Ephesians 1:1-2 - Introduction and Greetings

Ephesians - Chapter 1
1-2: Greetings
3-6: Blessed with every spiritual blessing
7-14: Everything we have comes from Christ. Key words - “in Him” (meaning Christ)
15-19: Paul’s prayers for the believers
20-23: All things under Christ

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1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus], the faithful in Christ Jesus.
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Greeting & Introduction

Vs. 1 - “From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus” - He announces his title immediately. The Ephesians now know this is a serious letter, a church business letter, not a friendly “How are you. I am fine...” They knew instruction, reproof, or correction was forthcoming.

Paul was an apostle, although not one of the original eleven. (See Note 2, below). He was called by Christ, and instructed (by Christ, most likely). See: Gal. 1:1, 11, 12,17, 18; 2:9. Galatians 2:9 especially shows that Paul was accepted by the original apostles.

"By the will...” - Or, through the will. Again, Paul was not forced by God to be an Apostle. Paul merely (?) responded to God’s call.

“To the saints...” - True believers, holy ones.

“And who are faithful” - Note this statement right at the beginning of their letter. I believe it is here for a good reason. The first reason is in the letter itself, it is not a letter of reproof or correction of doctrine with respect to Christ and God’s work.

The letter is more a reproof of the Christian brotherhood, or our attitudes toward each other. That’s why the ‘faithful’ statement. The letter is to faithful Christians who aren’t getting along, to change that relationship.

Vs. 2 - Grace and peace” - What are these things that the apostle desires for his friends, and which are no less desirable for ourselves. Guy H. King from his exposition “Joy Way” said the following: 
(a) Grace - a quality which is, at once  
   (i) an Attitude, which he adopts toward us, as in Ephesians ii.8;
   (ii) an Activity, which He exerts for our help, as in 1 Corinthians xv.10;
   (iii) an Acomplishment, which He works in, and out from, us, as in Acts iv.33. Paul ardently, and prayerfully, desires for his converts everywhere - for he uses the words in all his church letters - that they may experience to the full this "grace", which the late Bishop Handley Moule describes as "love in action".

(b) "Peace". - the "God of grace" is the "God of Peace", 1 Peter v:10; Romans x:33; and it is only by, and after, His grace that we can enjoy His peace. Peace of heart - no condemnation before God; peace of conscience - no controversy with God; peace of mind - no anxiety about life; peace of action - no grit in the machinery. This gift is an immensely precious boon; and it may be the possession, should be the possession, of every believer." (See note 1.)

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Note 1: Guy H. King; “Joy Way - An Expositional Study of Philippians”; Marshall, Morgan and Scott, ltd; 1973.

Note 2: There were originally twelve (12) disciples, eleven of which became the apostles. The twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot, committed suicide just before Jesus’ death (Mat 27:3-5). Another man, Matthias,  was chosen after Jesus’ resurrection to replace Judas Iscariot. (Acts 1:26)

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