Commentary on Ephesians 1:1

1. Salutation - 1.1,2

Paul always had a peculiar way to start his letters in the style of the time. The letter begins with the name of the writer, then the recipient, and finally the greeting. Paul takes the conventional style of his time and puts a higher level, because their treatment is for brothers in faith.

The Greek Text reads:

παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου δια θεληματος θεου τοις αγιοις τοις ουσιν [εν εφεσω] και πιστοις εν χριστω ιησου


1.a. His apostolic personal identification - Ephesians 1:1

He begins as usual at the time, with the first name, “Paul”, and then presents the most important titles, which provide an apostolic authorship. After starting with the name, Paul refers to himself as a “servant of Jesus Christ.” A title that all true Christians have, which is really serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

1.b. His ministerial identification - Ephesians 1:1

Apostle (αποστολος) is the title he had in reference to himself. The New Testament has three meanings for this title which occurs about 80 times in the NT: Mat 10:2, Mark 6:30; Lk 6:13, 9:10, 11:49, 17:5, 22:14; 24:10, Jn 13:16, Acts 1:2, 26; 2:37, 42, 43; 4:33, 35, 36, 37, 5:2, 12, 18, 29, 34, 40, 6: 6, 8:1, 14, 18, 9:27, 11:1, 14:4, 14; 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 33, 16:4, Rom. 1:1, 11:13, 16:7, 1Co. 1:1, 4:9, 9:1, 2, 5; 12:28, 29; 15:7, 9; 2Cor. 1:1, 8:23, 11:5, 13; 12:11, 12; Gal. 1:1, 17, 19, Eph. 1:1, 2:20, 3:5, 4:11; Fil. 2:25, Col. 1:1; 1Tess. 2:6; 1Ti. 1:1, 2:7; 2Ti. 1:1, 11; Tit. 1:1, Heb. 3:1, 1Pe. 1:1; 2Pe. 1:1, 3:2, Jud 1:17; Ap. 2:2, 18:20, 21:14.

a) Gives the idea of a messenger (2 Co 8.23);

b) When Paul and Barnabas are sent by the church of Antioch to preach, the meaning of the word "apostle" takes the meaning of someone “sent” (Acts 14.4-14);

c) The meaning of "apostle" in this letter is of an ambassador for Christ (2 Co 5:20). In principle, an ambassador referred exclusively to the 12 apostles, appointed and sent by Jesus and made eye-witnesses of his resurrection. Paul was not one of the 12, but firmly states that have been sent by Christ and is called in many of his letters, an “apostle of Jesus Christ” (Rom 1.1, 1 Co 1.1, 2 Co 1.1, 1.1 Gal, Eph 1.1; 1 Tm 1.1; Tit 1.1). Apostle Paul is said of Jesus Christ not only to belong to Him, but also in being sent by him as ambassador to foreign lands.

1.c. His greeting to the recipients - Ephesians 1:1

After presenting himself as author of the Epistle, Paul gives his greeting to the “saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus.” The designation of “saints” is common to believers in the New Testament. This word is sometimes the same with “separated”. The saints are the “separate” people for the service of God. The word has active meaning, i.e, concerns believers sanctified and separated from the life of the world.


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