Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Paul reminded the elders of his example among them for the duration of three years. The Ephesians themselves (emphatic in Greek) observed how Paul lived and ministered among them.

2. The Greek construction allows for the idea of: 1) how long Paul “stayed” with them, or 2) how Paul’s manner of life was among them. The latter is most likely the meaning because the following context details Paul’s manner of life among them (cf. vs. 19-20; 1Th 2:10-11). However, Paul’s dedication to stay among them and disciple them for three years is impressive.

3. Unlike many today, pastors and elders are to have a faithful and long-term commitment to a local church.

B. Servant of the Lord (19)

1. Paul’s ultimate motive for ministering to the Ephesians was that he was first and foremost serving the Lord.

2. The word “serving” comes from the verb doulos, which means a slave or bondservant. The word denotes one who is subservient to, at the disposal of, obedient to, and gives total allegiance to his master (Mt 10:24; Mt 8:9; Lk 16:13). In Roman times a slave, who could purchase his freedom, was the property of his owner.

3. Paul referred to himself in his epistles as a “bondservant” (doulos) of the Lord (Ro 1:1; Php 1:1; Col 4:7; Tit 1:1). The term referred to both character (Gal 1:10) and to a title (Dt 34:5; Jos 24:29) and also applied to the Lord Jesus Christ (Is 53:11; Php 2:7). It was because Paul was the Lord’s bondservant (1Co 7:22) that he became a bondservant of those he ministered to (2Co 4:5).

C. Humility

1. Not only did Paul serve the Ephesians in ministry but he maintained a humble attitude. “Humility” is the Greek word tapeinophrosunê and means lowliness of mind. Paul did not come with arrogance or pride, but with a correct understanding of every man’s status before the Lord, including his own.

2. All men are sinners before the Lord and need the Lord’s salvation. Once a sinner receives salvation, he cannot think that his salvation had anything to do with his own moral status or works. Salvation is exclusively by the grace of God.

3. Even though Paul was called as an apostles, when it came to the conversion of others Paul humbly stated, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1Co 3:6). He exhibited humility in referring to himself as the least of the the apostles (1Co 15:9), least of the saints (Ep 3:8), and foremost of sinners (1Ti 1:15). Paul did not consider himself adequate in himself, but only in God’s adequacy (2Co 3:5). In addition, not only did Paul encourage the faith of others but also he was equally encouraged by the faith and growth of others (Ro 1:12).

D. Passion

1. Paul was not only a great intellect, but he was also a man with passion. Numerous times we read that Paul, like our Lord (Lk 19:41; Jn 11:35), was moved to tears. He was most likely moved to tears over the lost, especially his kinsmen, the Jews (Ro 9:2-3). He was moved to tears over struggling Christians (2Co 2:4). He was moved to tears over enemies of the cross and false teachers (Php 3:18; Ac 20:31). Finally, it would be an easy deduction that Paul wept along with the Ephesians at his farewell (Ac 20:37).

2. Tears are not necessarily a sign of unstable and over-emotional person. It often characterizes the godly burden a believer should have for the lost, backslidden, those led astray, and spiritual fellowship.

II. DOCTRINAL AND PRACTICAL TEACHING (20-21, 25-27)

A. Not Shrinking from Teaching (20)

1. Another way that Paul lived and ministered in Ephesus was through doctrinal and practical teaching. This stemmed from Paul’s biblical exposition of the Scriptures in order to teach anything profitable (anything they should believe and any way they should act).

2. “Shrink” is the Greek word hupostellō (same word is used in verse 27.) and means to draw back. It was a nautical term that referred to drawing back the sails to keep from going full steam ahead. Paul was full steam ahead in his manner of teaching and on the subjects of teaching.

B. Manner of Teaching

1. Paul was full steam ahead in teaching in the synagogue, teaching in the school of Tyrannus in midday, teaching publicly, and teaching from house to house (Ac 19:8-9). He did this while even maintaining his employment as a tent maker (cf. Ac 20:33-34). The result was that “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Ac 19:10).

C. Subjects of Teaching (21)

1. Salvation

a) Paul was also full steam ahead on the subjects he taught. They would have been doctrinal and practical. For an example of what Paul had in mind, he explained in vs. 21.

b) He “solemnly testified” (diamarturomai - seriously and strongly affirmed the truth, cf. Ac 18:5; Ac 20:24) about the central doctrinal truth of Christianity, i.e. Salvation. The gospel is that man has sinned against God. He must acknowledge his sin and sinfulness and turn away from sin (“repent” cf. 1Th 1:9). He does this by placing his in “faith” the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for sin and rose again (1Co 15:1-4). When Paul went to Corinth his sole purpose was, “to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1Co 2:2). This central message was for all men (Jews and Gentiles).

2. Practical Truths

a) When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, much of his letter included practical issues such as division, immorality, marriage, celibacy, eating meat sacrificed to idols, spiritual gifts, and collection for the saints.

b) Paul would have certainly taught on all these subjects in other churches as well.

3. The Kingdom (25)

a) “Preaching the Kingdom” is a reference to proclaiming the whole sphere of God’s kingdom in which He rules and reigns. It certainly includes the gospel (Ac 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31), the scope of salvation, as well as future events such as the Lord’s second coming and the millennium.

b) It also shows the distinction between God’s kingdom (“kingdom of His Son”) and the realm of Satan from which believers have been rescued (Col 1:13) and which will be destroyed.

4. Whole Purpose of God (26-27)

a) [26] As an apostle, Paul felt great accountability to not fail to teach God’s truth. Whether giving the gospel to the Jews in Corinth (Ac 18:6) or the Gentiles in Ephesus, the blood of unwarned hearers was not on the head of Paul (cf. Eze 33:1-6).

b) [27] Paul reiterates that he did not “shrink” (same as vs. 20) from declaring the “whole purpose of God.” The phrase refers to God’s “purpose” (boulê - will, counsel, or plan cf. Ac 2:23)) in salvation. It includes God’s “whole” (pas - all or entire) purpose in redemption.

c) It is the entire plan and purpose of God for man’s salvation in all its fullness: divine truths of creation, election, redemption, justification, adoption, conversion, sanctification, holy living, and glorification. MSB

d) The “whole counsel of God” has been a term in church history that mandated that the pastor must: 1) teach the all truths of God’s Word, 2) teach expositional through the Scriptures, and 3) must include the teaching of predestination regardless how controversial.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516