Jesus will build His church
A1 Objectives
B1 Identify the audience of various epistles.
B2 Describe the purposes of various epistles.
A2 Scriptures
B1 Ephesians 1:1-14
B2 Ephesians 4:17-24
B3 Titus 1:1-2:10
A3 Notes
B1 Purpose of the Epistles
C1 Depended on local church's needs
D1 Things were going well as in Thessaloníki, so further teaching is given
D2 Things were going poorly in Corinth, so much instruction is given for correction
C2 Depended on individual's needs
D1 An appeal for the converted slave Onesimus (Philemon)
D2 How to be a better pastor as in Timothy and Titus
B2 All the epistles relate to this verse--"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be proficient, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, EMTV)
C1 Doctrine
D1 The Greek word for doctrine is
E1 didaskalia
E2 It means teaching, instruction, learning.
D2 The epistles have very important teaching that is needed to know about God and His ways.
D3 The epistles have very important teaching that Jesus, as head of the church, wants us to know.
D4 "Until I come, give attention to public reading, to exhortation, to doctrine " (1 Timothy 4:13, EMTV)
D5 Contrary to what many believe, doctrine is important.
D6 A list of common Christian creeds
D7 Arminian Confession of 1621
C2 Reproof
D1 The Greek word is
E1 elegchos
E2 It means conviction, proof, evidence, etc.
E3 It has the idea of convincing some one.
E4 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " (Hebrews 11:1, EMTV)
D2 Doctrine and reproof deal with formal instruction while correction and instruction in righteousness deal with practical issues.
D3 Good apologetics sites (there are answers)
E1 Christian Ministries International
E2 Discernment in the Church If you click on "search" there will be a list of many apologetics sites.
E4 Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig
C3 Correction
D1 The Greek word is epanorthosis
E1 It means to straighten up, correct
E2 It has the idea of what became bend in error was straightened up by the Scriptures
D2 It is only used one time in the Greek New Testament.
C4 Instruction in righteousness
D1 The Greek word is dikaiosune
E1 It means righteousness
E2 It has the idea of conforming to God's will in everything.
D2 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33, EMTV)
D3 "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions." " (Hebrews 1:9, EMTV)
C5 It is Scripture, not the words of humans that change lives, that tell and show the truth, that convict of evil, and show true doctrine, true proof, true correction, and true instruction in righteousness.
C6 Because of this we must read and study the Scriptures.
C7 It is the only source of 100% truth.
B3 Each epistle in the New Testament contains all the above.
C1 Paul's letters
D1 Church Letters
E1 General--Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians
E2 Prison epistles--Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
D2 Pastoral--1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.
C2 General (Catholic) Letters
D1 James
D2 Peter (1 and 2 Peter)
D3 John (1, 2, and 3 John)
D4 Jude
B4 The epistle to the Ephesians is divided into 2 main sections
C1 Doctrine--Chapters 1-3
C2 Practical--Chapters 4-6
A3 Questions
B1 Ephesians 1:1--who wrote Ephesians? (Paul)
B2 Ephesians 1:1--who is the "real" author? (The Holy Spirit)
B3 Ephesians 1:1--who did Paul write to? (The Christians in Ephesus)
B4 Can this letter be applicable to Christians today or does God change with society? (Malachi 3:6)
B5 Ephesians 1:1--How are the Christians described? (Faithful). What does this mean? What are we to be faithful to? Are we faithful?
B6 Ephesians 1:3-16--Does this deal with doctrine, reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness? (Doctrine)
B7 Ephesians 1:2--Is God good or not good? (Good) What does He give His people? (Grace and peace) What is grace? What is peace?
I thought the world is evil; how can we have peace?
B8 Ephesians 1:3--What has God blessed us with? (All spiritual blessings). What are spiritual blessings? What is the meaning of the heavenlies? (Heavenly blessings versus earthly blessings. Some Christians do not have every earthly blessing). What are some earthly blessings? What are some heavenly blessings? (See Ephesians 1:2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14)
B9 Ephesians1:3-16--What is the greatest blessing that God has given us? (Jesus, salvation, the Holy Spirit, etc.)
B10 Ephesians 4:17-24--Does this section deal with doctrine, reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness? (All but mainly practical living). Is there any doctrine taught, or reproof, etc.?
C1 Doctrinal
D1 Ephesians 4:18--What is the description of unregenerate humans?
D2 Ephesians 4:24
E1 What is put on? (The new man) What is the "new man?" (It is the new creation, the rebirth, the spiritual birth, the being born again).
E2 What 3 things is the new man described as? ("...created in the likeness of God, in true righteousness and holiness." Read Galatians 5:22-23).
C2 Reproof--Ephesians 4:22--What is it that we should have put off? (The old man). What is the old man? (The old sinful nature of humans with its thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Read Galatians 5:17-21).
C3 Correction--Ephesians 4:21--How does this verse challenge us? (Have we heard and been instructed by God)?
C4 Instruction in righteousness--Ephesians 4:17-18--How are we no longer to walk?
D1 "...in the vanity of their mind"). What does this mean? (They are deceived. They may think that they are good and have the solutions to the world's problems, as in, "If only people lived like I do, all would be well."
D2 Darkened minds. What does this mean?
E1 "They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" Isaiah 44:18-20.
E2 "...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, in order for them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' Acts 26:18
D3 Estranged from the life of God. What does this mean?
E1 "Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not submit to the law of God, nor indeed can it." Romans 8:7
E2 "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled." Colossians 1:21
D4 Ignorance in them. What does this mean? (Consider 1 Peter 1:14 and 1 Peter 2:15) Where does this ignorance come from?
D5 What does "hardness of heart" mean? (Stubborn) (Some translations use the word "blindness" but the word is best translated hardness).
D6 What is the under lying problem causing all this trouble (Hardness of heart).
B11 Ephesians 4:21--Where/who is the source of truth? (Jesus) How do we know and have this truth? (Salvation and then read/study the Bible). What do most people not do these things?
B12 Titus 1:1-2:10
C1 Titus 1:1--How does Paul describe himself? (Bond servant) What are our choices in whom we serve? Who do we serve?
C2 Titus 1:1--What is the standard is Paul's servanthood? (Faith of God's elect (the religion taught by the Lord Jesus) and acknowledgment of God's truth (submission to God's truth).
C3 Titus 1:5--What are the things that are lacking? (Organization of the church with its leaders and teaching of the Christian faith).
C4 Titus 1:7-9--What are the qualifications of the bishop/elder/pastor/overseer/minister? Are these qualifications still in force today? (Yes) (Reference 1 Timothy 3:2-7).
C5 Titus 1:10-16--What these elders to be doing?
C6 Titus 2:1-10--What are some qualities of a sound church? Do these still apply today? (Yes).
