Ephesians, Class 4

In class 4, we begin in chapter 1, verse 2. This verse concludes the introduction and consists of a brief greeting to Paul's readers. This "Grace to you" greeting is found in the opening of all of Paul's letters except for the Pastoral Epistles. The phrase "peace from God our Father" is also familiar, found in the introductions of nine of Paul's letters. Peace is mentioned more than ninety times in the New Testament, yet only twelve times as "peace from God." Paul focused his greeting on peace being from the Lord, a word he would mention seven other times in this brief letter (Ephesians 2:14, 15, 17; 4:3; 6:15, 23).
The title "Lord Jesus Christ" is not in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John's writings. However, it is commonly used in Acts Paul's writings and is mentioned in James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Jude. Reasons for this pattern are uncertain, mainly since early manuscripts often write the name of Jesus as a symbol rather than in letter format. However, it is clear Paul desired to note both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together and as equals in his opening greeting to his friends.
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