Ephesians 81-82_12 Ephesians 2:4-10
Ephesians 1981-82 Corps Teachings. Lesson 9: Ephesians 2:4-10. EPHESIANS 2:4-10 December 16, 1981 We concluded in our last session last week with the third verse of Ephesians chapter 2. Tonight we go to chapter 2, verse 4. “But…” King James: Ephesians 2:4 …God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, The word “but” in this verse sets this verse in contrast to the preceding parenthesis of verses 2 and 3 (well, por…portions of…yes, 2 and 3), and it resumes the thoughts that were presented in verse 1. The word “rich” in this verse is a figure of speech Condescensio or Anthropopatheia where human passions, actions or qualities are attributed to God. God is rich. In actuality, only men pile up money, material possessions. God has no such need. The word “in mercy”—See, I explained mercy and grace to you the other week again. Uh….Grace makes it possible for us to receive blessings we do not deserve. Mercy, we deserve it, the judgment, but it’s withheld. And grace is used 12 times in the Book of Ephesians, although “of mercy” only occurs this one time. The Aramaic has this word “mercies”—mercy in the plural. The “love wherewith he loved us” is a figure of speech Polyptoton (p-l…p-o-l-y-p-t-o-t-o-n). It’s a repetition of words in different inflections or parts of speech, and this particular usage here lends great emphasis to the words “love” and “loved” that are couched in this figure. So, Walter, I’d like for you to come in please. I’d like to give you in the Corps, of course, the literal according to usage of verse 4. “But…” verse 4: Ephesians 2:4 Literal translation according to usage …God is rich in mercies [plural] because of His great love with which He loved us. The expanded one is really not expanded much. “But…” the word “is”—“But God is.” The text reads: Ephesians 2:4 Expanded translation But God being rich in mercies because of His great love [where with He love…great love] with which He loved us. Now verse 5 in King James reads: Ephesians
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other things in this verse, this word “workmanship.” The Greek word is spelled p-o-i-long ē-m-a; poiēma, workmanship, poiēma. I think we used it once for an art gathering or some- 130 EPHESIANS 1981—1982—Taught by Victor Paul Wierwille thing…poiēma, workmanship. The result of the action was me, first birth [taps]. You got it? The second birth, the result of whose action? God’s action. That’s why the word is so tremendous. It means that which God makes or does. God’s work, God’s work. The first work of my dad and mother was not perfect, but they liked it. People, this work of God, this work of God, would He like it? My golly, how many times haven’t people slapped God in the face who have been born again by saying how unworthy they are and “no gooders.” God is perfect; therefore, this workmanship could be translated “masterpiece.” We are God’s workmanship, God’s perfection, God’s masterpie