If some version of a circular letter is assumed, a great deal of the problem is alleviated. One of the apostle pauls books, 10th book of the new testament. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Paul gave the ephesian leaders a farewell address in the town of miletus acts 20. The apostle paul, after staying in corinth for a year and a half, travels to ephesus in the spring of 52 a. Ephesians is a tremendous book to study if you desire to find a firm foundation in your spiritual life. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Paul was part of a city riot by threatened temple workers acts 19. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is, written in paul s name by a later author strongly influenced by paul s thought, probably by a loyal.
Paul addresses a variety of relationships in the book of ephesians. He could not have stayed at his home base of antioch more than a few months following his second. The words in ephesus are lacking in the earliest manuscripts and citations, and the author probably wrote the text sometime before 90 ce while consulting pauls letter to the colossians see letter of paul to the. One of the apostle paul s books, 10th book of the new testament. The most likely imprisonment that paul refers to in this letter is his roman custody, which dates the letters composition around 60 ad. What stands out as unique or significant as you read. Paul develops his strong and wellarticulated spiritual philosophy and theology, which he presents in this letter to the people of ephesus. After describing the glorious calling to which god has called his people eph. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by paul the apostle to explain that salvation is offered through the gospel of jesus christ. Many scholars claim that paul did not write ephesians. Paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to gods holy people in ephesus, the faithful in christ jesus. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. This book is an epistle, meaning it is a letter, and paul wrote this particular letter while in prison in rome. Ephesians complete bible book chapters and summary new.
Salvation, holy spirit, predestination, redemption, faith, and jesus are just a few of the doctrines which paul covers. Ephesians is the second book we would recommend to a bible study group to dive into after the book of mark. Letter of paul to the ephesians summary, authorship. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. This question has been answered subscribe to view answer. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians.
He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. Ephesians 1 niv paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the.
How does the gospel message inform these relationships andhow can these. Paul divided his letter to the ephesians into two clear segments. In the second chapter, salvation by grace through faith is described in terms of being raised from spiritual death. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf. Paul, initially named saul, was born a jew and, in fact, persecuted many early christians, thinking they were blaspheming god by lifting up jesus as gods son. Paul, initially named saul, was born a jew and, in fact, persecuted many early christians, thinking they were blasphe ming god by lifting up jesus as gods son. Central to an understanding of paul s theology as it is expressed in ephesians is the conversion of paul and the power it had. The journey to the city, with friends priscilla and aquila, is considered part of what is called paul s second evangelistic or missionary journey.
We are told in the first verse of ephesians that it was written by paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god 1. Paul s letter to the church at ephesus consists of twelve lessons, which can be used for an individual daily bible study or a group bible study. The theology of ephesians is typical of paul, with the emphasis on salvation by grace through faith and not works. In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of paul on his second missionary journey, as recorded in acts.
Feb 10, 2019 paul wrote ephesians while under house arrest as a prisoner in rome. Insert your name or the name of the person you are praying for in the blank spaces. Pa ul the apostle in prison but more likely the work of one of his disciples. Ephesians appears to have been used and quoted or alluded to authoritatively as a pauline letter by many of the apostolic fathers, including clement of rome, ignatius, hermas, epistle to diognetus, and polycarp. The other prison epistles are the books of philippians, colossians, and philemon. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. The book of ephesians is one of paul s writings, or at least attributed to paul. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of paul s other letters. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a.
Is the ephesian church of the revelation the same group as. The apostle paul was about fiftyone years of age when he set out upon his third missionary journey, destined to lead him seven years later to his first trial and acquittal before the emperor nero at rome. Paul turned to thanksgiving to show the blessings of redemption ephesians 1. Principalities and powers describe simply angelic powers, whether of good or evil. Scripture chapters verses with full summary, commentary meaning, and concordances for bible study. The deeper christian bible study series on ephesians is an indepth versebyverse study of paul s letter to the ephesians. One of four prison epistles, along with philippians, colossians, and philemon.
These studies will guide you through this lifechanging book of the bible and give you practical application to help you grow in your faith, gain greater intimacy with jesus. These are the relationships that paul addressed in the book of ephesians. Third, if the letter was sent solely to the church in ephesus, it is strange that paul offered no greetings to any people therethat is, strange since. All of life, according to paul, flows from this reality. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. The book has similarities to colossians, suggesting it was written about the same time. Written by the apostle paul whilst in prison around 62 ad. 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. This book also serves to encourage the members of the church. He also describes the nature and role of the church in gods eternal plan. The main goal of the believer is to display the glory of christ by showing love toward others in and outside the church. How wide, long, high and deep is the love of jesus. Praise for spiritual blessings in christ 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.
At this point paul s thinking follows the form of devotion. Because the name ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, some scholars believe the letter was an encyclical, intended to be circulated and read among all the churches in asia minor and was simply. Letter of paul to the ephesians, also called epistle of st. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Aug 23, 2012 in reading ephesians, it is very helpful to note that typical of paul s writing and organization, the first three chapters are concentrated on principles, while the final three chapters are focused on practices. Some scholars believe ephesians was a circular letter distributed to several early christian churches, which may explain why the reference to ephesus is missing from copies of some manuscripts.
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. Elements typical of the language of prayer defy a strictly logical analysis. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Outline of the book of ephesians opening salutation ephesians 1. Paul addresses a variety of relationships in the book of. Paul speaks of the fathers plan for salvation ephesians 1. Paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god, to the saints which are at ephesus, and to the. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to.
Paul shows how the good news should create ethnically diverse communities that are unified by devotion to jesus and to each other. Paul spent the first three chapters of the letter discussing gods creation of a holy community by his gift of grace in the death and resurrection of jesus christ. Although he likely starts the first christian church in the city he stays for only a. Ephesians is written to a group of believers whom paul served alongside aquila and. As guthrie has pointed out, the close relationship between ephesians and colossians suggests that paul wrote ephesians and addressed it to a wider audience as a safeguard against the colossian heresy. The author of the book of ephesians is the apostle paul. There is early attestation of paul as the author of ephesians. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Paul defines them as powers of evil, and appears to indicate two different aspects of this evil power. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Heart of pauls theology of ephesians essay 1976 words. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the daily bible reading scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, things to think about, and a prayer for the day. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which god lives by his spirit.
Ephesus was one of the largest cities of the ancient world. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes. In the book of ephesians, paul summarizes his gospel of salvation through faith alone. Thus it was one of paul s four prison epistles, along with philippians, colossians and philemon. Two prayers and one request for prayer in ephesians each revolves around revelation and mystery eph. The purpose and plan of ephesians preaching source. Believers in the church at ephesus near the western shores of modernday turkey.
The book of ephesions highlights the security of the believer, and how to deal with persecution as a christian and walk as fruitful followers of christ. Paul the apostle in prison but more likely the work of one of his disciples. Read the book of ephesians as if it were a letter from the apostle paul written to your own church. Paul s house arrest in rome is chronicled in acts 28. Because the name ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, some scholars believe the letter was an encyclical, intended to be circulated and read. Ephesians bible study guide 11 free online lessons with. I have outlined paul s prayers in ephesians with a certain logic and symmetry.
Powerful, spiritual wisdom through belief in jesus. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of paul s letters and often treat the latter part as secondary or of less value see the right diagram where a wall separates the two sections. The general consensus is that these epistles were written during paul s imprisonment at rome cf. John does not refer his group to paulas in, remember what paul wrote to you or recall when paul first visited you and preached christ to you. A description of the change in the spiritual position of gentiles as a result of the. Grace and peace to you from god our father and the lord jesus christ. A collection of paul s letters was circulating by about ad 95, with ephesians and colossians included it is possible that the pastoral letters were not included with his general epistles at this early date, when many of those who actually knew paul were still alive. Apr 27, 2017 the book of ephesians makes no reference to the apostle john, and the book of the revelation makes no reference to the apostle paul.
Paul the apostle to the ephesians,abbreviationephesians, tenth book of the new testament, once thought to have been composed by st. If the epistle to the ephesians was not written directly by paul, but by one of his. Examines how paul designed ephesians to teach christians how to build, maintain and thrive in gods kingdom. In verse 2 of ephesians chapter 1, paul shows that both god the father and the lord jesus christ bestow grace and peace on the saints. One thing is certain ephesus was a city in darkness blinded by idolatry and material wealth. On the way, paul had him deliver this writing to the church at ephesus eph. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god.
Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Paul warns them of spiritual warfare and attacks from satan and his cronies and encourages them to put on the full armor of god. Paul has one main desire in ephesians for you to know jesus christ and your position in him. He sent it to the church in ephesus a city which is now part of modernday turkey, where he had spent three years in fruitful ministry, speaking. Many ephesians received the gift of eternal life as a result of paul s good work among them. Paul wrote his letter to the ephesians while in prison in rome, probably around a. On one of pauls visits to ephesus, he stayed 2 years and 3 months. The epistle to the romans or letter to the romans, often shortened to romans, is the sixth book in the new testament. He wanted his readers to know christ better, the christ who enables believers to have the incomparable power that resurrected christ and that now rules in this age and the one to come. Pauls prayer in the book of ephesians rhema bible church.
Paul the apostle to the ephesians, abbreviation ephesians, tenth book of the new testament, once thought to have been composed by st. The first three chapters of ephesians expound on the very core foundations of faith which we have as believers. Pauls epistle to the ephesians can be divided into five major sections. Feb 07, 2017 the seeds that paul s preaching planted there took many years to grow but in gods timing, it bore the fruit that resulted in the destruction of dianas well known temple at ephesus. Epistle to the ephesians read bible book, study verses. A general account of the blessings that the gospel reveals. Accordingly, the reader does well to seek out doctrinal and theological wisdom from chapters, and behavioral guidance from. Why this book was written the book of ephesians was written to set forth the nature of the universal church, the body of christ, and its eternal purpose 1. Pauls prayers for the ephesian believers ephesians 1. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. Grace is given to each as christ desires ephesians 4. The pattern of the book is also typical of paul, with theology first and practical instructions afterward.
1306 829 1263 995 991 415 173 902 1323 1577 254 270 779 1334 542 1480 614 408 621 1237 1399 1074 1705 477 1482 1713 1034 611 593 994 1654