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by Steve Henley (Author)
In this commentary on the Book of Ephesians, I want us to go on a journey that explores the riches of Christ. Ephesians was arguably the pinnacle of all of Paul's letters to the church. The church in Ephesus was the most prominent congregation in the first forty years of church history. The letter contains the pinnacle of Christology. It is the richest book in the doctrine of grace and Warren Wiersbe calls his commentary on Ephesians as the "Be rich" series. I have personally visited the ancient city of Ephesus twice, where they have been excavating since 1869 and have only uncovered about 25% of the ruins. The riches that this has uncovered is unprecedented in archaeology, but also the riches of this book for the Christian are equally amazing. You will be truly richer for this book.
But I believe that a typical reading of the letter has been misread because of grammar, especially the first chapter. It is my contention that this confusion over grammar has led to the wrong conclusion that only the chosen are actually saved and who, furthermore, must be individually chosen. The great evangelist and preacher John Wesley was concerned about this very fact. A wrong reading skews the doctrine of grace and election, which in turn can skew the very gospel we hold so dear. Therefore, we need to get this right. Bible scholars believe that Ephesians was the only letter that was intended for the mystical church, not just one local church. It is meant to be proclaimed to the church at large because it is rich in doctrine, especially in the first three chapters. However, the last three chapters are also vital because they are very practical. It's a letter which has challenged me to the very core. It emphasises the unity between Jews and Gentiles, and it gets the balance right.
I hope that this commentary is a blessing and thought-provoking as you use it as an inspiration for your own personal study and devotions.
