II. THE NEW HUMANITY A DIVINE CREATION (1:3–3:21)
1. INTRODUCTORY EULOGIA (1:3–14)
(1) Praise for Election and Adoption (1:3–6)
(2) Praise for Redemption and Final Reconciliation (1:7–10)
(3) Praise for the Assurance of the Believers’ Heritage (1:11–14)
2. INTRODUCTORY THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSORY PRAYER (1:15–23)
(1) Thanks for the Readers’ Faith and Love and Prayer for Their Increase in Knowledge (1:15–19)
(2) God’s Mighty Strength Shown in the Raising of Christ (1:20–23)
3. THE SAVING GRACE OF GOD (2:1–10)
(1) New Life in Christ (2:1–7)
(2) God’s New Creation (2:8–10)
4. THE INCORPORATION OF THE GENTILES (2:11–22)
(1) Their Former Plight (2:11–12)
(2) Their Present Access (2:13–18)
(3) Their Membership in the House of God (2:19–22)
5. INTERCESSORY PRAYER RESUMED (3:1)
6. THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST (3:2–13)
(1) Paul’s Stewardship (3:2–7)
(2) The Eternal Purpose (3:8–13)
7. INTERCESSORY PRAYER CONCLUDED (3:14–19)
III. THE NEW HUMANITY IN EARTHLY LIFE (4:1–6:20)
1. EXHORTATION TO UNITY (4:1–3)
2. CONFESSION OF FAITH (4:4–6)
3. PROVISION FOR SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND GROWTH (4:7–16)
4. CHRISTIAN CONDUCT (4:17–5:20)
(1) The Old Man and the New (4:17–24)
(2) Negative and Positive Precepts (4:25–32)
(3) The Imitation of God (5:1–2)
(4) From Darkness to Light (5:3–14)
(5) “Be Filled with the Spirit” (5:15–20)
(2) Wives and Husbands (5:22–33)
(3) Children and Parents (6:1–4)
(4) Slaves and Masters (6:5–9)