Ephesians 6:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

NIV: Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

NASB: Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

CSB: Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT: May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

KJV: Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

NKJV: Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

As with many of his letters, Paul ends with the grace of God and the words, "Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible." This "love incorruptible" is love that is pure and perfect. In a corrupt society, God's love could not be corrupted.

Grace is a driving theme in Paul's ministry and in this letter in particular. He begins with grace (Ephesians 1:2), teaches on grace (Ephesians 1:6, 7), notes salvation as being by God's grace (Ephesians 2:5, 7, 8; 3:2), calls himself a minister of God's grace (Ephesians 3:7, 8), teaches grace is given as a gift (Ephesians 4:7), words are to give grace to others (Ephesians 4:29), and ends here with giving grace to all believers.

Paul had personally experienced God's grace to receive salvation (Acts 9), and committed the rest of his life to communicating this wonderful plan of salvation (Romans 1:16) to others.

Ephesians 6:21–24 completes Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. He has just described our tools of spiritual warfare, using the analogy of a soldier's armor. He has also reminded Christians of the importance of prayer in our moment-by-moment discipleship with Christ. In these closing verses, Paul will explain his plans to send Tychicus, one of his long-serving assistants, to deliver both this letter and additional news.

Paul gives specific instructions to children and fathers, stressing obedience and patience, respectively. He also directs servants to serve with sincerity and good intentions, as if they were working for Christ. Masters are warned not to be harsh: the same God who judges all will not give them preference over those they supervised. All Christians are called on to use the tools given us by God for surviving the attacks of the devil. These are imagined as pieces of a suit of armor. Paul ends this letter in his typical style, with prayer, blessings, and news about his plans.

Ephesians opens with three chapters of doctrine, followed by three chapters of practical application. This final chapter of Paul's letter focuses on specific ways Christians should live. It also summarizes the spiritual tools we are given by God, imagining them as a suit of armor. Paul pulls the same basic ideas from the rest of letter together, showing how Christians should live out their knowledge of what salvation in Christ really means.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.

Accessed 11/23/2024 3:16:33 PM