Three Outlines for the Letter to the Ephesians
From ESV Study Bible
1. Introduction (1:1–14)
a) Greetings (1:1–2)
b) Spiritual blessings in Christ (1:3–14)
2. Paul's Prayer of Thanksgiving (1:15–23)
3. Salvation by Grace through Faith (2:1–10)
a) Hopelessness and helplessness without
Christ (2:1–3)
b) Hope in Christ (2:4–10)
4. Unity and Peace of Christ (2:11–22)
a) Unity of Christ's people (2:11–15)
b) Peace with God (2:16–18)
c) Implications of Christ's peace (2:19–
22)
5. Revelation of the Gospel Mystery (3:1–13)
a) Paul's apostolic ministry (3:1–7)
b) The mystery and wisdom (3:8–13)
6. Paul's Prayer for Strength and Insight (3:14–21)
7. Unity of the Body of Christ (4:1–16)
a) Exhortation to unity (4:1–6)
b) The different gifts (4:7–10)
c) The gifts for edification of the church
(4:11–16)
8. Paul's Testimony (4:17–24)
9. Exhortation to an Edifying Lifestyle (4:25–32)
10. New Life in Love (5:1–20)
a) Exhortation to self-sacrificial love
(5:1–2)
b) Instruction in holy living (5:3–20)
11. Submission to One Another (5:21–6:9)
a) Submission in general (5:21)
b) Wives and husbands (5:22–33)
c) Children and parents (6:1–4)
d) Slaves and masters (6:5–9)
12. The Whole Armor of God (6:10–20)
a) The Lord's strength (6:10–13)
b) Standing firm (6:14–17)
c) Being constant in prayer (6:18–20)
13. Conclusion (6:21–24)
From Encountering the New Testament
I. Introduction (1:1-2)
II. Re-creating the human family: What God has
done (1:3-3:21)
A. Three spiritual blessings in Christ (1:3-14)
B. The importance of knowing about it all
(1:15-23)
C. Redemption: Clearing the ground (2:1-10)
D. Re-creation: Removing the barriers (2:11-
22)
E. Digression: Paul, outsiders, and God's glory
(3:1-13)
F. Empowerment: Realizing the future (3:14-
19)
G. Doxology (3:20-21)
III. Re-creating the Human Family: What God is
doing (4:1-6:20)
A. Creating unity: The Body forged (4:1-16)
B. Mind control: The inward change (4:17-24)
C. Becoming Christian: The “little” things
(4:25-5:5)
D. Light and wisdom: Living undeceived (5:6-
21)
E. The circle of responsibility: Mutual
submission (5:22-6:9)
F. Making the right stand in the right strength
(6:10-20)
IV. Closing remarks (6:21-24)
From Bruce Sabin
1. Introduction (1:1-2)
2. Theological portion (1:3-3:19)
A. Who we are (1:3-23)
a. Christ's blessings to us (1:3-14)
b. Paul's prayer that they would fully
know the Gospel and Christ exalted (1:15-23)
B. Saved to the glory of God (2:1-3:19)
a. We are saved by grace (2:1-10)
b. We are one in Christ (2:11-22)
c. Paul's mission to the Gentiles (3:1-
13)
d. Paul's prayer they would have
strength, peace and love (3:14-19)
3. Doxology (3:20-21)
4. Application portion (4:1-6:20)
A. One Church (4:1-16)
a. Be united in Christ (4:1-16)
b. Paul's urging them to walk in unity
(4:1-7)
c. Christ's aim is to build us together (4:8-16)
B. Be transformed (4:17-5:14)
a. Don't return to sinful life (4:17-24)
b. Build each other up (4:25-32)
c. Be imitators of Christ (5:1-5)
d. Discern and confront false teachers (5:6-14)
C. Summary of the Christian walk (5:15-21)
a. Wives submit to husbands (5:22-24)
b. Husbands love wives (5:25-33)
c. Children and parents (6:1-4)
d. Slaves and masters (6:5-9)
D. The armor of God (6:10-17)
E. Praying for others (6:18-20)
5. Closing (6:21-24)