Category Archives: Bible Study

Ephesians 1:14

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Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (KJV)

  • Guarantee, arrabon G 728. When this word is used in 2 Corinthians 1:22, 5:5 it is associated with the Holy Spirit who is the pledge of things to come.
  • Inheritance, kleronomias G 2817. We find this word in Ephesians 1:8 and 5:5. Jesus also used it in Matthew 21: 38 and Mark 12:7 to help predict His death.
  • Redemption, apolytrosin G 629. It is used in 1:7 and 4:30. If you look at just the three verses, they paint a great picture – By His blood, we have become His possession and are waiting for “the Day”.
  • Acquired possession, peripoieseos G 4047. 1 Peter 2:9 repeats the idea that we are His possessions.
  • Praise, epainon G 1868. Verses 1:6 and 1:12 also speak of praise and the glory of God.
  • Glory, doxes G 1391. Paul uses the idea of glory eight times in this letter.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ  Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

666

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Man O Man O Man I never thought I would be writing on 666. I have seen this number wrap believers in fear, and Hollywood has helped the paranoia. I have seen a loud rock band in the 80s have this as a venue decoration, of course, they had their own traveling pharmacist also. There have been Christians who have tried to calculate who it is by converting letters to numbers. Then there is the www and an energy drink. I have observed its change as technology has changed, my example is barcodes tattooed on a person to a microchip implanted in you, and do not forget eighteen-digit credit card numbers.

I will look at the occurrences of it in the Bible. This study started because of a post I am doing on Solomon. As I was doing this my wife was reading a book on Revelations – Wedding of the Lamb by James L. Papandrea. He takes a different approach to John’s vision, and he makes many good points. One is the source of John’s concern and who was the 666 he was writing about. Is there an end-time warning and person, probably?

Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:13 and 1 Kings 10:14 tell the same story of how much gold was brought to Solomon each year, 666 talents. Different translators assign various numbers and values to that amount, the NIV has 25 tons (US). We are not told when that amount started coming in or for how long. We know he used it to gold plate the Temple and build up Israel. That was a good use for it, but it should be noted that later kings stripped it off to pay tribute to invaders (That is a Muse Moment). I believe a bad outcome from all of his business dealings and that much money helped to lead his heart away from God.

666 talents of gold a year was it a blessing or curse? Jesus gave up gold streets to be born in a barn and die on a cross, who came out ahead?

Adonikam

Well, he is not a household name. 666 men of his family were part of the first wave of those who returned to Israel when Cyrus let them go (Ezra 2, especially vs 13). Nehemiah relates the same thing but he listed 667 men, no I do not know why.  So, why am I including a list “number”? In Ezra 8:13 Adonikam’s family shows up again by sending more men to Israel, this time with Ezra in the second wave. I think the names are worth mentioning.

  • Adonikam – The lord is raised
  • Eliphelet – God delivers me
  • Jeuel – God hath taken away
  • Shemaiah – God heard

Not the set of names you might expect to be associated with 666.

The Beast and His Number

Hollywood has used these ideas for their own good. I believe many well-meaning Christians have tried to scare people out of Hell with them. Jesus gave Revelations and the visions to warn the Churches in Asia to be on their guard. Yes, parts of that Book were for future times and some of them are only possible now with our advanced technology. So much of what drives us into a frenzy they easily understood, because it was written for them. I will say that in another way; Jesus gave the visions and the imagery for good, not to be confusing or to destroy.

These are not new ideas or even mine, but they are worthy of consideration. 666 shows imperfection and sin. It was probably the coins of the Roman emperor Domitian. (The Expanded Bible and Wedding of the Lamb) The part of Revelation 13:18 that is so in your face is “this calls for wisdom” and “who has insight” has been taken as a challenge so we can show who is right. I am pretty sure there are no bragging rights in Heaven.

The real challenge for the Churches and us is to not worship and follow the idolatry of the rulers of this world system. See the lesson of Solomon, money allows you to do things, but too much will lead you to sin and a hard heart. 

Ephesians 1:13

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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, (KJV)

  • Having heard, akousantes G191.
  • Word, logon G3056. “The Word” is a title of Christ.
  • Of truth, aletheias G225.
  • Gospel, euangelion G2098. The Good News.
  • Salvation, sotenas G4991
  • Having believed, pisteusantes G4100.
  • You were sealed, esphragisthete G4972. Stamped with a seal or mark.
  • Spirit, Pneumatic G4151.
  • Of promise, epangelias G1860.
  • Holy, hagio G40.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ  Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

Ephesians 1:12

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Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Check both of the reference sources. Words appear different but the meanings and Strong’s listings are the same.

I suggest you use a modern translation or read verse 12 as part of verse 11.

  • To be, einai G1510.
  • Us, hemas G1473.
  • Praise, epainon G1868. Paul also uses this word in 1:6 and 1:14. All of these have the word in the same sentence.
  • Glory, doxes G1391.
  • The “ones”, tous G3588.
  • First trusted, proelpkotas G4276. Proelpizo, according to Mounce, is used once in the New Testament. It means to have hope in a person beforehand.
  • Christ, Christo G5547.

We have been chosen by the Father to be praise and be a reason for praise to go to Jesus.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ  Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

Ephesians 1: 3 – 10

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Ephesians 1: 3 – 10 This is KJV and the highlighting was added by me. This was the assignment. Mark what part of this is about the Father and what is about Jesus. I hope in doing this you realized how many times the phrase “in Christ or in Jesus” or the reference was about the Father. There are some statements that were a little unclear, so if yours does not look like mine, that is fine.

Paul wrote this with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To be honest, this is the first time I have done this and was surprised by how much it referenced the Father.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

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: