This article is one of a series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament, the book of Ephesians. Almighty God and the holy Spirit are also discussed to see if there is any evidence of a Trinity doctrine in this Biblical letter, which is all about doctrine. A key component of the Trinity doctrine is that the holy Spirit is a person. In this article, we’ll see what Ephesians indicates about that.

Ephesians 1:1,2 – “…apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God . . . from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” God are Jesus are separate individuals. “To God’s holy people… in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice how many times in this letter God and Jesus are both mentioned, but as separate and distinct, with God being superior and Jesus as inferior. Why is Paul not also an apostle of the holy Spirit or the Trinity? Why is the letter not also from the holy Spirit  or the Trinity? It’s because the holy Spirit is not a person, and the Trinity does not exist!

Ephesians 1:3 – “…to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This verse clearly indicates that Jesus has a God over him. This God of Jesus is his Father.

Ephesians 1:5 – “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ” (NLT).  God is obviously calling the shots, operating through his Son Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:6,7 – “We praise God for the glorious grace  he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (NLT).  Almighty God the Father, who is the one in control, gave Jesus as redeemer of sinful humans.

Ephesians 1:9 – “He [God] made known to us the mystery… which he purposed in Christ.” God is the one who decided in advance what was going to happen, in Christ.

Ephesians 1:12 – “God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God” (NLT). This verse emphasizes the fact that Almighty God is the one who is in total control.

Ephesians 1:13,14 – “You . . . were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory” (NAB). Here, believers are “sealed” with the holy Spirit, which is referred to, not as a person, but as an “installment”. An “installment” cannot be a person, in contrast to the Trinity doctrine, which declares the holy Spirit to be a person.

Ephesians 1:15 – “Your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people.”

Ephesians 1:17 – “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the glorious Father.” Who is the God of Jesus? His Father. Someone who has God over them cannot be God.

Ephesians 1:19-20 – The “power… he [God] exerted when he [God] raised Christ from the dead.” God resurrected Jesus, who was dead. “Christ died” (1 Corinthians 15:3), but God cannot die (Habakkuk 1:12).

Ephesians 1:22 – “God placed all things under his [Jesus’] feet and appointed him [Jesus] to be head.” If God put all things under Jesus and appointed Jesus head, God must be more powerful.

Ephesians 2:4-5 – “God… made us alive with Christ.” God is the one in control.

Ephesians 2:6 – “God raised us up with Christ.” God is in charge and uses Christ.

Ephesians 2:7 – “That… he might show… his grace… expressed… in Christ Jesus.” God obviously is supreme and in total control.

Ephesians 2:18 – “It is through Him that Jews and Gentiles alike have access through one Spirit to the Father” (Weymouth). “Access” to God the Father is gained through the holy Spirit. “One Spirit” indicates it is not a person.

Ephesians 2:2–22 – “With him as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord . . . a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” So, in this metaphor, Christ is part of the building that God lives in. Who is greater? Part of the building, or the One who owns and lives there? This is powerful evidence that God the Father is greater than both Jesus Christ and the holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:8-9 – “The boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was hidden in God, who created all things.” God owns and controls the mystery of Christ.

Ephsians 3:11 – “According to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s eternal purpose was achieved using Jesus.

Ephesians 3:12 – “In him and through faith in him (Jesus) we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Approach or access to God is through Jesus. God is clearly greater.

Ephesians 3:14 – “For this reason I kneel before the Father.” As superior. Prayer is to God.

Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.” God is the one in control with all power, who gives Jesus power.

Ephesians 4:5 – “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” Jesus is the “one Lord” here, and Yahweh, his Father, is the “One God.” This unity is expressed in very simple terms.

Ephesians 4:12 – “And in the knowledge of the Son of God.” Notice that it is not “God the Son,” which is never used in the Bible.

Ephesians 5:1 – “Just as in Christ God forgave you.” Almighty , but not from the holy SpiritGod forgives those who are “in Christ.”

Ephesians 5:2 – “Just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The inferior offers the sacrifice to the greater, that is Christ offered himself as a sacrifice to God. “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), but “Yahweh . . . God . . . never dies” (Habakkuk 1:12 NJB). Therefore, Jesus cannot be Almighty God.

Ephesians 5:5 – “In the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Here we have both shown to be individuals and separate.

Ephesians 5:20 – “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The titles “Christ” and “Father” clearly distinguish their distinct personages and roles.

Ephesians 6:6 – “As slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.” Christ and God are distinguished.

Ephesians 6:23 – “Love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Greetings are given from God and Jesus, but not from the holy Spirit, because it is not a person.

So as we can see from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, there is a definite distinction drawn between Jesus and God. We even find reference in the Book of Ephesians to “the God of” Jesus. This means that God is superior to Jesus, so Jesus could not be Almighty God.

 

All Bible verses quoted from New International Version (NIV), unless noted otherwise