifts of the Victorious Christ Cultivate the Body's Maturity (4:7-16)
IX. A Reminder of How to Live as New Human Beings (4:17-5:2)
A. No Longer Walk as "Gentiles" but as a New Human Being (4:17-24)
B. Living as Human Beings Newly Created in God's Image (4:25-5:2)
X. Avoiding and Transforming the Deeds of Darkness (5:3-14)
A. Avoiding Sexual Immorality and Greed (5:3-7)
B. From Avoidance to Transformation (5:8-14)
XI. Wise Conduct within the Household (5:15-6:9)
A. Introduction: Wisdom and the Life Filled in the Spirit (5:15-20)
B. Submission in the Believing Household (5:21-6:9)
XII. Standing against the Strategies of the Devil (6:10-20)
A. Wearing God's Protective Armor (6:10-17)
B. Persevering in Watchful Prayer (6:18-20)
XIII. A Concluding Commendation and a Final Prayer-Wish (6:21-24)
A. Tychicus and His Mission (6:21-22)
B. Peace, Love, Faith, and Grace for the Letter's Recipients (6:23-24)
I. Prescript and Greeting (1:1-2)
II. Blessing God Who Has Blessed His People in Christ (1:3-14)
A. Praise to God for His Grace in Making Believers His People (1:3-6)
B. Praise to God for His Grace in Redemption and Revelation (1:7-10)
C. Praise to God for Making His People Heirs and Giving Them Hope in Christ (1:11-12)
D. Praise to God for the Conversion and Future Salvation of Paul's Readers (1:13-14)
III. Thanksgiving for Conversion and Intercession for Understanding (1:15-23)
A. Thanksgiving for Faith and Love, and Intercession for Illumination (1:15-19)
B. God's Great Power Displayed in Christ and for the Church (1:20-23)
IV. From Children of Wrath to New Creation (2:1-10)
A. Children of Wrath Like All the Rest (2:1-3)
B. Objects of God's Mercy (2:4-7)
C. The Nature and Consequences of God's Grace (2:8-10)
V. From Existence without God to Membership in the People of God (2:11-22)
A. The Special Plight of the Gentiles and God's Response (2:11-13)
B. Christ Is the Believing Community's Peace (2:14-18)
C. Gentile Christians as an Integral Part of God's Household (2:19-22)
VI. Paul's Divinely Given Task and His Suffering for the Gentiles (3:1-13)
A. Paul's Role in the Administration of the Mystery (3:1-7)
B. How Paul Fulfills His Task (3:8-13)
VII. Paul Prays for His Readers' Inner Strength and Praises the God Who Can Give It (3:14-21)
A. Paul Prays for His Readers' Inner Strength (3:14-19)
B. Paul Praises the God Who Is Able to Strengthen His Readers (3:20-21)
VIII. The Growth of the Church toward Unity and Maturity (4:1-16)
A. Christian Unity and Its Theological Basis (4:1-6)
B. The Gifts of the Victorious Christ Cultivate the Body's Maturity (4:7-16)
IX. A Reminder of How to Live as New Human Beings (4:17-5:2)
A. No Longer Walk as "Gentiles" but as a New Human Being (4:17-24)
B. Living as Human Beings Newly Created in God's Image (4:25-5:2)
X. Avoiding and Transforming the Deeds of Darkness (5:3-14)
A. Avoiding Sexual Immorality and Greed (5:3-7)
B. From Avoidance to Transformation (5:8-14)
XI. Wise Conduct within the Household (5:15-6:9)
A. Introduction: Wisdom and the Life Filled in the Spirit (5:15-20)
B. Submission in the Believing Household (5:21-6:9)
XII. Standing against the Strategies of the Devil (6:10-20)
A. Wearing God's Protective Armor (6:10-17)
B. Persevering in Watchful Prayer (6:18-20)
XIII. A Concluding Commendation and a Final Prayer-Wish (6:21-24)
A. Tychicus and His Mission (6:21-22)
B. Peace, Love, Faith, and Grace for the Letter's Recipients (6:23-24)
Author
Frank Thielman
Frank Thielman (PhD, Duke University) is Presbyterian Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of a number of books, including Philippians (NIVAC); Paul and the Law: A Contextual Approach; From Plight to Solution: A Jewish Framework for Understanding Paul's View of the Law in Galatians and Romans; The Law and the New Testament: The Question of Continuity; and Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach. He is also an ordained Presbyterian (PCA) minister.