Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.
This week we continue our study of the adjective ἐπουρὰνιος (epouranios — Strong's #2032), which means the heavenly regions or the spirit realm. ̓Επουρὰνιος is a compound word comprised of the preposition ἐπὶ (Epi — Strong's #1909 meaning upon, on, at) and the noun οὐρανὸς (Ouranos — Strong's #3772, the Greek word used for heaven). It is an adjective (ἐπουρὰνιος) used in the New Testament to represent the spirit realm, which is the location of God's throne and the place where all spiritual beings and forces (both good and evil) exist. The New Testament teaches that believers also are positioned in the ἐπουρὰνιος, or spirit realm, in Christ. This doctrine of the believer's spiritual position in Christ is the focus of our study.
Last week we gained the understanding (from Ephesians 1:3) that God has blessed all those who have believed and been sealed by the Holy Spirit with blessings that are spiritual, both in nature and realm; additionally, believers have been blessed, not with just some, but with every spiritual blessing. These spiritual blessings are located in the spirit realm where God and all other spiritual forces are functioning. Lastly, we learned that Paul presents that believers are located in just one place in the entire spirit realm, and that is "in Christ." This is the central theme of Ephesians, which Paul wrote to teach all believers that their permanent position in the spirit realm is in Christ. This week we will establish the position and location of Christ in the spirit realm, as we study from Ephesians 1:15-22, our focal point being verse 20.
Ephesians 1:15-22
Paul begins this section with the phrase "On account of this," which refers back to verses 3-14 indicating that the recipients of this letter are those who have both heard the Word of truth and been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise; and who, as such, are the recipients of the inheritance predestined for the saints. Based on this, Paul states, after hearing of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love toward all the saints, that he does not cease to pray for them in order that God the Father might give to them the wisdom and full knowledge of Him, through the illuminating of the eyes of their minds, to know three things: first, what is the hope of His calling; second, what is the wealth of God's inheritance which is invested in the saints; and third, what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward the ones believingwhich power is according to the energy of the grip of His strength. Paul then expounds on the power of the energy of God in verses 20-23.
In verse 20, Paul writes that the Christ (Messiah) was raised from the dead and was seated at the right of God in the spirit realm. He also writes that believers are empowered by the same energy that raised the Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right of God in the heavenlies (our word of study meaning "the spirit realm, as established in Part One of this study on ἐπουρὰνιος). This position of being at the right of God is found in the translation of the Greek word δεξιὸς (dexios — Strong's #1188), which designates a place of honor and authority. In verses 20-22, Paul further explains the position of the Christ as being a place of authority and honor, above all rule and authority, power and lordship, and every name being namedrule and authority, power and lordship are designations for spiritual forces, as we will establish more fully in the next part of our study. For now, it is sufficient to know that the Christ is in the position of authority and power, above all spiritual forces in the spirit realm.
Paul writes, in verses 22,23, that the Christ, who is at the right of God, is also the head of the church, His body. The Body of Christ is then presented as the fulfillment of the One who is fulfilling all things in all circumstances.
In our study of ἐπουρὰνιος, we have so far established, from Ephesians, that believers have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. These blessings are located in the spirit realm, where God and all other spiritual forces are functioning. The specific location for these blessings is in Christ, the One seated in the spirit realm above all other spiritual forces, in the place of authority and honor.
Next week we will identify, from Ephesians 3:10; 6:12, spiritual forces in relation to Christ. In the fourth part of this study, we will establish the position of believers as being in Christ in the spirit realm, above all spiritual forces.
*EPOURANIOS is the English font spelling of the Greek word ἐπουρὰνιος.
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.