Who is Paul in this passage and what does apostle mean?

Paul is the writer of this letter. He had been called directly by Jesus to preach the good news, especially to non-Jewish people. When he calls himself an apostle, he is saying he is a sent one, a special messenger of Jesus, not self-appointed but chosen and authorized by God. Apostles were given special gifts and authority in the early church to spread the message of Christ and help guide the first believers. Paul reminds his readers that his role comes from God’s will, not from human choice or ambition.

What does it mean that Paul is an apostle by the will of God?

When Paul says he is an apostle by the will of God, he means his position and work are not his own idea or the result of a human vote. God himself chose and called him. This shows that true spiritual authority comes from God’s decision, not from personal desire or human approval. It also gave the believers in Ephesus confidence that what Paul wrote carried God’s authority. For Paul, this was both an honor and a comfort, because he knew God had placed him in this work and would support him in it.

Who are the saints and the faithful in Christ Jesus at Ephesus?

The saints and faithful in Christ Jesus at Ephesus are the believers in that city’s church. “Saints” means people set apart for God, not perfect people, but those whom God has called to belong to him and to live holy lives. “Faithful in Christ Jesus” describes them as people who believe in Jesus, stay attached to him, and hold firmly to his teaching. These two phrases go together: a real saint is someone who truly trusts in Christ, and a real believer is someone set apart for God. This is how Paul sees ordinary Christians.

What does grace and peace mean in Paul’s greeting?

In Paul’s greeting, grace is God’s free and undeserved love and favor, and all the inner gifts of the Holy Spirit that flow from that love. Peace is the result of grace: a settled relationship with God and the blessings that come with it, both spiritual and, at times, outward. Paul reminds them that real peace cannot exist without God’s grace. He also shows that these blessings do not come from themselves, but from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, who has purchased these blessings and has the right to give them.

Why does Paul greet them with grace and peace if they already believe?

Paul knows these believers have already received grace and peace from God, but he also knows they still need more. The Christian life is not about one past moment only; believers need fresh help and deeper peace as they go on. By praying “grace be to you, and peace,” he is asking God to increase what he has already begun in them. Even strong believers still need new supplies of God’s grace to grow, to endure trials, and to live holy lives, so it is fitting to keep praying that grace and peace will abound.

What does this passage teach about the identity of believers?

This passage shows that believers are not just loosely connected followers. They are saints, people set apart for God, and faithful in Christ Jesus, joined to him like branches to a vine. Their identity is not based on their city, status, or strength, but on their union with Christ. They receive grace and peace from God as their Father, and from the Lord Jesus as their Savior. This means every Christian, whether well-known or not, shares this same name and standing before God, and is called to live in a way that fits that identity.

What does this greeting teach about God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?

The greeting shows that grace and peace come from both God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God is not spoken of only as Creator here, but as Father in a special way to those who belong to Christ. Jesus is called Lord and is joined with the Father as the source of blessing. This tells us that the Father and the Son work together in saving and caring for believers. The Father plans and gives, the Son has purchased grace and peace, and now shares them with his people. It shows close unity between the Father and the Son.

How can this simple greeting shape the way believers speak to each other today?

Paul’s greeting is more than polite words. He truly desires that God’s grace and peace would rest on his readers. This can shape how believers talk to each other today. Instead of empty greetings, they can speak with a real wish for God’s favor and peace in each other’s lives. It also reminds them that every fellow believer is a saint and faithful in Christ, someone set apart for God. Seeing one another this way encourages respect, prayer, and kindness, and helps believers remember that they are all under the same grace.

Eph.1.1

Ephesians 1:1

KJV

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:

Paul’s Greeting to the Ephesians

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.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.