Personal Bible Notes: Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians

(Refer to my 9/25/18 post about the margin notes in my Bible, and why I decided to share them on this blog.)

Ephesians

1:4-6: He foreknew those would accept Christ; He predestined the way of salvation, not who would be saved.

1:7: Blood atones.

1:11: If we choose Christ, then we are predestined for salvation.

2:20: The Church’s foundation is built on the Apostles and prophets; you don’t rebuild a foundation, therefore no modern Apostles and prophet.

5:3: “sexual immorality.” All pre- and extramarital sex.

5:3: “impurity.” All immoral sexual activity up to but not including intercourse.

5:3, 5: “greed.” Sexual lust.

5:6: “these things.” All the previous sins in previous chapters.

5:18: “filled” should be “controlled.” “with” should be “by.” “With” implies a thing, “by” implies a person.

5:22: “as to the Lord,” should be “as if to the Lord.”

5:25: “Husbands, love…” This is agape love: willing, sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of another, without thought of return. Here it is a command.

5:31: “joined.”  Means “cemented.”

6:14: “like armor on your chest” — see Isa. 59:17.

6:23: “to depart and be with Christ.” This is immediate upon death.

Philippians

2:7: “emptied himself…”  Really is “poured himself into the form of a servant.”  He “emptied” himself of positional quality with God and veiled his deity in flesh.

2:12: “work out your own salvation…” Your salvation from your own problems/lifestyle.

Colossians

1:13: counters the so-called “deliverance ministries”

1:16: contrasts. “heaven” is the “invisible,” which has “thrones and dominions”; “earth” has the “visible” “rulers and authorities.”

1:18: “first born from the dead.”  Jesus was the first immortal, never to die again.

3:16: “psalms.” These are songs accompanied by instruments, which counters Church of Christ claims.

3:23: “Whatever you do, do it ‘enthusiastically…’” literally, “from the soul”