Ephesians 1:15

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Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

  • Having heard, akouo G191.
  • Faith, pistis G4102.
  • Lord, kyri G 2962. Remember that capital letters and punctuation were not in the original Greek.
  • Love, agape G 26.
  • Saints, hagious G 40.

Verse 15 starts a prayer that goes to the end of the chapter.

We need to remember that it has been several years since Paul was in Ephesus. I see and hear the heart of a father rejoicing that his spiritual children are doing well in their faith.

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)

Abraham – Genesis 15

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Genesis 15 represents “two days” in the life of Abram (who became Abraham). I believe, the journey for “the father of the faithful” should be viewed in context. This story sits between a great moment in Abram’s life and one that may have seemed good but had many sorrows come from it. Abram was blessed by Melchizedek, got a promise and a covenant with God, and then had Sarah help God out. Genesis 15 holds much prophetic material in it, but today, I want to focus on the firepot and torch.    

Making a Covenant

Genesis 15:9 – 21 describes the “cutting” of the covenant, it lists the animals and who walked between them and the conditions that were to be observed. In the devotional book Destined to Reign, Joseph Prince has the thought on 1/10 and 2/24 that the covenant was between the Father and the Son with Abram and his descendants benefiting from this covenant. In the passage, Abram does not walk through the pieces of the animals, but a smoking firepot and a burning torch (vs 17) make the trip. It is these two things that represent the Father and the Son.

Smoking Firepot and a Burning Torch

I do see the Trinity in this scene and not just the Father and the Son. If I may, the Holy Spirit is carrying the firepot and the torch; just like the Poles of the Ark allowed the Mercy Seat and the Chest/Ark to be carried among men.

The cloud/smoke-producing fire or cooking pot represents the Father. Why I link these two together comes from the New Testament and the times that the Father spoke to or about Jesus from a cloud: Matthew 17 (the Transfiguration), and at Jesus’ baptism.

Jesus is the burning torch that is the Light of the World, even in our darkest night. “The Glory” is used in some passages instead of a flame or fire. Another thing is lightening; at this point some of these associations are thin. Ah, such is the life of metaphors, at times we may be forcing things to meet our paradigms.

The cloud and light metaphor is seen again when Israel passes through the Red Sea. Take a few moments and compare the similarities of Genesis 15 and Exodus 14. Most of the references to clouds and fire relate to the pillar that led Israel for forty years as they passed through the wilderness. They also appear when God is on Mount Sinai giving Moses and Israel the Law or terms of the first covenant.

Genesis 15:17 Hebrew Text Analysis (biblehub.com)

Here are some verses.

  • Exodus 13:21, 14:20, 19:9 and 16-18, 20:18, 40:38
  • Numbers 9:15
  • Deuteronomy 1:33, 4:11, 5:22
  • Psalm 78:14, 105:39, 18:8/2 Samuel 22:9
  • Psalm 91:1 I feel is special because Moses is commending those who choose to dwell under the Cloud.
  • 1 Kings 8:11 The dedication of the Temple.
  • Isaiah 4:5, 30:27
  • Joel 2:30 and Acts 2:19 This resembles the conditions on Mount Sinai.
  • Matthew 17:5 – a bright cloud

Why Two Days?

Please note that in Genesis 1 a day was identified as the evening and the morning. Hebrews started the 24 hours as the sunset. Several ideas come from this: we start from rest and things start in the dark and go to light.

Genesis 15:5 has Abram outside counting stars. He gathered, cut three large animals, and arranged them for the ceremony. Verse 17 has the sun setting and darkness covering the land as the smoking pot and burning torch appear.

Heart of God

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The heart, the heart of God, the heart of man, follow your heart, and Valentine’s Day all had something to do with starting this study. No, I am not going to cover all of those topics, but this study led me to places I did not expect. I began by putting “heart God” in the search box in Bible Gateway. Many verses came up, I looked at every one of them. What I did not find surprised me, more on that later.

The Heart

Preachers, poets, and movie people provide palpitations. Do our modern thoughts on the “heart” actually sync with the ancient words and ideas? Over the years I have read many different opinions and thoughts on the subject (I have no references). Read the Strong’s references and you will see there were metaphorical aspects to the thoughts on the heart or what controlled people.

Strong’s Greek: 2588. καρδία (kardia) — heart (biblehub.com)

Strong’s Hebrew: 3820. לֵב (leb) — inner man, mind, will, heart (biblehub.com)   See H3824.

Take a Muse Moment to consider an intelligent, observant populace. Please compare an active beating heart that was in the center of your chest that changed speeds at certain times; to a glob of stuff locked away in your skull that only gave you headaches. What would you think was important?

I tend to believe that our modern society wants to nullify God and put us in His place. We think too much of our hearts (emotions and feelings). Why would God allow or even use that imagery? When you are in the lead, you have to let your followers catch up.

The Heart of Man

Please consider these popular cliches: follow your heart, my heart was not in it, my heart’s desire, bless your heart. Hollywood, Wall Street, and a sin nature can be a problem, but there are many positive thoughts also.

The free will we have is the problem. God wants us to choose Him. The Tree that Eve picked and Adam ate from also shades the way we “naturally” chose to go. So, as you study the heart of man in the Bible the overwhelming number of verses refer to us not picking Him or going His Way.

What I Did Not Find

I did not find many verses that specifically refer to God’s leb or kardia. In my first search, I found Ezekiel 28: 2 and 6. Because there was a still small voice telling me to go further, I turned to my “leaf and ink” version of Strong’s Concordance and found three more: Genesis 6:6, Jeremiah 3:15, and 32:41. There may be more and the translation you use may require more study; using the meanings of leb or kardia are going to be the path. (Let me know.) The verses I will add from the New Testament will not have kardia in them but the Hebrew ideas associated with leb. I believe these should be part of this study because you have Hebrews writing in Greek.

The exoteric anthropomorphism of a beating heart in our God, in Scripture, was put there by our God. So, it is how He chooses to portray Himself and we need to learn about Him through this self-revelation. I will use bullet points just because, again leb and kardia are the focus thoughts, not our English words.

  • Genesis 6:6 – God is grieved because of man.
  • Jeremiah 3:15 – the Father will give us shepherds who will feed us.
  • Jeremiah 32:41 – He will plant us in His land.
  • Ezekiel 28:2 and 6 – these verses are about the king of Tyre, who believes he has a heart like God’s.
  • Romans 8:27 – the “mind of the Spirit” and the “will of God”. φρόνημα | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com
  • Romans 12:2 – “renew our minds” to prove His will. These are different Greek words in this verse.
  • 1 Corinthians 2:16 – “mind of the Lord” and we have the “mind of Christ”. (Isaiah 40:13 is a reference for this verse.) Please start in verse 10 and read through 16 for the complete thought. Your translation may have the word “thought” added for clarity. 1 Corinthians 2:11 Greek Text Analysis (biblehub.com)

The Heart of God

So, there does not seem to be many verses on the heart of God, or is there? Over the years many have told me what the heart of God is, needs, or wants. Were they in the know? (Please, this is a study.)

As I worked on this post, three ideas were reinforced in me. 1. His written Word reveals the heart of God. 2. Do not be quick to claim the heart of God. 3. The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the heart of God.

I give two of many verses that show what our God is like.

Psalm 86:5 (NASB) For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.

Psalm 33:4-5 (NIV) For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Ezekiel 28

Verse 2 in the NASB is, “Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘The Lord God says this: “Because your heart is haughty And you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods In the heart of the seas’; Yet you are a mortal and not God, Although you make your heart like the heart of God.” (From Bible Gateway) This was the first verse I found that cited the heart of God. I did another search on this website Ezekiel 28:2 Hebrew Text Analysis (biblehub.com). Verse 6 also uses these words and ideas.

Tyre has a long and complicated place in Scripture, it starts with David and continues into the New Testament with Jesus and even into the Book of Acts. Joshua used it as a reference point. I will offer a “light look” at this verse.

  • Ezekiel was a captive in Babylon when God gave him this word to speak.
  • It appears to be written to a man. Most scholars will tell you this also refers to Satan.
  • The Complete Jewish Bible has, “You think that you think like God”. Many translations use this instead of the heart to portray the inner part of God.

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.