The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. However, a clear majority of modern new testament scholars believe it was written in pauls name, long after his death. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity. Thus, paul is making an allusion to the deity of christ. Church in ephesians represents the universal, not the local church as in pauls authentic letters. Prior to writing his epistle to the ephesians in 6061 ad, paul had an established ministry in. Ephesians, epistle to the international standard bible. Prior to writing his epistle to the ephesians in 6061 ad, paul had an established ministry in ephesus.
In keeping with the christological focus of the book, notice also that each aspect of the salutation writer, recipient, and greeting mentions christ. Thanks to the understanding gained from this study, ephesians in my study bible is almost all hi lighted. In the epistle to the romans, the author writes from the point of view of the demonstration of the righteousness of godhis covenant faithfulness and saving justicein the gospel. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of ephesus in asia minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is christ, the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making gods plan of salvation known throughout the universe eph 3. As an opera has an overture, setting the tone for all the melodies that will follow, so ephesians 1. Ephesians 612 publishing book publishing companies. While this book begins, paul, an apostle of christ jesus through the will of god, to the saints who are at ephesus, and the faithful in christ jesus 1. 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. Verse 20 sets the contrast with you, however or ut you. 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. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Epistle to the ephesians read the bible online bible study tools. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same time he wrote colossians and philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand.
Ephesians is primarily written to gentile nonjewish followers of. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. It is probable that the two greater letters had their occasion in the return of onesimus to philemon. Get ready to explore this magnificent book through the triedandtested inductive study methodwith an added writing step to help you treasure each word. And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all. Ephesians 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. While early lists of new testament books, including marcions canon and the. Letter of paul to the ephesians, new testament writing once thought to have. According to the addenda to the eighth book of the stromateis of clement of alexandria, theodotus. There are a couple reasons why this might be the case. The book of ephesians is the most thorough and wideranging account of what it means to be the church, in the new testament. This fact is used to argue that ephesians was written late in the first century. Paul began here in the manner of all writers of his time with a salutation ephesians 1. Second, the overall composition and style is of a person who is a very sophisticated writer.
There may be two purposes for paul having written the book of ephesians. If you want to understand ephesians, its important to know why paul wrote it and how he structured it. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. Whereas in pauls other writings, he emphasized the event and meaning of the death of christ, the writer. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ephesians. May 15, 2017 the new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ. Its a book full of encouraging words and practical advice that will serve you. The readers of ephesians are different they know christ. Feb 07, 2015 the author of the book of ephesus was the apostle paul. The book of ephesians calls you to carry on with a rich understanding of gods love and the strength to serve those around you. For a small book, ephesians really makes a huge impact. 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.
The verb to justify is not used, while it is common in galatians and romans. The first verse in the letter identifies paul as its author. The author of the book of ephesus was the apostle paul. Indeed, church has eclipsed the idea of christ in this epistle.
Paul spent more than two years in the city, preaching the gospel to jew and gentile, ministering with power and building up the church there. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and. In ancient greek the language paul originally wrote in, ephesians 1. Letter of paul to the ephesians work by saint paul britannica. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same time he wrote colossians and philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand of tychicus, accompanied by onesimus ephesians 6. Nov 18, 2015 the book of ephesians is an incredible book, rich in the doctrines of god that gives the reader hope, assurance, and the protection theyll need and well need it because the enemy is out. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. The apostle paul wrote the epistle to the ephesians see ephesians 1. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome. Even though he was certainly a sophisticated communicator, paul stated that he purposely did not speak with a commanding vocabulary 1 corinthians 1. It is significant that ephesians was recognized from the beginning as a pauline letter. A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible.
Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true. First, in the earliest manuscript editions of the new testament books, hebrews is included. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. New testament this category is for questions and answers related to ephesians, as asked by users of. Get ready to explore this magnificent book through the triedandtested inductive study methodwith an. Basil, a writer of the fourth century, speaking of the present epistle, has this very singular passage. And writing to the ephesians, as truly united to him who is through knowledge, he paul calleth them in a peculiar sense such who are.
Paul concludes the book of ephesians in typical fashion with a benediction. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Paul wrote the letter as a circular letter to all of the churches of asia, but it came to be generally known as the letter to the ephesians early on because ephesus was the major city of asia. There are 41 commands in ephesians, 1 of which is found in chapters. Never once did paul minister to any jews on the basis of the new covenant.
Ive found that when i get confused about a passage, the easiest way to give me a global perspective is to look at my outline and figure out where my passage fits within the larger scope of the book. I recommend this volume to anyone who is not familiar with the basic themes of this epistle. The writer of ephesians is far more of an ecclesiastic than paul. The ephesian christians lived in the shadow of the massive temple to artemis, as we read in acts 19. Study guide, the joy of meeting jesus in all the scriptures the book of ephesians is the most thorough and wideranging account of what it means to be the church, in the new. This epistle is addressed to the saints at the church in ephesus, a prosperous port city in the roman province of asia minor. That wonder of the ancient world must have dominated not only the skyline but also the thinking of the city. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. Prior to writing his epistle to the ephesians in 6061 ad, paul had an established. We therefore welcome all the more warmly the following contribution to the debate which is based on a paper given to the tsf group in oxford. May 12, 2014 the structure of ephesians reflects its purpose. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church.
Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Sproul has himself written a very helpful introductory level commentary on it titled the purpose of god. In ephesians, throughout its worship, prayers and instructions for living, paul cant contain his joy and amazement at the larger story of gods plan to save us in jesus the messiah. 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. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. The explanations that 1 peter and ephesians are both from the pen of the same writer, or that ephesians is based on 1 pet, are overthrown. He finds in the church a great spiritual fellowship, built upon the apostles and prophets, 2. Ephesians was written by paul when imprisoned in rome. In clement of rome circa 95 ad the connection with ephesians might be due to some common liturgical form in xlvi. 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. Therefore, early scribes inserted in ephesus into the text 7.
The common pauline term brethren is missing except 6. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Ephesians is the first new testament book referenced in early church writings that have come down to us. Pastor steven cole sermons ephesians pastor steven. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus.
Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Nt wright for everyone bible study guides stock no. Introduction to the epistle of paul to the ephesians. These eleven studies from tom wright will help us see the significance of our role in gods grand narrative, and encourage us to live more fully as people who are. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. His character and perhaps even his teaching seem to have been questioned by some, as a result of his imprisonment philippians 1. 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. The use of ephesians in early christian writings points to the firstcentury churchs belief that it was written by the apostle named in the text. The book of hebrews quotes extensively from the old testament. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to.
E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. We are a small publishing house with distribution to over 40,000 wholesalers, retailers, and booksellers in over 100 countries. The writer of the book of hebrews says that israel would be saved according to the new covenant ratified by jesus christs shed blood. Style and genre in ephesians q m t qdonovan the authorship of ephesians is an increasingly open question in current discussion. One writer states that the pagan spiral of darkness starts with hardness of heart ignorance which leads to distorted thinking which brings alienation from god out of which follows a consuming sensuality. His ministry may have appeared to have been hindered. I know more than a few people that view him as sort of the rock star of christian writers meaning popular maybe, but not impactful as a writer. No immoral, impure or greedy personsuch a person is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of christ and of god. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ephesians. Perhaps the greatest of all points paul makes in this book is the fact that it is by grace you have been saved through faith.
This allows our authors to gain maximum exposure in the market. His farewell speech to the ephesian elders acts 20. The new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world. Ephesians quizzes there are 44 questions on this topic. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a.