Ephesians 81-82_10a Ephesians 1:10-23
Ephesians 1981-82 Corps Teachings. Lesson 7 Part 1: Ephesians 1:10-23
Format: AUDIO
Publication Date: 1981-82
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
EPHESIANS 1:10-23
November 13, 1981
Now tonight we’ve got to go to Ephesians chapter 1 and we begin with verse 10. The
King James reads:
Ephesians 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in
one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
even in him:
The word “dispensation” is the word oikonomia. And I ought to say to you that if
you’re in The Corps, the teaching on Ephesians last year should be listened to, because I’m
by-passing a lot of the things that I’ve taught last year and just coming up with more or
less some detail and then the…the a…the a…translations, first of all, according to usage
and then an expanded one simply to the best of my ability, but I know you here at Emporia
were given an outline and material on what was taught last year, and I’m grateful for the
people who do that for you. But if you’ve got enough drive within yourself, you’ll listen to
those things and you put it in your heart and mind.
You see, the greatness of Ephesians is just fantastic, so it’s up to you. If you want it,
it’s available. You just go get it. Because all you have to do is listen to last year and do a
little bit that I’m sharing this year and you can put together the great Book of Ephesians for
yourself.
The word “administration” is the word ika…oikonomia; and I’ve taught you that many
times. It comes from the word oikos (o-i-k-o-s) meaning house and nomos (n-o-m-o-s)
meaning a rule or the order that’s conducted within that house. And here in Ephesians it
refers to the way in which God will administer a period called the fullness of time
administration.
That word “fullness” is the word plēroō, Corps; not filled to overflowing, but filled to
capacity.
And the word “times” puts it within the framework of a limited period of time. It is
a…an appointed time, and it’s that word is in opposition to the word chronos
(c-h-r-o-n…), the Greek word meaning a general time. This administration of the fullness
is an appointed time. Again, it’s an administration, Corps. Don’t you understand? That will
fit into the one period of time and one period of time only. That’s why that word is used.
The greatness of this verse is just significantly important because, well, here’s the
literal according to usage and then you’ll understand why it’s so tremendous. Verse 10:
That in the next administration, next administration. This administration that you and I are
in, the administration of Grace of the Mystery, that’s one thing. But “in the next
administration,” that administration, Corps, is the fullness of time. The literal according to
usage is:
Ephesians 1:10 Literal translation according to usage
That in the next administration when the fullness of time is come all things
in heaven and on earth again shall be made new in Christ.
And this is the expanded one:
Ephesians 1:10 Expanded translation
That in the next administration of the filled to capacity appointed time
everything again in heaven and on earth shall be made new.
What a tremendous truth from God’s Word. This administration of grace in which you
and I are living is fantastic. It’s wonderful. But in the next administration everything is
going to be filled to capacity in that appointed time, everything again upon earth and in
heaven shall be made new in Christ. And we’ll be back to something like Genesis at the
beginning, only better. Verse 11 in the King James reads:
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of
his own will:
There’s a fantastic work on inheritance that The Research Department has given me,
and there are two ways in which the Bible scholars in the past have looked at this
inheritance. Number one is: We were given an inheritance, which is the Authorized
Version. Number two is: We were made an inheritance, and that is the Revised Version.
Here in Ephesians 1:11, I do not believe that it refers to our obtaining an inheritance
primarily, but that we were taken by God, called by God for His inheritance. We were
made God’s inheritance, because people, in Him we were chosen. We were chosen by God
for an inheritance. And in this particular work here in this verse, you uh…you have to
work the words “portion,” or “lot” or “dividing” in the Word.
See, this word “inheritance” is the Greek word spelled e-k-l-long ē-r-o-long ō-t-h-long
ē-m-e-n,5 and that is a form of the word klēroō spelled k-l-long ē-r-o-long ō. And that word
klēroō means to assign by lot. And when you work that word “assign by lot,” its…it
basically means to fence off. Another beautiful translation is to encircle (to encircle), to put
a circle around, around it. So it means we were made an inheritance. We were circled
around by God, made His inheritance. That’s the greatness of it. We are God’s inheritance
chosen by lot and circled around by God.
The word “predestinated” I certainly need not discuss further with The Corps. We’ve
done that so many times that sooner or later you ought to all have it running out of your
ears. Because of God’s foreknowledge He is able to do what? Predestinate. And that again,
predestinate means to mark out. He marked out. Like the boundaries of a property are
marked out. So we are marked out. You could go with branded. We are branded
beforehand as God’s property, God’s inheritance, Corps. And God’s foreknowledge is
again the great key, the key to this.
The words “according to” set the standard.
“…counsel of his will”—The word again “will” is thelēma, meaning the intensive
desire of God’s will.
5 eklērōthēmen
And the translation of verse 11, according to literal usage is:
Ephesians 1:11 Literal translation according to usage
And in Him we were made an inheritance also marked out beforehand as
God’s property according to God’s intense desire.
And the expanded one is, I think, really wonderful.
Ephesians 1:11 Expanded translation
In the fullness of time administration we in Christ, the Church of the Body,
because of God’s foreknowledge have an established inheritance, for in
Christ we were chosen as God’s inheritance for an inheritance having been
marked out for this purpose by the intense desire of God.
Verse 12, King James.
Ephesians 1:12
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
The word “that” indicates purpose, the purpose for our inheritance, or “to the end that”
would be a good translation.
“…to the praise of his glory,” Corps, literally means to honor God for what He did for
us so gloriously.
“…who first trusted” is who first hoped, and to hope is to expect with genuine
probability. Israel is the one who hoped for the Messiah. The Gentiles had no hope.
The literal translation according to usage of verse 12 is: “For the purpose”—And I like
that translation the best, Corps. If you want to put it in, you could put in “to the end that”
but I like the word “purpose.”
Ephesians 1:12 Literal translation according to usage
For the purpose that we who before hoped for the Messiah should be to the
honor of His glory.
Now the Apostle Paul divi…writing this by divine revelation is why it’s the “we.” “For
the purpose that we.” The “we” specifically refers to Israel, who beforehand hoped for the
Messiah, looked for his day, should be to the honor of His glory.
The expanded translation perhaps will clarify it for you.
Ephesians 1:12 Expanded translation
For the purpose that we, the born again of Israel, who before the first
coming of Christ hoped in the Messiah, should be to the honor of God’s
glory.
Verse 13 in King James reads: “In whom ye also”—we changed from “we” to “ye.”
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise,
That word “salvation” again is the word sōtēria, which means complete wholeness. It
doesn’t just mention…it doesn’t mention spiritual wholeness here, doesn’t have to because
it’s already been mentioned in Romans. This is not only spiritual but it is a wholeness that
is completely, completely whole: spiritual, new body, new mind, everything. That’s the
wholeness [tap, tap] here.
The word “salvation” or wholeness is used in five different ways in the New Testament:
[1.] Number one, it’s used regarding material or temporal wholeness.
[2.] It’s used regarding spiritual wholeness.
[3.] It’s used regarding future wholeness at the return of Christ.
[4.] It is used regarding renewed mind wholeness.
[5.] And finally number 5, it’s used regarding wholeness which is a sum of all of
God’s blessings.
It is significant, Corps, that this word is used 50 times in the New Testament. And
Bullinger is wonderful in his presentation of it because fifty points towards deliverance and
rest. It was a year of jubilee, fifty. It was a year of deliverance. And it’s significant that the
word sōtēr meaning savior is used 24 times in the New Testament, and the number 24 is
always related to government. The total twenty-four is related to heavenly government and
worship. The twelve tribes of Israel the twelve apostles, twenty-four.
“In whom ye also trusted” in the Aramaic is literally “that also you are in him.” It turns
here to the second person here instead of the “we” because he is specifically getting to the
Gentiles. You see, the Judeans, Israel, had forehoped for the Messiah. The Gentiles who
had not known anything beforehand could not hope.
“…after that you heard” is “you cannot believe until you first hear the Word.” Hearing
the Word is prerequisite to believing.
The word “sealed” is used in a fourfold way in the Word, and of course, as you know
from history, sealed is basically done by a signet ring. It’s like a vault is sealed; secondly,
like a letter is sealed; thirdly, like a will or a covenant is sealed; and in the fourth place, it
is the mark of ownership. And Corps all four of these are involved in this thirteenth verse
of Ephesians 1.
And this is the literal translation.
Ephesians 1:13 Literal translation according to usage
In whom [verse 13] (Christ) you (Gentiles) also after you heard the word of
truth which is the gospel of your salvation and in him (Christ) you (Gentiles)
when you believed also were sealed with the promised holy spirit.
And the expanded one.
Ephesians 1:13 Expanded translation
In him Christ you Gentiles also having heard the Word of truth which is the
gospel of your salvation, life, wholeness, and in him, Christ, you Gentiles
also having believed were sealed with the promised holy spirit.
Small “h”, small “s”. Verse 14 in King James reads: “Which is the earnest of our
inheritance.” First of all it’s a parentheses.
Ephesians 1:14
[Parentheses] (Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession), [end of parentheses] unto the praise of his
glory.
This “purchased possession” is the literal marking off of a property. The word literally
means to encircle, like putting a line, a fence, around a property. Remember where Satan
criticized God for putting a hedge around Job? That’s this word. This word carries the idea
of an acquired possession which is encircled, which is marked off, which is fenced around.
The word “peculiar” in Titus 2:14 is this word. We are peculiar people, a marked off, an
encircled people. We are set apart. We are compassed about with a line as God’s property.
God has put a hedge about us. That’s why, Corps, the Adversary absolutely has no legal
rights to intrude, any believer’s life.
It is here in this verse that you recei…that you see that we are a marked off, special
treasure to God. It’s the redemption of the marked off treasure.
The word “earnest” is a token, a pledge.
And this word “redemption” is a threefold usage here: our redemption from the world;
our physical redemption or deliverance today; and thirdly, the redemption of our lives in
the future. And all of this, people, unto the praise of God’s glory.
The literal translation of verse 14 is: (Which is the earnest of our inheritance…may I
have some coffee, of our inheritance—that’s not in the text {Audience laughter}.)
Ephesians 1:14 Literal translation according to usage
(Which is the earnest of our inheritance until we completely enter into and
take possession of our full inheritance) unto the praise of God’s glory.
That’s a great explanation in there because if you go to the end of verse 13 where we
worked “were sealed with the promised holy spirit.” You go to the end of 14, why were
you sealed with the promised holy spirit? Unto the praise of God’s what? {glory}. Then
the parentheses is just by way of explanation. Here’s the expanded translation of 14. “The
sealing”—parenthesis.
Ephesians 1:14 Expanded translation
(The sealing…
Not “c” but “s”.
Ephesians 1:14 Expanded translation
…which is the earnest, token, guarantee, of our Israel and Gentiles marked
off encircled [e-n-circled] inheritance in this life and until we completely
enter into and take possession of our specially marked off treasure, our full
inheritance) unto the honor of God’s glory.
Verse 15, King James.
Ephesians 1:15
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto
all the saints,
This word “wherefore” shows cause and effect, because of this, wherefore, because of
this, on account of this. And this literally shows the result of what’s stated before in verses
13 and 14.
“…after I heard” in the Aramaic reads “from the very time or very beginning of when I
first heard.” From the time that I heard.
The word “faith,” pistis, here is believing, and it’s the believing according to you.
90 EPHESIANS 1981—1982—Taught by Victor Paul Wierwille
“…in the Lord Jesus Christ” is which is in our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of the Greek
manuscripts omit the word “Christ.” I put it in.
This is the literal according to usage of verse 15.
Ephesians 1:15 Literal translation according to usage
Wherefore I also when I first heard of your believing which is in our Lord
Jesus Christ and your love which is to all the saints.
The expanded one:
Ephesians 1:15 Expanded translation
On account of this from the time when I also first heard of the believing
which you had which is in our Lord Jesus Christ and your love which is all
the way unto the saints.
Verse 16 in King James, read…reads:
Ephesians 1:16
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
The “cease not” is a figure of speech where the subject is expressed in a negative way
in order to increase its importance and arrest your attention. The word “cease not” implies
a tremendous diligence in continuing action. The word “cease not” and continue are
logically saying the same thing. If you continue you do what? {cease not}. But the reason
the Word of God puts it in a figure is to put the “umph” in it, puts it in the negative, cease
not, meaning continue to cease not.
The word “prayer” in here…regarding the word “prayer,” there are four major aspects
always wrapped up in prayer, Corps.
[1.] One is supplication, which is a special object or expression of necessity. That’s
supplication.
[2.] Intercession is number two, and intercession is prayer on behalf of another.
[3.] The third usage is the word “prayer,” which literally means a commitment to
God; giving preeminence to God by your personal life commitment to Him.
[4.] And the forth usage is giving of thanks, just be thankful.
The literal translation according to usage of verse 16 is as follows:
Ephesians 1:16 Literal translation according to usage
Cease not giving thanks and making mention of you in my prayers.
The expanded one, verse 16:
Ephesians 1:16 Expanded translation
I at every waking moment and at every thought of you remember your
believing and love continually…
Remember your believing and love—I think we better to go with the participle form.
Ephesians 1:16 Expanded translation
I at every waking moment and at every thought of you remembering your
believing and love continually give thanks for you in my prayers.
EPHESIANS 1:10-23—November 13, 1981 91
Verse 17, King James:
Ephesians 1:17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
“…the father of glory” is a figure of speech, Hypallage (h-y-p-a-l-l-a-g-e), which is
basically an interchange of cases. The usual expression would be “glory of the father.”
That would be the usual expression, but on the interchange it’s “father of glory.” That’s
why he calls attention to it. Like in Acts it’s God of glory, gospel of glory, these are usages
in the Word, cherubims of glory, lord of glory. The emphasis is on the word “Father.” The
Father is to be glorified. He is to be praised. God’s not some far off God with a long beard
and long feet, {audience laughter} long legs. He is near that’s why He’s to be “God of
glory”; that’s why it’s the figure.
And in this verse we’re dealing with spiritual wisdom and spiritual revelation, and
these are received by the operation of the manifestations of the spirit.
The word “knowledge” in this seventeenth verse, Corps, means full precise, complete
knowledge. Here it’s dealing with God’s knowledge, not knowledge pertaining to God, but
God’s knowledge.
The literal translation is of verse 17:
Ephesians 1:17 Literal translation according to usage
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ shall give you full spiritual
knowledge and wisdom out of His fullness.
The expanded:
Ephesians 1:17 Expanded translation
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory shall give you
spiritually, that is to say, spiritual wisdom and spiritual revelation in His full
and precise knowledge.
I wonder how long it’ll take us to believe that. Verse 18 in King James reads:
Ephesians 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know…
And then comes the “what’s”—not kilowatt, just what.
Ephesians 1:18
…that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of
the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Verse 19:
Ephesians 1:19
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward [believe] who
believe,…
You see in 17 God told us that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ absolutely would give
us, you, full spiritual knowledge and full spiritual revelation by the operation of the
manifestations out of His—God’s fullness, God’s full knowledge and wisdom. That agrees
with The Advanced Class. You don’t know everything God knows, but God out of the
fullness of His knowledge gives you that which you need [taps three times]. That fits so
perfectly with it. Now why does God do that? That’s verse 18. For the purpose of it, to the
end that, on account of, that the eyes of your understanding, you know, should get
“Murined” 6 or something.
The word “eyes”—here is in the plural; all other places in the Gospel it’s singular. If
your eye be single, remember? Why is it plural here and every other place in the Gospels
it’s singular? On the American dollar bill at the top of the pyramid one eye [laughter], sort
of interesting isn’t it. Nobody outside of The Way Ministry ever pays attention to detail
like this. They’re not concerned. Well people, every cause has an effect and every effect
has a cause. There has to be a reason. Why did Jesus talk about the eye singular, yet here in
Ephesians it’s plural, the eyes of your understanding being lit up. Why? I don’t know.
{Audience laughter.}
First of all, the eye or eyes do not produce light. Eyes simply pass light from the
outside in, from the object viewed at or looked at through the lens of the eye. And then the
light rays are bent and the image is inverted on the retina upside down and you see it right
side up [chuckles]. The optic nerve passes it to the brain. Without the brain with the light
coming in you still wouldn’t know the object, but because the outside comes through the
eyes, inverted, goes up to the brain, it’s interpreted, that’s how you know. So without the
brain, and we’re going to end up with renewed mind sure as shooting, what use is the light
to the eye?
The eye is a gateway. It indicates undivided loyalty. If you see one thing through your
right eye and another thing through your left, you’d go nuts if your brain would interpret
[taps on desk]. You got it? Have to see the same thing. That’s why in the singular Gospel
period it said if the eye is single then the body is full of what? God is light. Remember that
we are filled with all the fullness of God—light. Corps, you just cannot receive conflicting
information via the five senses and via the spirit at the same time. The eye expresses the
concept of concentration. Single eye concentrating on one thing. An active mind, Corps,
focused on the light of God’s Word is required for the believer’s eyes to be enlightened.
Without the Word you stay in darkness. In other words, for the eyes to be enlightened, it
takes renewed mind effort upon the already written Word and God’s revelation to faithful
believers.
The reason it’s in the plural in the Ephesians record is because spiritually you were
designed with the new birth with Christ in you, the hope of glory, to spiritually see twice as
much as the single eye could see in the Gospel. You are not just a conqueror, you’re more
than what? {a conqueror}. And with the eyes you can see all dimensions of God’s Word,
sir, its length, its breadth, its depth and its height, which you cannot do with one. Having
both of your eyes enlightened by the spirit within a singular focus on God and His Word,
Corps. That’s this verse.
Well, the word “understanding” means the seat of your personal life or the center of
your mind.
This word “enlightened” includes also to be enlivened. If you’re enlightened, you’ll be
enlivened (l-i-v-e-n-e-d). “…that ye may know”—You and I cannot know all the fullness
of our inheritance by experience until the Return, but we can know that which has already
6 Dr. Wierwille invented his own gerund as in Murine eye drops -- a highly advertised product at that time.
Murine promised to “get the red out,” to clear and brighten one’s eyes.
been revealed now, so that you do not question, you do not doubt, you do not need to mess
around walking, not knowing where you are going. That you may know.
And then come the “what’s” [laughter]. The “what’s” are again a figure of speech. It’s
called Anaphora, successive phrases or clauses that start with the same word. You’ve got
three of them here.
Well, here’s the literal, 18: The heart…18. Am I at 18? That’s right. The eyes of your
heart, is what I wanted to say. This literal.
Ephesians 1:18a Literal translation according to usage
The eyes of your heart having been enlightened that your understanding
shall…
And people, I used the word “shall” because that’s the absolute tense. I hope you
understand the usage of will and shall. You better by now; you’re Corps.
Ephesians 1:18b Literal translation according to usage
… your understanding shall be acquainted with the hope of God’s calling
and the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.
The expanded of 18:
Ephesians 1:18 Expanded translation
That the eyes of your understanding heart having been enlightened and
enlivened [e-n-l-i-v-e-n-e-d] that they shall absolutely know what is the
hope that is to say God’s calling and what the riches of the glory of God’s
inheritance is in the saints.
In verse 19, literal—the third “what.” And what, and what, verse 19, literal according
to usage.
Ephesians 1:19 Literal translation according to usage
And what is God’s super abundant power to us who believe.
The expanded of 19 is:
Ephesians 1:19 Expanded translation
And what is the super abundant greatness of God’s spiritually inherent
potential power…
[Dr. Wierwille quietly and lovingly says:] (Honey, don’t go to sleep on me—I throw
you out of the Corps, okay? Honey, you can sleep when you die but you can’t sleep when I
work all day to teach you the greatness of God’s Word. You got to be “stupider” now to go
to sleep on me. You irritate me to death. Make me feel like wrapping up and go home, let
you all die [taps on desk]. Nobody teaches [taps three times] you the Word like this; they
don’t know it. Honey, I like you but damn it, you go to sleep on me in the Corps, you
ought to leave; ain’t going to stand for the Word anyways. (Shut up Wierwille, damn it.
Where am I? Verse 19? [Sighs]). I forgot where I was [taps desk]. Okay, just keep your
pants on. This is the expanded one I’m working on.)
Ephesians 1:19 Expanded translation
And what is the super abundant greatness of God’s spiritually inherent
potential power to you also the believers according to the energizing of
God’s strength of His powerful ability.
Well now that’s a fantastic verse, kids. What is the super abundant greatness. Look at
those words. More than conquerors, super conquerors, more than abundant life. Same deal
here. Super abundant life, super conquerors, super abundant greatness of God’s spiritually
inherent potential power. That’s dunamis. We have never measured the inherent spiritual
potential power in the believer, cause we keep getting talked out of it by the world, by
society and by our own continued unbelief. And that spiritual inherent potential power is
according to the energy…energizing of God’s strength of His powerful ability in every
born-again believer [taps once].
Verse 20, King James.
Ephesians 1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him
at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
[Sighs a couple of times.] I should have told you this but my mind flipped on me when
somebody went to sleep on me [slaps hands down]. But that exceeding greatness of verse
19 [tapping continually during this phrase], the word huper is used in there, and the usage
of that word marks the struggle in the usage of language, honey, to communicate the
immensity of God’s Word, exceeding greatness.
The words “greatness of His power” is that figure that shifts it from power to the
governing noun, greatness. The emphasis is on the greatness. Every person has power. A
little baby has power but an adult has more; that’s why this word shifts it to the greatness
of it. The greatness of God’s power, the super abundant greatness of that power which is in
you, with Christ in you, the hope of glory [taps fist].
Verse 20. The word “raised” here is significant. It was a great day in my life when I
was able to work the Word and find out that there’s a fantastic difference between the word
“resurrection” and the word “raised” or “rise.” And outside of our ministry I don’t know of
anybody that handles it. To them they are synonymous like formed, made and created;
body, soul and spirit (or something). Not to us.
The word “resurrection” is the word anastasis, and that is never used of the Church of
the Body, because to have a resurrection everybody has to be dead, and there will never be
a day when the Church of the Body will all be dead. For with the return of Christ, some
will still be what? {alive}. That’s why the word “resurrection” is not used and cannot be
used regarding the Church of the Body.
The word anistemi means to be raised. It is used of raising people who have been given
the ability to get up. The alarm clock gives you that occasionally {audience chuckles}.
And then people rising up of their own will or volition because now they have the ability.
[Sigh and long pause.] The form of this verb…the word used here, the verb form used in
1:20 is an active participle form meaning having raised. God did the raising. If God had
not raised him, woke him up, Christ would not have risen.
The word “the dead” literally is out of the house of the dead.
“…and set him” is he caused him to be seated. The Greek word kathizō, kathizō
(k-a-t-h-i-z-o) is the root of the word from which we get the word “cathedral.” Kathizō—
cathedral. [Laugther.] That’s the bishop’s seat.
“…right hand” you ought to know: hand of blessing. It’s a figure. God doesn’t have
hands, Condescensio, puts the oomph into it.
Literal according to usage of 21…20.
Ephesians 1:20 Literal translation according to usage
Which He worked in Christ having raised him out from among the dead and
made him to sit at His right hand in the heavenlies.
Expanded:
Ephesians 1:20 Expanded translation
Which God caused in Christ having raised him out from among the house of
the dead and having caused him to be enthroned at God’s right hand in the
heavenlies.
Ephesians 1:21 reads in King James:
Ephesians 1:21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to
come:
What’s in a name? Your name is about the sweetest thing you’ve got. Call you by any
other name, you don’t respond. There’s a lot in a name, and there’s a great Orientalism
regarding names. If you study the Orientalism of a name, you will find out that I could
plead for deliverance or blessing if I would plead it in the name of someone of greater
authority than myself. Then if that individual stands for me, then I have the privilege and
the blessing of seeing his name covering for me. So what’s in a name? Depends upon the
quality of that name. And the name of Jesus Christ is unequaled, sir.
Well, you know, principalities, power, might and dominion, they are all “doosies.” You
will see that these words deal with two basic words, rulership and lordship, and you have
here again the beautiful figure of speech of Polysyndeton: and power and might and
dominion and every name.
Principalities, power, might, dominion are another figure, Synomia, synonyms. They
are repetition of words from a different root that have a similar meaning or associated
meaning.
The word “world” is the word “age.”
Verse 21 literally translated is:
Ephesians 1:21 Literal translation according to usage
Far above all principalities and potential and exercised power and lordship
in every name named not only in this age but in the coming age also.
This is the expanded:
Ephesians 1:21 Expanded translation
Far above all rulership with power and lordship with all might and above
the greatest of all names in this world and in that which is to come.
I thought it was significant that the word “power” goes with rulership and the word
“might” with lordship.
Verse 22, King James.
Ephesians 1:22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
things to the church,
He “hath put all things”—the Aramaic has “and He,” God, subjected all things to Jesus
Christ. The Aramaic is accurate. God put all things in subjection under Christ’s dominion,
under his rulership and under his lordship as they were in Adam in the beginning. Adam
had rulership and he had lordship with all pight…all power and might over everything. All
things are in subjection under his feet, so with Christ in you, the hope of glory, all that
original rulership with power, lordship with might, all in subjection under your feet in his
name which is above all names [slams hands down on desk. Long pause and sighs].
Literal according to usage:
Ephesians 1:22 Literal translation according to usage
And God put all things [22] under subjection to Jesus Christ and God gave
Jesus Christ to be the head over all things in the church.
1:23 reads in Kings James:
Ephesians 1:23
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Theologians have argued for years on whether it’s active or passive. I have no problem
with it. It’s very simple to me, because until the Return of Christ, the Body is not yet
completely filled, so it cannot be passive, it has to be active. It’s still being filled. I don’t
know what in the heck they want to argue about but I guess they have a good time messing
up {audience chuckles}.
The Aramaic is real interesting in here because it puts this—this verb in the extra
extensive form, which means he is absolutely guaranteed filling, filling, filling, he is just
doing it all the time, absolutely. God does the filling, people, and He fills the Body in two
ways, Corps: number one, with every spiritual blessing at the time of the new birth just like
your first birth, you were filled physically with every genetic physical ability that you’ll
ever have. So in the new birth He fills it with every spiritual blessing. How much you use
is your decision. But you could not make a decision if you did not know, and Christians
haven’t known for centuries [slams hands down]. They only got saved accidentally. You
know, they confessed with their mouth and they didn’t know half the time what they were
doing, writing out all their sins and all that stuff. But by God’s mercy and their grace—His
grace when they confessed and they believed God raised him from the dead, even if they
wrote out all of their sins, didn’t make any difference, they still got saved [taps on desk
four times]. Hardly anybody has ever dared to believe or teach what the Word says here
that we are filled with every spiritual—but to me it’s simple. When a little baby is born, all
the potential is in that baby. When you’re born again, where do you think that potential is?
In the baby, honey, Christ in you, the hope of glory [taps on desk three times]. [Long
pause.] Secondly, God fills the entire Body of Christ with His members, and that Body will
only be completely full with the Return of Christ.
The meaning then literally is filled to capacity by God who is filling all things in all
members. And of course, the body is a Metaphor, figure of speech.
“Fullness…that filleth” is a figure of speech.
“…filleth all in all” is a figure of speech.
This verse is just loaded with power. Here’s the literal according to usage, 23:
Ephesians 1:23 Literal translation according to usage
Which indeed is Christ’s body being filled to full capacity by Him who
completely perfects all in everyone.
And this is the expanded:
Ephesians 1:23 Expanded translation
The Church which is his body that which is absolutely being filled to
capacity by God who completely perfects all things in every member or in
all members.
And that’s the first chapter of Ephesians, Corps.
{Audience applause.}