Systematic Bible Study

[GWH]

On CC we discuss doctrines in a rather hit and miss fashion, but I wonder whether a few of you would like to participate
as a fellowship in a systematic study of the Bible. I suggest that we begin with Paul's epistle to the Ephesians,
because much of it is on the very topic of learning and applying God's Word.

Systematic means methodically mining the text for its teaching and harmonizing it with other passages on the same topic.
For example, in EPH 1:1 we read, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

This verse might prompt questions including: Who was Paul? What is an apostle? Why of Christ Jesus? How by God's will?

Is anyone else interested in a prayerful exploration and congenial discussion of Ephesians?

 

[GWH]

In order to answer the question, “Who was Paul?”, we need to consult the biography of Paul by Luke in Acts, which
introduces Paul in 8:1 by saying that he (who was then called Saul) was present at the stoning of Stephen and giving his approval.

In Acts 8:3 we learn that Saul began going to house churches and dragging Christians off to prison. Then in Acts 9:1-19a Luke relates how Jesus appeared as a light flashing from heaven to Saul as he was on the way to arresting members of the Way in Damascus, striking him blind and telling him to go into Damascus and await further instructions.

Jesus then appeared in a vision to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, telling him to go place hands on Saul to restore his sight, saying “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”

Ananias obeyed, and he told Saul to be filled with the Holy Spirit, whereupon Saul regained his sight and then was baptized.

The introduction of Saul/Paul continues in Acts 9:19b-30 by saying that Paul began preaching in the Damascus synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God and proving (probably by citing Old Testament prophecy) that Jesus is the Messiah or Christ. Some Jews conspired to kill Saul, but he escaped and joined the disciples in Jerusalem after Barnabas vouched for him. Saul debated the Grecian Jews but they also plotted to kill Saul, so the brethren put him on a ship to Tarsus.

The next question is about why Paul could claim to be an apostle.
Does anyone want to lead out regarding this and the rest of the first verse?

 

[Rzuo]

I’m really interested in joining the Bible study, but I haven’t read that section of Acts deeply yet. I’ll take some time to re-read those chapters and then come back to share my thoughts. I appreciate the invitation and look forward to discussing Ephesians with everyone.

keep me posted, great idea!

 

[Magenta]

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

How by God's will?

Such statements from Paul should put to rest the idea that the natural man of his own volition chooses God's will.

Alas, it does not.

 

[Hevosmies]

Such statements from Paul should put to rest the idea that the natural man of his own volition chooses God's will.

Alas, it does not.

Brings back memories. I remember debating this BACK AND FORTH! Things got HEATED........... sometimes too heated.
You know why we cant debate peacefully? Because we all think we are right, we genuinely believe we are correct and the other side is NUTS for not seeing it the way we do.

 

[Magenta]

Brings back memories. I remember debating this BACK AND FORTH! Things got HEATED........... sometimes too heated.
You know why we cant debate peacefully? Because we all think we are right, we genuinely believe we are correct and the other side is NUTS for not seeing it the way we do.

Yes, so true, and it is of a certainty that people believe things they do because they think they are right, and according to Scripture, we are to be convinced in our own minds... and yet, clearly, when such disparities of belief exist, some are right and some are wrong. Even so, not everyone resorts to slander and falsely testifying against those with whom they disagree, and I see too much of that, such as someone telling me I blaspheme God by ascribing hatred of humanity to Him. Ugh. I have never done any such thing. Or being told I ignore God's love, when my every post proclaims it. My beliefs are misrepresented often, and new people will come along and try to tell me (and everyone else) it does not happen at all. Weird. So many deceivers.

 

[jacko]

Such statements from Paul should put to rest the idea that the natural man of his own volition chooses God's will.

Alas, it does not.

What do you mean by this? God chooses those he wants to save?

 

[Magenta]

What do you mean by this? God chooses those he wants to save?

While there are verses that speak to election and being chosen, the gist of my posts on this subject matter much more (in fact almost exclusively) focus on the fact that the natural man, according to Scripture, is inherently hostile to God, and has a stony heart that is not good ground at all for growing the Seed of God's Word into faith. The natural man is who Scripture refers to as being under the influence of the evil one, captive to the will of the devil, a slave to sin, suppressing the truth in unrighteousness, a lover of darkness, and more, since he is defined as darkness itself, which cannot comprehend the Light, nor can he receive nor understand the Spiritual things of God. So how exactly is such a person to decide to believe that which is foolishness to him, when we are told too that he is incapable of submitting to God's law? I say such a position is foolishness itself, according too all the Bible has to say of the natural man. Even with as much as the Bible has to say of the natural man, there are many here who honestly do not seem to have a clue who he is, and ascribe to him characteristics and abilities that only the spiritual man possesses. In order to believe, I was enabled. I was made alive in Chrst, and my heart was circumcised. Naysayers essentially claim they effectuated their life in Christ by choosing, as a natural man, of their own volition, something which is 100% contrary to the natural man. They think they cured their own heart by choice. We are alive in Christ because of righteousness not our own.

Jeremiah 17:9 plus John 3:19-20 ~ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? This is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

 

[Magenta]

Ephesians 4:17-18; Luke 6:43; Jeremiah 10:14 In the futility of their thinking, unbelievers are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. A diseased tree cannot bear good fruit. Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge.

 

[Magenta]

Romans 8:6-7 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

 

[jacko]

While there are verses that speak to election and being chosen, the gist of my posts on this subject matter much more (in fact almost exclusively) focus on the fact that the natural man, according to Scripture, is inherently hostile to God, and has a stony heart that is not good ground at all for growing the Seed of God's Word into faith. The natural man is who Scripture refers to as being under the influence of the evil one, captive to the will of the devil, a slave to sin, suppressing the truth in unrighteousness, a lover of darkness, and more, since he is defined as darkness itself, which cannot comprehend the Light, nor can he receive nor understand the Spiritual things of God. So how exactly is such a person to decide to believe that which is foolishness to him, when we are told too that he is incapable of submitting to God's law? I say such a position is foolishness itself, according too all the Bible has to say of the natural man. Even with as much as the Bible has to say of the natural man, there are many here who honestly do not seem to have a clue who he is, and ascribe to him characteristics and abilities that only the spiritual man possesses. In order to believe, I was enabled. I was made alive in Chrst, and my heart was circumcised. Naysayers essentially claim they effectuated their life in Christ by choosing, as a natural man, of their own volition, something which is 100% contrary to the natural man. They think they cured their own heart by choice. We are alive in Christ because of righteousness not our own.

Jeremiah 17:9 plus John 3:19-20 ~ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? This is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

I catch myself being double minded all the time. I'm serious and I forget about the blessings just a few months ago.

 

[Magenta]

I catch myself being double minded all the time. I'm serious and I forget about the blessings just a few months ago.

I am glad you have stuck around with us... so many leave.

Romans 7:18-24a I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

[Magenta]

Righteousness Of Christ ~ “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” You were dead in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. The Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. If Christ is in you, your spirit is alive because of righteousness. We put on the righteousness of Christ.

 

[jacko]

Brings back memories. I remember debating this BACK AND FORTH! Things got HEATED........... sometimes too heated.
You know why we cant debate peacefully? Because we all think we are right, we genuinely believe we are correct and the other side is NUTS for not seeing it the way we do.

Less teaching/preaching, more loving.. hahah

 

[GWH]

I’m really interested in joining the Bible study, but I haven’t read that section of Acts deeply yet. I’ll take some time to re-read those chapters and then come back to share my thoughts. I appreciate the invitation and look forward to discussing Ephesians with everyone.

keep me posted, great idea!

Okay, I am sorry some folks have had bad experiences on CC but I hope we will enjoy fellowship on this thread as we conduct a congenial systematic study. The remaining question with regard to EPH 1:1a is "why could Paul claim to be an apostle?"

In Matthew the followers of Jesus are called disciples (learner) in 5:1 and 8:21&23, and in 10:2 the Twelve are called apostles (missionaries) before Jesus sent them out to preach in Galilee. In 1CR 9:1 Paul referred to an apostle as one who has seen Jesus, and in 15:7-9 he admits to being the least of the apostles (his name means “little”) because he was the last one called or commissioned, although in 2CR 12:11-12 he said he was not inferior. In 1TM 2:7 and 2TM 1:11 Paul said that he was appointed a herald and an apostle (and a teacher). Returning to EPH 1:1, we see him saying his apostleship was the will of God.

In EPH 1:1b Paul addressed his epistle “To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.” The term “saint” means set apart or sacred, referring to those who are saved because of faith in Christ, which is why they are called faithful and in Christ Jesus. Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province called Asia, which was located on the western side of modern Asia Minor across the Aegean Sea from Athens.

Over to whomever wants to present verse two.

 

[jacko]

Love Paul, he had big cajónes... he called out Peter to his face. As a gentile, love him 2x..

 

[GWH]

Love Paul, he had big cajónes... he called out Peter to his face. As a gentile, love him 2x..

I also love Paul, and I am winding up a study and enumeration of the teachings of Paul.
I discovered that the epistles of Peter contain mainly Paul's teachings,
so I am adding them to the list :^)

 

[PaulThomson]

On CC we discuss doctrines in a rather hit and miss fashion, but I wonder whether a few of you would like to participate
as a fellowship in a systematic study of the Bible. I suggest that we begin with Paul's epistle to the Ephesians,
because much of it is on the very topic of learning and applying God's Word.

Systematic means methodically mining the text for its teaching and harmonizing it with other passages on the same topic.
For example, in EPH 1:1 we read, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

This verse might prompt questions including: Who was Paul? What is an apostle? Why of Christ Jesus? How by God's will?

Is anyone else interested in a prayerful exploration and congenial discussion of Ephesians?

Eph. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through God's will, to the saints, the ones being in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

It sounds to me that Paul was sent by God to preach Jesus Christ. He is writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, but expects that letter also to be circulated to other faithful believers among diverse churches in various other cities, regions and towns. So he addresses two groups, 1. the saints , the ones being (particularly) in Ephesus, and 2. the saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus (generally).

 

[PaulThomson]

Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are two possible senses Paul could mean by God our Father. The father of nuclear physics is Earnest Rutherford. The father of quantum physics is Max Planck. The father of Western philosophy is Socrates. The progenitor of these fields is called the father of them. Likewise, the Father, the progenitor, of the Universe is the triune God. The triune God sent the Son who became Jesus Christ, the man, who became the Saviour and the head of humanity authorised to judge humanity. And the Holy Spirit was sent by the triune God and by the glorified man, Jesus Christ, to infuse grace and peace into the church in Jesus name,

So, one sense of this verse may be that the Father is the Triune God: " Grace and peace be to you through the Holy Spirit sent from the Triune God, our Father, (apo theou hEmOn patros) and the man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another possible sense is that the Father is referring to the distinct Person of the Trinity known as the Father, distinct from the Son and the Spirit: Grace and peace be to you from a God (apo theou: one of the three elohim), our Father, (hEmOn patros) and from the Lord Jesus Christ, [through the Holy Spirit sent by them].

 

[GWH]

Eph. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through God's will, to the saints, the ones being in Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

It sounds to me that Paul was sent by God to preach Jesus Christ. He is writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, but expects that letter also to be circulated to other faithful believers among diverse churches in various other cities, regions and towns. So he addresses two groups, 1. the saints , the ones being (particularly) in Ephesus, and 2. the saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus (generally).

Glad to have someone else contributing so we can have dialogue. Because the word “and” is not in the sentence I think the phrase defines what is meant by the word “saints”.
This doesn’t preclude the possibility that the letter was intended for circulation among other churches however.