Ephesians 1 the most abused passage by Calvinists

[praise_yeshua]

Without getting too deep into a discussion on John 6:44 in a topic on Ephesians 1 …. What about the rest of John 6. I see a flaw in extracting the verse from its context and whatever Jesus’ intended meaning, John (the author) placed it within a themed collection of verses that precisely DOES connect the dots from the Father to the Son to Eternity for those “drawn” and the “will of the Father”.

An unarmed group...

How do you conclude you have exclusive privileges like the Pharisees claimed in Abraham? The ones that claimed they "never been in bondage to anyone"...... while they were in bondage to Rome?

 

[civic]

Ephesians 1 the most abused passage by Calvinists​

Respectfully, John 6:44 is “abused” FAR more often by Calvinists than Ephesians 1.

We agree

 

[TomL]

We agree

Both are abused, but I would select Ephesians 1 as the most abused

 

[civic]

Both are abused, but I would select Ephesians 1 as the most abused

and Romans 9 is in the race.

 

[TomL]

and Romans 9 is in the race.

Yeah, I have to agree with that

In fact, I would have to make it numero uno.

 

[Complete]

Paul makes the distinction with 2 groups below and contrasts them.

The Jews who were Apostles ( we, us, our ) who first believed and were the ones predestined / chosen and with the gentiles ( you ) who believed after, later in verses 13 and beyond. They gentiles did not have the wisdom, knowledge and the mysteries were revealed to the Apostles not the gentiles. Paul is teaching them those mysteries in this letter and educating them. This passage refutes Calvinism it does not support it whatsoever. Only if one uses eisegesis can verses 1-12 be applied to a Calvinist. Exegetically it applies to the Apostles who were given the knowledge, wisdom, the mysteries revealed to them by ejection / predestination not the gentiles in Ephesus.

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

To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ​

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. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

( Now Paul goes from we the apostles to them the gentile Ephesians. The apostles were the first to believe with wisdom from God and not prays for them to have the same wisdom they have)


13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer​

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

conclusion: the predestined group ( Jewish Apostles ) were the first to believe and were given all wisdom, understanding knowing the mystery of His will. The gentiles ( you, them ) were not the first to believe until way later after Paul was sent to them after Acts 13. They were prayed for by Paul as a group to be blesses with wisdom, knowledge, enlightenment so they may know ( they did not know at that time) and did not know the mysteries like the group in 1:3-12. Paul is making the distinction between the Apostles and who he is writing to like he does in most of his other letters in the introduction of this letter.

'Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
to the saints which are at Ephesus,
and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.'
(Eph 1:1-2)

Hello @civic,

This is such a precious letter, being one of the prison epistles written by Paul following the revelation that he received from God concerning the Church which is the Body of Christ. (Eph. Phil. Col. 2 Tim. Titus & Phil), containing the truth of The Mystery made known to Him alone, to be administered, following the event of Acts 28, and the third and final quotation from Isaiah 6:9-10, in Acts 28:25-27; when Paul announced in verse 28 that, 'the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.'

* To understand this blessed truth, it having been 'hid in God' (3:9) prior to it's revelation at that time, and therefore 'unsearchable' either in the Old Testament prophetic writings, Paul's earlier epistles, the gospels, the general epistles or the book of Revelation: The words of the prayer of verse 17 onwards are vital to it's understanding:-

'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 eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of His calling,
and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power,
Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead,
and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
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:
And hath put all things under His feet,
and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.'
(Eph 1:17-23)

Praise God!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Alive]

I agree with the OP in that Ephesians 1:4-5 is simply telling us that God had a plan for those who would believe. One big reason Ephesians 1:4-5 does not teach Calvinism is that, in Ephesians 2:8, Paul tells the Ephesians that they are saved by grace through faith. He doesn’t only say by grace, but he also says through faith.

 

[Complete]

'But God, Who is rich in mercy,
for His great love wherewith He loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ,
( by grace ye are saved )
And hath raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace
in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.'
(Eph 2:4-10)

Praise God!

 

[TomL]

I agree with the OP in that Ephesians 1:4-5 is simply telling us that God had a plan for those who would believe. One big reason Ephesians 1:4-5 does not teach Calvinism is that, in Ephesians 2:8, Paul tells the Ephesians that they are saved by grace through faith. He doesn’t only say by grace, but he also says through faith.

Yep. That plan is to present believers as holy and blameless before him in love.

There is nothing there about unconditionally electing men to salvation