Vertical Diagram for the book Ephesians Chapter 2
1 As for you,
you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,
the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ
even when we were dead in transgressions-
it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ
and seated us with him
in the heavenly realms
in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages
he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith
and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God
9 not by works,
so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- Vertical Diagram Outline
The character of the Ephesians as explained by Apostle Paul.
- They are dead of transgressions and sins
- They follow the wrong ways put forth by the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Satan) (v. 2b)
- Fulfils the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires (v.3 b)
(Paul is addressing the Ephesians by expounding on their relationship with sins)
The Character of God
- He is rich in mercy (v4 b)
- He made us alive (v5)
- Because of his love he gave us Jesus (v6 b)
- He wants to show us his incomparable riches of grace in us (v7 c)
(On the other hand, Paul describes God as filled with mercy, love and grace for the Ephesians.)
Syntax for Ephesians chapter 2
The Syntax for the book of Ephesians chapter 2; 1-10 is amazing. Particularly verses 1-2, most of the texts used are of the nature of direct objects of the verb. The direct object largely referred to is ‘us’. Verse 2 focuses on the description of the way of life of the Ephesians and the world at large by Apostle Paul. Paul’s notion that has been described in verse 2 is also revisited again in verse 10. His description of the way of life is all about keeping with the contemporary world and Satan, who has been described in verse 2 to being the ruler of the disobedient or the unbelievers. He explains in verse 3 that the way of life of mankind is governed by various forms of sinful acts such as lusts and thoughts. He concludes verse 3 by saying that these sins have led us to become “wrath children”. Therefore, these descriptions put forth by Paul complete the direct object.
In verse 4, the subject matter is introduced. There is a triple verb, all of which have the prefix “with” is found in all the verses from 5-7. Specifically, verse 7 is a purpose clause that can be viewed to be going back to the three verbs. Additionally, verses 8-9 can be considered to being self-contained sentences that seek to explain the verses 1-7. It is also worth noting that verse 10 also explains what precedes. The syntax analysis of all the verses from 1-10 teaches us much about the true nature of human beings especially with regard to their indulgence in sinful acts that do not please the Lord. In additional, it also expounds on the true nature of God with a major focus on his love, grace and mercy for his followers.
According to a commentary by James Montgomery Boice, on this chapter, more emphasis is placed on how Paul switches from one person to another in the verses in this chapter. Boice explains that, Paul does this intentionally so that it can become very clear that God is not a respecter of persons. Paul successfully manages to teach the Euphrates that, they have all sinned and have ultimately come short of the glory of God. Nonetheless, they can all be saved by the grace of the Lord alone. Looking on various versions of the bible such as the KJV and the, ESV and the NIV, all of them use “but” in their translation because of the big contrast that exists between the verses 4 and 1-3. The trait “mercy” is the first of the four attributes that Paul explains in the verses 4-8. Apparently, “Mercy” is the ultimate benevolence of God in regard to saving the wretched, Paul has clearly described the wretched in verse 1-3.
The article The Epistle to the Ephesians: its authorship, origin, and purpose further explains the teachings put forth by Paul by explain that it is true that mercy removes the misery. The authors of this article claim that, in the whole chapter, the verse that brings out the biggest contrast is that which says that, “even when we were dead” (verse 1) God still saves us from all our transgressions. In his uttermost love, God did whatever he did because of our lamentable dead condition that he desires to change in our lives. As Paul is preaching to the Ephesians, they are able to familiarise themselves with the idea that indeed God’s love is what caused Christ’s vivification and resurrection , and eventually saw him rest at the right hand of God.
Conclusively, I found this particular chapter to being the main chapter that summarises Paul’s mission in Euphrates. Through God’s grace, we are forgiven; his love extends to us the sinners who are in all aspects unworthy of his grace, love and mercy. It is a verse that can be adopted by all the Christians so that they can uphold good and enviable Christian living.
Bibliography
Boice, James Montgomery. 2006. Ephesians: an expositional commentary. Grand Rapids,
Mich: Baker Books.
Goard, Brian Lee. "Theology and reality: Critical realism in the thought of Alister E.
McGrath." (2011).
Hoehner, Harold W. 2002. Ephesians: an exegetical commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich:
Baker Academic.
McDill, Wayne. 2006. 12 essential skills for great preaching. Nashville, Tenn: B & H
Publishing Group. 24
Mitton, C. Leslie. The Epistle to the Ephesians: its authorship, origin, and purpose.
Clarendon Press, 2001.
