Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of. Not every ephesian was open to pauls christian message. 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. The structure of the commentary on the text is unique, and highly desirable to those with a knowledge of greek, yet it is not inaccessible to those without. Ephesians is one of those books which, like the god of whom it speaks, is beyond the grasp of the finite minds of men. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. We also learn when we become christians we are not who we used to be and we are filled with new life and have the blessings of gods kindness and eternal gift to us.
Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the. Although the church is a new emphases in the letter, there is a clear background of pauline. Ephesians niv paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Jun 16, 2011 the book of isaiah kjv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 23 duration. Shaul shaaool, by gods will an emissary of the messiah yeshua. The book of ephesians is truly a remarkable letter, especially since paul wrote this from prison. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes.
Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. Chapter 19 in the book of acts tells of a riot started by a man named demetrius. The book of isaiah kjv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 23 duration. Emperor nero came to power very shortly thereafter, in ad 64, and he was one of the most horrific persecutors of christians ever in all of history.
The book of ephesians concerns what god is doing in redemptive history by making the church. Jun 27, 2019 the book of ephesians concerns what god is doing in redemptive history by making the church. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Let us consider, then, the characteristics of the book of ephesians. Goodspeed 7 suggests to us that this book has proven to be greater than the minds of those who have studied it. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and. 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. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city. Some suggest that pauls time in imprisonment enabled him to develop an exalted christology and a high appraisal of the privileges of believers in christ 11. But without the references to the whole armour of god and the foundation of the church being built upon the apostles. The book of ephesians gives practical, encouraging advice on living a life that honors god, which is why its still relevant in a conflictridden world. As we begin our study of the book of ephesians, i would like to draw attention to some of its characteristics, and then to attempt to identify its unique identity and contribution to the revelation of the scriptures. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries.
Gods people living in ephesus, that is, those who are trusting in the messiah yeshua. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped by all asia and the world acts 19. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. 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. These important questions are answered in the book of ephesians. Book of ephesians chapter two in ephesians chapter 2 we learn that christians are saved by grace. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. 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 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. In this ephesians bible study we learn that paul tells of the great privilege of the ephesians. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of god not by works, so that no one can boast.
Niv ephesians was for jews and gentiles who comprise one church. Although colossians is similar to ephesians, it is brief while the book of ephesians is much more articulate and extensive. Best commentaries and books on ephesians logos bible software. Paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god, to the saints which are at ephesus, and to the faithful in christ jesus. The church at ephesus was like a lot of churches today, and like a lot of christians. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. 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. Waymentapart from a few memorable phrases, the epistle to the ephesians often passes by our attention without significant notice or comment. Ephesians, written around the same time as pauls epistle to the colossians, remains an important piece of historical evidence that also preserves some important doctrinal concepts. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Ephesus was an ancient port city whose wellpreserved ruins are in. In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of paul on his second missionary journey, as. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. Ephesians also contains two of the most memorable passages in the new testament.
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. Lynn cohick as she guides you through each chapter and theological concept in ephesians, including salvation, the trinity, and the church. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. History of ephesus, history of ephesians, church of ephesus. 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. Paul the apostle writes to encourage believers to live wellweve been lifted from the graveyard of sin and called to shout the gospel into the darkened world. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a.
Aug 23, 2012 furthermore, christianity was not a widely accepted or politically correct religion in the grecoroman empire at the time the letter to the ephesians was written. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. 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. Furthermore, in the book of revelation we find that ephesus is the first one of the seven churches of asia mentioned in a series of churches that gives the entire history of the church. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. 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. This time ive selected the amazing book of ephesians. 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. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf.
New book study background to the book of ephesians. You will also learn about how we are members of one body in this second. The grandeur of the ancient city of ephesus stands as a stark contrast to this rather small epistle. 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. According to greek mythology, the ancient city of ephesus was established by greeks in 11 century b. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. This instructional letter is packed with practical advice, all given in an encouraging tone.
Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. Best commentaries and books on ephesians logos bible. It is clear from the bible account that these mens lives were in danger. 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. Pauls letter to the ephesians 8 hour course learn from new testament and pauline studies expert dr.
The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Paul wrote that salvation can be attained by the grace of god and that it is through faith alone not by any other way, not. Constantine campbell teaches how to interpret and preach the concepts communicated by paul to the church in ephesus. Paul had passed two whole years at ephesus, acts 19. Feb 16, 2018 its time for another book study on fridays. The church, therefore, is not a simple social construct in the hands of sinners skilled with organizational savvy and robust. The book of ephesians is a survival manualit equips believers to thrive in a world that hates the message of jesus christ. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters. Grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. Campbell divides the book into logical sections and highlights the key themes and focal points of each passage, concluding each section with practical suggestions on how to preach the text. Also known as the epistle to the ephesians, it is one of the prison epistles which the apostle paul wrote around 6062 a.
Paul wrote this letter we know as the book of ephesians to settle or establish the ephesians in the truth, and to acquaint them with the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 1 is the first chapter of the epistle to the ephesians in the new testament of the christian bible. Ephesians 1 full chapter greeting paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to the saints who are in ephesus, and are faithful in christ jesus. Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the new testament, and the biblical book of ephesians, written around 60 a. 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. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ.
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. Overview of the book of ephesians third millennium ministries. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. Ephesians 4 niv bible as a prisoner for the lord, then, i.
Dec 23, 2015 the book of ephesians is truly a remarkable letter, especially since paul wrote this from prison. Praise be to the god and father of our lord jesus christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in christ. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. 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. Ephesus was the church at its best, the church at the highest spiritual level. As a result, pauls travel companions, gaius and aristarchus of macedonia, were dragged into the theater. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include.
This works dives into history and recent scholarship, of epistle to the ephesians so that the student of scripture can understand the book in its proper cultural and historical context. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. The book of ephesians survey and outline introduces, through with maps, outlines and graphics, the background of ephesians and the book of ephesians. 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.
Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. The church at ephesus was like a lot of churches today, and like a. To analyze this letter fully, it is important to consider it in conjunction with colossians and in light of the jerusalem council recorded in acts 15. A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians bay. Paul probably wrote his letter to the ephesians while under house arrest in rome. One cannot step over the threshold of this letter into the book of ephesians without being inundated with thoughts of gods mercy and grace. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the. He asked the oracles in delphi where and how he could find a new settlement for greeks. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. 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. 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.
Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. 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. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. 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.
1600 1313 1501 779 1376 748 407 1075 19 656 1254 1044 1348 1182 18 217 69 1247 1074 129 701 1001 1195 759 425 725 405 314 623 901 860 969 916