Easter · Sixth Sunday of Easter · Year B
1 John 5:1-8
Paul in Ephesus
May 2, 2027
Overview & Insights
“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them.” (Acts 19:6)
This section and the one before it are a pair. They are both concerned with the relationship of Christianity to an imperfect form of the faith—“the baptism of John.” In this case Paul deals with the situation himself. These verses include also a brief description of his ministry in Ephesus, aspects of which are illustrated in the following section. But again we must turn to Paul’s letters to fill out our knowledge of these years. They show that his achievement in Ephesus was at the cost of much suffering (1 Cor. 15:32; 2 Cor. 1:8; 4:9ff.; 6:4ff.), including, perhaps, an imprisonment (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23) and a “flying visit” to Corinth in an attempt to bring order into that church’s troubled affairs (cf. 2 Cor. 12:14; 13:1; also 2 Cor. 2:1; see disc. on 21:21).
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Commentary
Working Preacher: Commentary on 1 John 5:1-6 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary on faith born of God that overcomes the world.
1 John 5:1-6 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed reading of new birth as the source rather than the result of faith.
Enduring Word: 1 John 5 Bible Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse by verse study of being born of God and believing in the Son.
BibleHub: 1 John 5:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on believing Jesus is the Christ and loving the Father's children.
Precept Austin: 1 John 5:1 Commentary Precept Austin
In depth word study and cross references on faith that overcomes the world.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What happens at Ephesus in Acts 19?
Paul finds disciples who knew only John's baptism; baptized now in the name of the Lord Jesus and receiving the Spirit through Paul's hands, they speak in tongues and prophesy.
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