Ephesians, written around the same time as pauls epistle to the colossians. Call gods people to live in light of our heavenly calling in christ. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Paul having preached for a considerable length of time at ephesus, the history is confirmed by the two epistles to the corinthians, and by the two epistles to timothy. Acts 19, but may have been intended as a circular letter to be read by neighboring churches. Ephesians was written by paul a prisoner in rome ephesians 4.
Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is, written in pauls name by a later author strongly influenced by pauls thought, probably by a loyal disciple to sum up pauls teaching and to apply it to a new situation fifteen to twentyfive years after. It is interesting to note and observe that while the new testament often refers to the church, it does not speak of going to church in the way we. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Gods people living in ephesus, that is, those who are trusting in the messiah yeshua. It was written to encourage believers to walk as fruitful followers of christ and to serve in unity and love in the midst of persecution. Audiobible niv 49 ephesians dramatized new international version high quality duration. The mythical founder of the city was a prince of athens named androklos, who had to leave his country after the death of his father, king kodros. The traditional idea, that god deals in one manner with the gentile christians and in another with the jewish christians, and that the races are identifiable in christ, has created havoc in the interpretation of the scripturesparticularly the writings. Ephesians our blessings in christ importance this epistle was evidently addressed to the church in ephesus cf. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our.
Niv this was likely early in his imprisonment he had appealed to caesar in 59 a. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. He asked the oracles in delphi where and how he could find a new settlement for greeks. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. Shaul shaaool, by gods will an emissary of the messiah yeshua. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new.
The concept that the elect jews and gentiles compose the one family of god, the one holy nation, is a central theme of the book of ephesians. As we continue in our faith from day to day, month to month, and year to year, the temptation to get comfortable will always exist. According to greek mythology, the ancient city of ephesus was established by greeks in 11 century b. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. Author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the new testament, and the biblical book of ephesians, written around 60 a. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. Pauls letter to the ephesians 8 hour course learn from new testament and pauline studies expert dr. This purpose is indispensable for christians in every time until the consummation of history.
Put very simply ephesians tells us who we are, who god is and. The book of ephesians concerns what god is doing in redemptive history by making the church. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Paul had passed two whole years at ephesus, acts 19. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. The main idea is god s gift in the restoration of humanity from the fall. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome.
The church, therefore, is not a simple social construct in the hands of sinners skilled with organizational savvy and robust. Why are male and female roles so important in the bible. But without the references to the whole armour of god and the foundation of the church being built upon the apostles. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. The purpose of the book of ephesians was to warn the church elders about the false teachers that were teaching a false gospel and to maintain their first love that they held when they first became believers. These important questions are answered in the book of ephesians. Ephesus was founded as an atticionian colony in the 10th century bc on a hill now known as the ayasuluk hill, three kilometers 1. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Best commentaries and books on ephesians logos bible. The book is address by paul to the church at ephesus. The book was authored in history and inspired by god to accomplish a very important purpose. This letter is one of pauls four imprisonment letters.
Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Paul names himself as the author of the epistle to the ephesians ephesians 1. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Lynn cohick as she guides you through each chapter and theological concept in ephesians, including salvation, the trinity, and the church. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. The book of ephesians clearly leaves its mark among other bible books by displaying the powerful impact of the gospel of christ jesus in the individual and. A more extensive outline after this one helps understand how the many parts form the whole. Paul had spent nearly three years in ephesus acts 19. In the beginning, the spiritually dead and hopeless v are lifted up, by grace, and made alive in the gift, workmanship, and journey of jesus until the end. Waymentapart from a few memorable phrases, the epistle to the ephesians often passes by our attention without significant notice or comment. New book study background to the book of ephesians.
The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding. Ephesians 1 is the first chapter of the epistle to the ephesians in the new testament of the christian bible. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. God is forming the body of christ, that he might fill them to walk in works of love and to stand firm in christs victory.
Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. This instructional letter is packed with practical advice, all given in an encouraging tone. A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians posted by bayareamomma on march 1, 20 july 28, 20 im diving into ephesians and i thought a bit of history might be helpful as we look at the work god does in ephesus. History of ephesus, history of ephesians, church of ephesus. This time ive selected the amazing book of ephesians. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. Several of the early church writers site the book of ephesians, for example irenaeus and clement of alexandria both state that paul was its author. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians bay.
Ephesus was an ancient port city whose wellpreserved ruins are in. Most early writers spoke of the epistle as having been addressed to the ephesians. The style of writing is clearly pauls, he begins with his customary personal greetings and words of thanks, and addresses issues of doctrine, as with the rest of his letters. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Traditionally, it is believed to have been written by apostle paul while he was in prison in rome around ad 62, but more recently, it has been suggested that it was written between ad 80 and 100 by another writer using pauls name and style. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. Ephesians also contains two of the most memorable passages in the new testament. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. A brief outline enables us to understand the whole book. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp.
The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Although the church is a new emphases in the letter, there is a clear background of pauline. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. The book of ephesians clearly leaves its mark among other bible books by displaying the powerful impact of the gospel of christ jesus in the individual and corporate life of believers. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new testament. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible.
Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. The grandeur of the ancient city of ephesus stands as a stark contrast to this rather small epistle. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. The ephesians were the residents of ephesus to which paul visited and wrote the book of ephesians too in the form of a letter to the church while in prison in rome.
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