Epouranios* – εχηγεομα – Heavenly

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 1:15-2215)On account of this, I also after having heard of the faith among you in the Lord Jesus and the love toward all the saints,16)I do not cease giving thanks on behalf of you, making mention of you in my prayers,17)in order that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, might give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him,18)having illuminated the eyes of your mind for you to know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19)and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us, who are believing, according to the energy of the grip of His strength,

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 believing—which 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 20-23.20)which He energized in the Christ, having raised Him from out of the dead, and seated Him at His right in the heavenlies (ἐπουρὰνιος),21)above all rule and authority and power and lordship, and every name being named not only in this age, but also in the coming one.22)And He submitted all things under His feet, and gave him as head over all things with respect to the church,

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 named—rule 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.23)which is His body, the fullness of the One fulfilling all things in all circumstances.

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.


Copyright Statement
Greek Thoughts‘ Copyright 2020© Bill Klein. ‘Greek Thoughts‘ articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each article, along with a link to https://www.studylight.org/language-studies/greek-thoughts.html  2) ‘Greek Thoughts‘ content may not be arranged or “mirrored” as a competitive online service.

EPOURANIOS* – Part 2 – εχηγεομαι 
Heavenly, celestial, the spirit realm

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 undertake the third part of 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.

In the first two parts of this study, we 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, who is seated in the spirit realm in the place of authority and honor, at the right of the throne of God, above all other spiritual forces. In this section of the study, we will identify other spiritual forces in the spirit realm, as revealed in Ephesians 1:21; 3:10; 6:12.

Ephesians 1:20-21

20) which He energized in the Christ, having raised Him from out of the dead, and seated Him at His right in the heavenlies (ἐπουρὰνιος),21)above all rule and authority and power and lordship, and every name being named not only in this age, but also in the coming one.

In previous parts of the study, we established the position of the Christ in the spirit realm as being seated at the right of God, far above all rule and authority and power and lordship. The spiritual forces of rule and authority are ranks of angelic forces in the spirit realm, as Ephesians 3:10; 6:12 explain. For now, it is sufficient to know that Christ is positioned above all of these forces in the spirit realm.

Ephesians 3:8-108)To me the less than the least of all the saints this grace was given, that I might preachF1 among the Gentiles the unsearchable wealth of the Christ,
9)and that I might enlightenF2 everyone as to what is the fellowship of the mystery which has been hidden from the ages in God, the One who has created all things through Jesus Christ
10)in order that now might be known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies (ἐπουρὰνιος) through the Church the manifold wisdom of God,

In this text, Paul explains that God’s grace was given to him, so that he might preach the unsearchable wealth of the Christ to the Gentiles and to enlighten everyone as to what is the fellowship of the mystery which God hid in ages past. Verse 10 is a purpose clause used to explain the purpose of God’s grace performing this ministry through Paul — in order that the diversified wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies (our word of study). Here the ranks of spiritual forces are placed in the spirit realm where the Christ is seated. In Paul’s text in Ephesians 6:12, he further describes these spiritual forces.

Ephesians 6:11-1211)Put on the full armor of God, for you to be able to stand against the methods of the devil.
12)Because for us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies (ἐπουρὰνιος).

In this summary of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul presents that it is a necessity for the believer to put on the full armor of God for the purpose of standing against the systematic attacks of the devil. Paul explains that Christians are not wrestling against the human realm (blood and flesh), but “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies” (our word of study). He is teaching that our warfare is spiritual, not physical. He describes this warfare as being against spiritual forces of evil in the spirit realm. He also describes these forces as being in ranks; rulers, authorities, and evil spiritual forces that are governing this world, which he describes as world rulers of the darkness of this age. He summarizes all of these forces as being spiritual forces of evil in the spirit realm (heavenlies).

So far in our study of ἐπουρὰνιος, we have 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, who is seated in the spirit realm above all other spiritual forces, in the place of authority and honor at the right of the throne of God. Now that we have established the position of the Christ above all spiritual forces in the spirit realm, it is important that we establish one final position in the spirit realm – that of the believer in Christ, which is the theme of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. 

Next week we will establish, from Ephesians 2:6, 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.

F1: The infinitive of purpose εὐαγγελὶσασθαι, “to preach,” is translated νᾶεὐαγγελὶσω, “that I should preach.

F2: The infinitive of purpose φωτὶσαι, “to enlighten,” is translated νᾶφωτὶσω, “that I should enlighten.”


Copyright Statement
Greek Thoughts‘ Copyright 2020© Bill Klein. ‘Greek Thoughts‘ articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each article, along with a link to https://www.studylight.org/language-studies/greek-thoughts.html  2) ‘Greek Thoughts‘ content may not be arranged or “mirrored” as a competitive online service.

EPOURANIOS* – Part 3; εχηγεομα – Heavenly, celestial, the spirit realm

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 conclude 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 (e)poura/niov) 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.

In our study of ̓Επουρὰνιος, we have 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, who is seated in the spirit realm above all other spiritual forces, at the right of the throne of God, in the place of authority and honor. That being established, it is now important to establish one final position in the spirit realm – that of the believer in Christ, which is the theme of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Our study is taken from Ephesians 2:4-6.

Ephesians 2:4-6
4) But God, being rich in mercy, on account of His great love with which He loved us,5)even while being dead in trespasses, He made us alive together in Christ; by grace you are saved,6)and He raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenlies (ἐπουρὰνιος) in Christ Jesus,

In this section of scripture, Paul uses resurrection language to describe three stages that take place during salvation. He first uses the Greek verb συζωοποιὲω (Sunzoopoieo – Strong’s #4806), which is translated “He made us alive together.” Next, he uses the verb συνεγεὶρω (Sunegeiro – Strong’s #4891), which is translated “He raised us up together.” And then he uses the verb sugkaqi/zw (Sunkathizo – Strong’s #4776), which is translated “seated us together.” Each of these verbs is in the aorist tense, which means that each is expressing a one-time act in the past. Therefore, each of these phases has happened once, in the past, in the life of the believer – at salvation. Of special interest to us this week is Paul’s statement of the third and final phase taking place at salvation – that God has seated us together in the spirit realm in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s purpose in writing to the Ephesians is to establish the fact that believers, at the time of salvation, are positioned in the spirit realm, in Christ, at the right of the throne of God. This is a most important concept for believers to understand, especially as we struggle with the flesh and the things of the world. The reason for this is because false teaching on how a believer is to deal with the fleshly realm is rampant today, even emphasizing that a believer must fight to get back into proper relation and position with Christ. But God’s Word teaches that everyone who has received the Spirit of Christ has been made spiritually alive, has been raised up from the spiritual dead, and has been seated in Christ Jesus in the spirit realm. The preposition ἐν (En –Strong’s #1722) translated “in” expresses position. This shows that the believer is positioned permanently “in Christ” at the right of the throne of God.

The importance of this truth is clear: the struggles believers have in the physical realm make it “seem” as though our spiritual position in Christ does not exist, that we are not positioned far above all other spiritual forces in the spirit realm. Our fleshly struggles cause us to “feel” as though we are being defeated and that we must fight to get back into a more spiritual condition. That which “seems” to be happening and that which “feels” as though we are losing the battle is the opposite of the truth that exists in the spirit realm.

The truth existing in the spirit realm is that every believer is seated “in Christ” at the right of the throne of God, far above all spiritual forces including the evil spiritual forces mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. In order for evil spiritual forces to remove a believer from his spiritual position in Christ, Christ Himself would have to be defeated, and that is impossible. This is the point Paul is making: Satan can only seduce believers into thinking and believing that the truth concerning their spiritual warfare is gauged by the physical realm. In truth, however, Christians are to believe by faith that their position is in Christ in the spirit realm and are to resist the temptation to fight with Satan based upon how things seem to be in the physical realm. This is a position of faith. James 4:7 says, “Therefore be submitted to God. And resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The action believers are to take against the devil is to be submitted to God, perceiving their position in Christ, and the devil will flee from them. That is why Paul concludes the Book of Ephesians (6:11) by encouraging believers to stand against the systematic attacks of the devil, after having put on the armor of God, which is Christ Jesus. The believer’s response to Satan is to resist him and to stand, by faith, in the present and permanent position in Christ in the spirit realm.

*EPOURANIOS is the English font spelling of the Greek word ἐπουρὰνιος.


Copyright Statement
Greek Thoughts‘ Copyright 2020© Bill Klein. ‘Greek Thoughts‘ articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each article, along with a link to https://www.studylight.org/language-studies/greek-thoughts.html  2) ‘Greek Thoughts‘ content may not be arranged or “mirrored” as a competitive online service.