“An Introduction and Benediction” | August 14, 2022

I.             “An Introduction” 
Ephesians 6:21-22; Col 4:7-9; Ac 20:4; 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12
Colossians 2:2
Colossians 4:7-9; 15-18; 1Thes 5:27; Philemon 2; 2 Ti 4:5
1 Corinthians 16:21; 1Ti 6:21; 2Ti 4:22; Tit 3:15
 
II.            "Benediction” 
Ephesians 6:23-24; Gal 6:16; 2Thes 3:16; 1Pe 5:14
[Galatians 5:6; 1Thes 5:8]; 1Co 16:22
Ephesians 1:2-15; Ja 2:5; Dt 7:6; 26:18; 2Ti 1:9; Eph 5:27
Colossians 1:22; 1Thes 4:7; Ro 8:29-30; 8:16; Hb 2:14
Romans 3:24; 1Co 1:30; Eph 4:30; Ac 20:28, 32; 2:38
Romans 16:25; 8:28; 2Co 1:22; Tit 2:14; 1Pe 2:9; Php 4:7
John 19:30; 1Pe 1:2; 2Jn 1:3; Eph 2:4-5
Ephesians 2:1-10; Jn 3:16-18; Ro 5:6; Col 2:12, 13; Ti 3:4
Romans 4:16; 2Co 3:5; Jn 4:10; Ro 3:28; 1Co 1:29-30;
Psalm 100:3; Col 3:10; Eph 4:24; 1:4; Col 1:10
Ephesians 3:14-19; Col 2:6-10
Ephesians 4:1-3; Php 1:27; Col 3:14
Ephesians 5:2; Ro 14:15; Jn 13:34; Ro 8:37; 4:25; Hb 7:27
Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Gen 3:16; 2:23; 1Co 6:15; Ex 20:12
Genesis 18:19; Dt 4:9; 6:7; 11:19; Ps 78:4; Prv 19:18; 22:6
Proverbs 29:17; [2 Ti 3:15]; Ps 62:12; Lev 25:43; Jn 13:13
Ephesians 6:10-20; 21-24
 
Greek Word Study:
Beloved: ‘agapetos’: from ‘from agapao’; beloved: - (dearly, well) beloved, dear. Adjective from ‘agapao’, to love. Beloved, dear. Spoken of Christians, as united with God or each other in the bonds of Holy love. ‘Agapetoi,’ the plural; meaning conjoined in the bonds of Faith. “Beloved brothers” i.e. Christians, 1 Co 15:58, see (Eph 6:21; Php 4:1; Col 4:7, 9)
Brother: ‘adelphos’: from 1 (as a connective particle) and ‘delphus’ (the womb). A brother (literal or figurative) near or remote [much like 1]: brother. Noun from the collative ‘a’ (1), denoting unity and ‘delphus’ (n.f.) a womb. Metaphorically, one who is connected with another in any kind of intimacy or fellowship; one of the same faith, a fellow Christian. An associate, colleague, in office or dignity. By implication, one beloved as a brother. (Eph 6:21)
Faithful: ‘pistos’: from ‘peitho’: (object) trustworthy; (subject) trustful: believer, man of faith, faithful, sure trustworthy. Adjective from ‘peitho’, to win over, persuade. Worthy of belief, trust, or confidence, faithful. Faithful in duty to oneself and to others, of true fidelity; especially of ministers, servants, who are faithful in the performance of duty. (Mt 24:45; Eph 1:1; 6:21; …)
Minister: ‘diakonos’: probably from an obsolete ‘diako’ (to run errands); an attendant i.e. (genitive) a waiter (at table or other menial duties); specially a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - attendant, deacon, minister, servant. Spoken of ministers, teachers of divine things who act for God. (1Co 3:5; ...Eph 6:21…)
Encourage: ‘parakaleo’: from ‘para’ (alongside) and ‘kaleo (to call); to call alongside, to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation, or consolation). Comfort, encourage, to aid. To exhort in a way of consolation, encouragement, to console, comfort (…Eph 6:22…)
Hearts: ‘kardia’: the heart. In NT used only figuratively: As the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, impulses, i.e. the heart or mind. (Eph 6:22)
Peace: ‘eirene’: probably from a primary verb ‘eiro’ (to join); peace (literal or figurative); (by implication) prosperity; - friendly, peace, +reconcile, safe. By implication, a state of peace, tranquility. Peace, meaning health, welfare, prosperity, and every kind of good. (Eph 6:23)
Love: ‘agape’: from ‘agapao’: love, i.e. affection or benevolence. N. from ‘agapao’, to love. Love. Specifically, “the love of God” or “of Christ” The love derived from Christ. Spoken especially of goodwill toward others, the love of our neighbor, brotherly affection, which the Lord Jesus commands and inspires (Eph 6:23). In Eph 6:24 the present active participle used substantively ‘agapao’: of those loving the Lord, meaning “faithful disciples” or “followers of the Lord”: [devoted followers]
Faith: ‘pistis’: from ‘peitho’, persuasion, i.e. credence; moral - especially reliance upon Christ for Salvation; (abstract) constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, faith. As a technical term indicative of the means of appropriating what God in Christ has for man, resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life. Such can be termed gospel faith or Christian faith. Of Christ, faith in Christ: of Faith in Christ’s death, as ground of justification before God, saving faith, found only in Paul’s writings. (Eph 6:23)
Grace: ‘charis’: (spiritual; esp. the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life; inc. gratitude); - benefit, credit, favor, gift, grace (-ious). N. from ‘chairo’ (to rejoice) Grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification. Spoken of the grace, favor, and goodwill of God and Christ as exercised toward men; spoken of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in the benedictions at the close of most of the epistles. (Eph 6:24)
Love incorruptible: ‘aphtharsia’: from ‘aphthartos’ (not corruptible); (genitive) unending existence, (fig) genuineness: - immortality, imperishable, incorruptible. [genuine love that never ends – eternal love] (Eph 6:24)