Read the passage at least 3 times. If possible, download Ephesians 1:1-14 and highlight with colors to enrich your observations. Record your answers in a journal or notebook.
Verses 1-2 give us initial information for the overview of the book, its author and original readers. Note the repetition. Observe the desire in the greeting of the author.
OBSERVATION vs.3-14
- Highlight the verbs.
- What do you notice about the verbs?
- What verb tenses are predominant? (E.g. present, past, imperative)
- Which verbs reflect God’s action, and which reflect human action?
- Underline the prepositions and connecting words that show relationships, causes & effect, or results. (E.g. v.3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.)
- Create a table (see below) with the verbs and the results of actions.
| God’s Actions | So that… |
| v.3. has blessed | v.3. God be praised |
| v.4. chose | v.4. we be holy and blameless in his sight |
| v.5. etc. |
INTERPRETATION
- Write a title for the passage.
- Ponder the meaning of the connections and relationships revealed by the table above. Which are the most striking?
- Why does it appear that Paul wrote this message to the Ephesians?
- What does the passage reveal about God?
APPLICATION
- How do these actions of God’s impact our lives?
- How might this in turn influence our relationships?
- What does this passage contribute to our understanding of how God views us?
- Is there something specific that God is teaching you?
Sojourners y Peregrinas 