“Answers For A Study in the Book of Proverbs and Ephesians” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.
Note: The answers will focus on what the text of the Bible says, and commentaries and speculative answers will be noted as such. There are many scholarly commentaries out there but it will be important, as students of the Bible, to keep the text of the Bible as our first source. Commentaries can be used, keeping in mind that they are human thoughts about God’s Word. Scripture references here are taken from the NASB, unless otherwise noted.
The Goal for the notes, questions and answers: Share and reuse to lead your own Bible study!
Bible Study
Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.
NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.
Daily Devotional:
Read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs for five days and take two days off. This week do Proverbs chapters 11-15, note any questions you may have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application.
1. From your daily devotional reading in the book of Proverbs 11-15, discuss the following:
a. These proverbs focus on the contrast between characteristics of the righteous (wise) and the wicked (foolish). What are some examples that define the character of a righteous (or wise) person? What are some examples that define the character of a wicked (or foolish) person?
(Answers may vary as examples are many…)
Righteous (wise) person characteristics: Humility, integrity, knowledge (of God’s ways), trustworthy, gracious, merciful, steadfast in righteousness, discrete, wins souls, loves discipline and knowledge
Wicked (foolish) person characteristics: Prideful, crookedness, greed, despises neighbor, talebearer, ruthless, cruel, deceptive, pursues evil, perverse in heart, wrathful, hates reproof and correction
- There are many more contrasting examples in these Proverbs; the main idea is Solomon’s focus on the importance of pursuing righteous living, which may take more time and effort, but the benefits are long-lasting and eternal.
b. In chapter 15 there is an emphasis on “the tongue.” What are some examples in this proverb of the righteous (wise) versus the wicked (foolish) in reference to the use of the tongue?
(Example answers may vary…)
The tongue of the righteous (wise): Gentleness in answers; makes knowledge acceptable; soothing; spreads knowledge; prayers are upright; joyful and cheerful; slow to anger; timely and pleasant in words; ponders how to answer.
The tongue of the wicked (foolish): Gives harsh answers; spouts folly; speaks perversion that crushes the spirit; rejects knowledge; prayers/sacrifices are an abomination to the LORD; scoffs; mouth feeds on folly; hot-tempered; plans and pours out evil.
c. Application: How does the use of the tongue (the way a person speaks) relate to the heart of the person, and does it give us insight into a person’s Worldview? Give some examples of how we see this in our culture today? Do we need to reflect on the use our own tongues?
(Answers will vary…)
- The way we use our tongue (the way we speak) shows our heart and true character. The “tongue” reveals the person’s Worldview by giving insight to the beliefs, thoughts and potential actions of the person. The way we speak reflects our conviction about the world we live in, and shows the accountability the person feels towards his/her “god” or philosophy on life.
- As Christians, it is important to make sure our “tongue” represents our Christian Worldview, and the accountability we feel in honoring our LORD and Savior in all that we do. We are His ambassadors and representatives to the rest of the world, and we are responsible to do that with both our actions and tongue.
Bible study:
Read Ephesians chapter 2, then to the best of your ability, answer these questions:
2. Re-read Ephesians chapter 2:1-22 with your table group. This chapter focuses on how we are made alive in Christ, and on unity in the body of Christ.
a. What did Paul mean when he said: “You were dead in your trespasses and sin”? How and why did God make us alive?
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10
- Paul points out that everyone is dead and separated from God before they come to the LORD (because of the “Fall” in Genesis chapter 3). He shows how we all live in the lusts of our flesh which makes us under the control of the “prince of the power of the air” which is a reference to Satan and his demons.
- God, “being rich in mercy” and “because of “His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions” made us alive because of what Jesus Christ did for us. This was all a gift by grace that saves us from our sins, and provides eternal life with the LORD. Nothing of ourselves could we do to earn this, because Jesus did it all for us.
b. What is the difference between those who were called “Uncircumcision” and the “Circumcision”? Does it have a spiritual meaning as well as a physical meaning, and why?
“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13
- Uncircumcision refers to Gentiles (anyone who is not born a Jew). It was often used in a negative way by Jews towards Gentiles because they were not children of the original promise. But, now even Gentiles can receive the promise of salvation because of what Jesus did in the shedding of His blood on the Cross.
- The people of “Circumcision” always referred to the Jews, because they were the children of the promise given to Abraham, which required circumcision as a sign of the Covenant, and they were under the Mosaic Law until the time Jesus came to fulfill all of the promises of the Old Testament (Old Covenant).
- The spiritual meaning would now refer to the “circumcision” of the heart. Both Jew and Gentile are unclean/uncircumcised in heart because of “spiritual pride” and sin, and can become spiritually circumcised or cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
c. How did Christ Jesus break down the barriers of the dividing wall?
“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:14-18
- Jesus, because of His sacrifice on the Cross for all of us, broke down the dividing wall and made both Jew and Gentile into one people. He did this by “abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law” because the Law accuses, or convicts us of sin, and no one could ever follow the Law perfectly, except Jesus.
- “For through Him (Jesus) we both (Jew and Gentile) have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
d. What did Paul mean when he said that Christ Jesus is the cornerstone?
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
- Jesus is the cornerstone of the New Covenant’s Temple, which is a spiritual reference to the body of Christ that we all belong to.
- The apostles and prophets, going all the way back through the Old Testament from the beginning, have been unfolding God’s plan that culminated and was fulfilled in the person of Jesus who is the foundation, and more importantly the actual cornerstone, that holds everything together.
From gotquestions.org:
Since ancient times, builders have used cornerstones in their construction projects. A cornerstone was the principal stone, usually placed at the corner of an edifice, to guide the workers in their course. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice. The Bible describes Jesus as the cornerstone that His church would be built upon. He is foundational. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it. As the cornerstone of the building of the church, Jesus is our standard of measure and alignment.
The book of Isaiah has many references to the Messiah to come. In several places the Messiah is referred to as “the cornerstone,” such as in this prophecy: “So this is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line’” (Isaiah 28:16–17). In context, God speaks to the scoffers and boasters of Judah, and He promises to send the cornerstone—His precious Son—who will provide the firm foundation for their lives, if they would but trust in Him.
In the New Testament, the cornerstone metaphor is continued. The apostle Paul desires for the Ephesian Christians to know Christ better: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:19– 21). Furthermore, in 1 Peter 2:6, what Isaiah said centuries before is affirmed in exactly the same words.
Peter says that Jesus, as our cornerstone, is “chosen by God and precious to him” (1 Peter 2:4). The Cornerstone is also reliable, and “the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (verse 6).
Unfortunately, not everyone aligns with the cornerstone. Some accept Christ; some reject Him. Jesus is the “stone the builders rejected” (Mark 12:10; cf. Psalm 118:22). When news of the Messiah’s arrival came to the magi in the East, they determined to bring Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But when that same news came to King Herod in Jerusalem, his response was to attempt to kill Him. From the very beginning, Jesus was “a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall” (1 Peter 2:8).
How can people reject God’s chosen, precious cornerstone? Simply put, they want to build something different from what God is building. Just as the people building the tower of Babel rebelled against God and pursued their own project, those who reject Christ disregard God’s plan in favor of their own. Judgment is promised to all those who reject Christ: “Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed” (Matthew 21:44).
3. Going Deeper: Discuss the importance of grace versus the idea of works as it pertains to salvation. How is the concept of grace contrary to what the Jews believe about the Law?
- Salvation is through God’s grace alone, a gift of God that we trust in by faith – Works is the evidence of our faith in action, a sign of our commitment to grow in our walk with the LORD
- Grace vs. Works: Are a continuation of one to the other (In other words, salvation comes by faith in God’s gift of Grace, which continues on to be worked out through our actions as we grow in our walk with the LORD. James, in his Epistle, challenges believers not only to hear the truth but also to put it into action. He contrasts empty faith (claims without conduct) with faith that works. Commitment to love and to serve others is evidence of true faith. In other words, we should have a living faith to evidence God’s gift of Grace!
- We are saved by God’s gracious mercy; not by keeping the Old Testament Law, as the Jews wanted to teach. But, Jesus did give us a special command to follow: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 19:19). When we show love to others, we are overcoming our own selfishness and sharing the love of God.
Memory Verses: Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of the most important passages in Scripture. Write out these two verses and recite them with your table group.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Please join us as we continue to read and study Proverbs and Ephesians as part of our Christian Apologetics’ class each week!
Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study questions are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted mid-week.
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Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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