Ephesians 5 - The Great Mystery Chiasm

Ephesians 5 speaks about marriage, but it is not about marriage.  Ephesians 5 speaks about Christian living, but it is not about Christian living.  Ephesians 5 speaks about singing in Christian worship, but it is not about singing in Christian worship.  If it is not about these things, just what IS it about?

Ephesians 5 is about God's great mystery, the church of Christ.  It is illustrated here by Paul primarily by marriage and "clean" living which includes "singing to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs."

Ephesians 5 tells us primarily about Christ's relationship to the church which is a "great mystery."  Since Paul in several places reveals the mysterious church of Christ (the mystery is that the gospel is for all, not just the Jews) and makes sure by inspiration that the church of Christ remain a mystery no longer!

The Jews organized their writings (including Inspired Scripture) is a way unlike extant Westerners (shocking!).  Instead of lining up arguments in a line with a conclusion at the end, Hebraic literature would often have a thesis in the middle with arguments on the front end descending to the thesis and corresponding arguments ascending backwards to the thesis.  These "chiasms" rendered emphasis without repetition.  There also was an "internal tension" between the various top and bottom assertions.  For example, the "no uncleanness to be named among you" of Ephesian 5.3 - 5 is contrasted by Ephesians 5.31's "For this reason..."  It goes without saying that a faithful monogamous relationship will allow no uncleanness.  This "chiastic" outline gets its name from the Greek alphabet letter "X" (chi) as it looks like a cut in half letter "X."

Here is Ephesians 5 outlined chiastically.  As Paul did not leave us his outlines, this has been organized by me and me alone.  The Word is without error but my outline might not be!  Feel free to construct your own chiasm's to further your study of God's Word!

2        Walk as did Christ in love, sacrifice and offering

          3 – 5  No uncleanness to be named among you      

                   6        Be wary of deception

                             16      Redeem the time

                                      20 – 21        Submit to all with thanksgiving

                                           22 – 23 Christ is the head of the church – LEADER

                                                                     Christ is the Savior of the Body - SERVANT

                                      24a    The church is submissive to Christ    

                             24b    Wives are subject to husbands in everything

                   25 – 26   Husbands, love your wives AS Christ loved the church

          31      “For this reason a man should leave his father and mother and…

32      This is a great mystery BUT see Romans 16.25 – 26 & Colossians 1.26 - 29

This outline was presented to the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 on 11 April 2018 by Russell H McCullough

The Imitation and Fragrance of Christ

Ephesians

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 6 March 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson # 11 – Ephesians 4.29 – 5.3

1.     How much corrupting talk may come out of the churches mouth?

2.     Per Thayer, “Corrupt” is defined as…”R_____________, P_______________, U___________ for use, W_______________.”

a.      Luke 6.43 ________________________________________

b.     Matthew 12.33 ____________________________________

3.     In this passage, what word does Paul use to contrast with corrupt?

4.     What two things take place when this opposite talk takes place?

5.     What deadly serious effect comes about when Christians use corrupt talk?

6.     “Grieve” means to cause: “…D______________, H______________ & S_________________.”  (per Thayer)

7.     How many other times is this word used in the NT?

8.     The Holy Spirit acts as a S_______ of our redemption.

9.     “Sealed” is us most in the book of R______________, appearing ____ times.

10.  What 6 things must all be eliminated from among us?

11. What is the significance of the number of these things?

12. What now comes into contrast with these things?

13. What is the significance of number of these things?

14. The elimination of corruptness and it’s replacement by good things is predicated upon what?

15. Ultimately, why must we forgive others?

16. In 5.1, why is the “therefore” there for?

17. What is the direct result of our adoption as children?

18. This direct result is also illustrated here?

19. When we eliminate C________________, embrace G_______________, P_____ A_________ six forms of death, F____________ as does God, I_____________ Him, and L__________ as did Christ, it is to God as a F____________ O_______________, a S____________ to God.

ANSWER GRID:

1.     How much corrupting talk may come out of the churches mouth?

None

2.     Per Thayer, “Corrupt” is defined as…”R_____________, P_______________, U___________ for use, W_______________.”

a.      Luke 6.43 ________________________________________

b.     Matthew 12.33 ____________________________________

Revolting, Putrefied, Unsuitable, Worthless, Both passages refer to that which is dead, totally unusable, and ready for destruction

3.     In this passage, what word does Paul use to contrast with corrupt?

Good

4.     What two things take place when this opposite talk takes place?

The building up (edification) and Grace to those who hear

5.     What deadly serious effect comes about when Christians use corrupt talk?

6.     “Grieve” means to cause: “…D______________, H______________ & S_________________.”  (per Thayer)

Distress, Heaviness, Sorrow

7.     How many other times is this word used in the NT?

None

8.     The Holy Spirit acts as a S_______ of our redemption.

Seal

9.     “Sealed” is us most in the book of R______________, appearing ____ times.

Revelation, 16

10.  What 6 things must all be eliminated from among us?

ALL bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, malice

11. What is the significance of the number of these things?

Six in biblical numerology always refers to man and his incompleteness before God

12. What now comes into contrast with these things?

Kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness

13. What is the significance of number of these things?

Three in biblical numerology refers to our triune God and His completeness

14. The elimination of corruptness and its replacement by good things is predicated upon what?

Imitators of God as beloved children

15. Ultimately, why must we forgive others?

Because Christ first forgave us of everything

16. In 5.1, why is the “therefore” there for?

To describe our walk

17. What is the direct result of our adoption as children?

Our walk in love

18. This direct result is also illustrated here?

To love each other and give each other to each other as did Christ before us

19. When we eliminate C________________, embrace G_______________, P_____ A_________ six forms of death, F____________ as does God, I_____________ Him, and L__________ as did Christ, it is to God as a F____________ O_______________, a S____________ to God.

Corruption, Grace, Put Away, Forgive, Imitate, Love, Fragrant Offering, Sacrifice

Judges 8.1 - 21 - The Final Defeat of Midian by Gideon

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         Judges

A Judge by Judge Bible Study -  21 January 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #9 – Judges 8.1 – 8.21

1.     Who has a complaint and what was it?

2.     How was Gideon accused?

3.     What two rhetorical questions does Gideon now ask of his accusers?

4.     What is the “gleaning of the grape?”

5.     What is the “vintage” in comparison?

6.     What 3^rd rhetorical question does Gideon now ask?

7.     After these 3 rhetorical questions were asked and answered, what happened to the wrath of the Eprhriamites?

8.     What does Gideon now do per vs. 4?  In what condition was his army?

9.     To where did Gideon go and what did he ask of those people?

10. Who was Gideon pursuing?

11.  Geography: Succoth is E_______ of the Jordan and NE of the D__________ S________.

12. What was their reply?  Today, we would call this P________________.

13. How did Gideon respond to their terseness?

14. Where did Gideon go next to ask this same question?

15. Geography: Penuel is due E___________ of S________________.

16. What was the response of the Penuelites?

17. How did Gideon respond to them?

18. Where was the combined Midian army of Zebah and Zalmunna?

19. Geography: Karkor is slightly N___________ of Penuel.

20. How many men of Midian were left?  How many had already fallen?

21. Where did Gideon attack?  What was the disposition of the enemy?

22. Gideon attack formation went first N__________ and E______ a considerable ways into the Arabian desert to N___________, swung around to the S_______ and W_______ to J_____________, then swung around to the N______ W_________ to attack the enemy at K__________ which is next to P______________.

23. The two kings did what when attacked?  What happened to them?  What result of this came upon their army?

24. Verse 8.13 - What two words does the King James add here to the text?  The original Hebrew says literally; “the H__________ from the A____________ of..”  The S____________, the S__________ and the A__________ versions model the O___________ Hebrew, while the KJV T____________ the meaning of the places name.  The word translated “before” in the KJV means in Hebrew, min maaleh, which means B___ A___________.

25. As Gideon arrived at Succoth, he captured a Y_____________ man and did what with him?  What intel did Gideon receive from this young man?

26. What does Gideon now do with the leaders of Succoth?

27. What does he now do with Penuel?

28. What question does Gideon now ask of Zebah and Zalmunna?  To whom is he referring?  (6.2)

29. What order does Gideon now give to his first born son?

30. What was Jether’s reaction?  Why?

31. What does Gideon now do?  What did he take?

How does the Holy Spirit remember Gideon?  (Hebrews 11)

ANSWER GRID:

Who has a complaint and what was it?

Ephraim, “Why were we left out?”

2.     How was Gideon accused?

Fiercely

3.     What two rhetorical questions does Gideon now ask of his accusers?

a.     “What have I done in comparison with you?”

b.     “Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the (vintage) of Abiezer?”

4.     What is the “gleaning of the grape?”

The very last left overs in the corner of the field for the poor

5.     What is the “vintage” in comparison?

The very best first fruits

6.     What 3^rd rhetorical question does Gideon now ask?

“What have I been able to do in comparison with you?”

7.     After these 3 rhetorical questions were asked and answered, what happened to the wrath of the Eprhriamites?

It subsided

8.     What does Gideon now do per vs. 4?  In what condition was his army?

Crossed over Jordan with his 300 men.  “Exhausted yet pursuing.”

9.     To where did Gideon go and what did he ask of those people?

Succoth.  He asked for bread for he and his men.

10. Who was Gideon pursuing?

Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian

11.  Geography: Succoth is E_______ of the Jordan and NE of the D__________ S________.

East.  Dead Sea.

12. What was their reply?  Today, we would call this P________________.

No, you haven’t won as yet.  No reward until success.  Quid Pro Quo.  Pragmatism.

13. How did Gideon respond to their terseness?

When I win I will return and flay your bodies with the thorns of the wilderness.

14. Where did Gideon go next to ask this same question?

Penuel

15. Geography: Penuel is due E___________ of S________________.

East.  Succoth.

16. What was the response of the Penuelites?

The same answer as he heard in Succoth.

17. How did Gideon respond to them?

I will break down this tower.

18. Where was the combined Midian army of Zebah and Zalmunna?

Karkor.

19. Geography: Karkor is slightly N___________ of Penuel.

Northeast.

20. How many men of Midian were left?  How many had already fallen?

15,000.  120,000.

21. Where did Gideon attack?  What was the disposition of the enemy?

By way of the tent dwellers east of Nobah and Jogbehah.  They felt secure.

22. Gideon attack formation went first N__________ and E______ a considerable ways into the Arabian desert to N___________, swung around to the S_______ and W_______ to J_____________, then swung around to the N______ W_________ to attack the enemy at K__________ which is next to P______________.

North and East.  Nobah.  South and West.  Jogbehah.  North West.  Karkor.  Penuel.

23. The two kings did what when attacked?  What happened to them?  What result of this came upon their army?

Fled.  They were captured.  Panic.

24. Verse 8.13 - What two words does the King James add here to the text?  The original Hebrew says literally; “the H__________ from the A____________ of..”  The S____________, the S__________ and the A__________ versions model the O___________ Hebrew, while the KJV T____________ the meaning of the places name.  The word translated “before” in the KJV means in Hebrew, min maaleh, which means B___ A___________.

Comes up.  Heres   Ascent.  Septuagint.  Syriac.  Arabic.  Original.  Translates.  By Ascent.

25. As Gideon arrived at Succoth, he captured a Y_____________ man and did what with him?  What intel did Gideon receive from this young man?

Young.  Question.  The names of 77 elders and leaders of Succoth.

26. What does Gideon now do with the leaders of Succoth?

Teaches them a lesson by flaying their flesh with the thorns of the wilderness.

27. What does he now do with Penuel?

Broke down their tower and killed the men of the city.

28. What question does Gideon now ask of Zebah and Zalmunna?  To whom is he referring?  (6.2)

“Where are the men whom you killed at Tabor?”  His family who was hiding in the caves of Mt. Tabor mentioned in Judges 6.1 – 2.

29. What order does Gideon now give to his first-born son?

To kill Zebah and Zalmunna.

30. What was Jether’s reaction?  Why?

He failed to comply.  He was young and afraid.

31. What does Gideon now do?  What did he take?

He rose up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna.  He took the crescent ornaments that were on the neck of their camels.

32. How does the Holy Spirit remember Gideon?  (Hebrews 11)

Gideon is in the “Hall of Faith.”