Ephesians 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

† Paul begins by affirming his apostleship as rooted in God's will.
† The believers in Ephesus are called saints, set apart in Christ.
† Grace and peace are the blessings of the new covenant, replacing wrath and enmity.
† Ignatius (Letter to the Ephesians 1) recognized the Ephesian church for their faithfulness and unity.

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

† In Christ, every spiritual blessing is already secured.
† "Heavenly places" speaks of covenantal standing, not a distant location.
† These blessings are realized in Christ's fulfilled work.
† Clement of Rome (1 Clement 36) affirmed that all blessings come through Christ alone.

Ephesians 1:4-6
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.

† God's choice in Christ is eternal, rooted in His will and grace.
† Adoption into God's family fulfills His eternal purpose.
† The Dead Sea Scrolls (1QS 11.7-8) spoke of God choosing His people for holiness, now completed in Christ.

Ephesians 1:7-8
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight.

† Redemption and forgiveness are accomplished by Christ's blood.
† Grace is abundant, lavished beyond measure.
† Origen (Commentary on Romans 5.1) emphasized redemption through the blood of Christ as the center of God's plan.

Ephesians 1:9-10
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

† The mystery is revealed, God's plan to unite all in Christ.
† Fulfillment came in the fullness of the times, not delayed for millennia.
† Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.16.6) stressed Christ as the one who sums up all things.

Ephesians 1:11-12
In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

† Believers receive an inheritance in Christ, secured by God's purpose.
† The firstfruits of hope in Christ display His glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

† The Spirit seals believers, marking them as God's possession.
† The Spirit is the down payment of the inheritance, showing that redemption was guaranteed.
† Tertullian (Against Marcion 5.8) highlighted the Spirit as the pledge of God's promises.

Ephesians 1:15-16
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers.

† Paul gives thanks for their faith and love, evidence of their transformation in Christ.
† Thanksgiving and prayer are vital for the church's growth.

Ephesians 1:17-18
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

† Wisdom and revelation deepen knowledge of God.
† Enlightened hearts see hope, riches, and inheritance in Christ.
† Philo (On Dreams 1.164) spoke of enlightenment of the soul, though Paul roots true enlightenment in Christ.

Ephesians 1:19-20
And what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

† God's power was shown in raising Christ and exalting Him to His throne.
† Believers share in this power and reign.
† Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho 85) affirmed that Christ reigns at the right hand of God, fulfilling prophecy.

Ephesians 1:21-23
Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

† Christ is exalted above every authority.
† The church is His body, His fullness in the world.
† Eusebius (Ecclesiastical History 1.2) proclaimed Christ as head over all powers, fulfilled in His kingdom.

How it applies to us today
† Ephesians 1 reminds us that all spiritual blessings are already secured in Christ.
† Our inheritance is guaranteed by the Spirit, who seals us as God's own.
† Christ reigns now above all, and the church is His body, filled with His fullness.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †

Source Index
† Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians 1 - faithfulness of the Ephesian church
† Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 36 - blessings through Christ
† Dead Sea Scrolls, 1QS 11.7-8 - God choosing His people
† Origen, Commentary on Romans 5.1 - redemption in Christ's blood
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.16.6 - Christ uniting all things
† Tertullian, Against Marcion 5.8 - Spirit as pledge
† Philo, On Dreams 1.164 - enlightenment of the soul
† Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 85 - Christ reigning at God's right hand
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 1.2 - Christ head over all