The book of ephesians in the bible was written in rome. Do you think paul had visited with the ephesians prior to writing this letter to them. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of gods eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate. 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. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. It was also written to make believers more aware of their position in christ because this is the basis for our walk in every level of life. Studying the epistle to the ephesians can inspire students to set aside the things of this world and can help them grow spiritually and learn to more fully partake of the unity and fellowship of the church. This letter is one of pauls four imprisonment letters. Why did paul write the book of ephesians in the bible.
The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. How to understand ephesians have you sat down to study a book of the bible and found yourself confused about why an author wrote certain things. Ephesians was written by paul a prisoner in rome ephesians 4. So the disputed letters of paul are colossians, ephesians, 2 thessalonians, and the pastorals. Letter of paul to the ephesians work by saint paul. Throughout the epistle, paul seems to hint that he did not know them well, but rather encouraged them to look upon him favorably see ephesians 3. The book of ephesians is in the bibles new testament. When paul wrote the book of ephesians, paul was in prison. 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.
We have to read the book itself and then deduce the purpose of the writer in writing it. While early lists of new testament books, including marcions canon and the muratorian fragment. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Ephesians 1 is the first chapter of the epistle to the ephesians in the new testament of the christian bible. Paul was excited about gods good gifts ephesians 1. Niv this was likely early in his imprisonment he had appealed to caesar in 59 a. Its a book full of encouraging words and practical advice that will serve you. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Nov 18, 2015 why did paul write the book of ephesians. Before we can discuss the text, we must first confront a common misconception about the book of ephesians and the christian life itself.
Introduction to the book of ephesians faithlife sermons. 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. Ephesians is primarily written to gentile nonjewish followers of. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. Epistles which were composed under pauls name and are consciously committed to this legacy, namely the epistles to the colossians and ephesians, the second epistle to thessalonica, and the pastorals. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of gods eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals god has for the church. The purpose and plan of ephesians preaching source. He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no longer our own but all things are gods. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a.
Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. The book of ephesians is said to have been written by paul but the ultimate answer is that it was inspired by god. Paul wrote ephesians while under house arrest as a prisoner in rome. Thus it was one of pauls four prison epistles, along with philippians, colossians and philemon. Paul said to the saints in ephesus, who obviously were christians, if you are greedy you will not inherit the kingdom of god. The letter opens with a sequence of statements about gods blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to gods wisdom, forethought and purpose. Let us consider, then, the characteristics of the book of ephesians. They were written by the apostle paul during his first imprisonment in rome. The author there is little doubt that the apostle paul wrote the book of ephesians and likely.
It is also seems equally obvious that in gods providence this epistle was incorporated in the canon of scripture for the whole body of christ. 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. The apostle paul wrote the epistle to the ephesians see ephesians 1. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the bible.
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. 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. 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. 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. However, the separation of these two basic interests and the resolving of the inherent difficulties int. 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.
The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. All tradition takes the epistle as being pauline until it was first disputed by erasmus. When paul returned to jerusalem after his third missionary journey, some of the jews made false charges against him. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said.
The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. This deep, spiritual letter discusses our position in christ, the body of christ, salvation by grace through faith, our christian inheritance, unity of the church, prayer, ministry, ethical right living, and instructions to fathers, husbands, wives, children, masters, employees, and employers. Paul probably wrote his letter to the ephesians while under house arrest in rome acts 28. Paul wrote the book of ephesians in order to provide the church at ephesus with a blueprint on how to build a healthy christian community.
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. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. What timeless truths can we glean from this special book. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. The book has similarities to colossians, suggesting it was written about the same time. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. Pauls letter to the ephesians an overview david anderson. Beginning this series on the book of ephesians, dr. 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. 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.
Answers for ephesians chapter 1 free online bible study. 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. Letter of paul to the ephesians work by saint paul britannica. In our common pick and choose reading method where we flip open the bible, read a passage, and then jump somewhere else, we often miss the importance of the flow, tone, and message of what an. Spiritual blessings in christ blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ, who has blessed us in. Pauls letter to the ephesians is one of the most comprehensive letters written by paul to explain to us the nature of god and gods great plan and purpose for his creation, especially the future of mankind.
Letter of paul to the ephesians, new testament writing once thought to have been composed by paul in prison but more likely the work of one of pauls disciples, who probably wrote the text sometime before ad 90 while consulting pauls letter to the colossians. Paul wrote the letter, along with several other epistles, while incarcerated in a roman prison. The other prison epistles are the books of philippians, colossians, and philemon. Paul wrote this letter to the church at ephesus, which he had led for over two years acts 19. The authorship of ephesians has been one of the most hotly debated issues in the critical scholarship of the letter. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. To the saints in ephesus, the faithful in christ jesus. It takes the form of a letter aimed at addressing the christian congregation. In this ephesians bible study we learn that paul tells of the great privilege of the ephesians. There are several ways to resolve this issue to make it possible that paul spent two years with the ephesian saints and also wrote an epistle where he implies that they did not know him. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters. The first verse in the letter identifies paul as its author.
Overview of the book of ephesians third millennium ministries. With other books, the writer does not tell us why he wrote the book. John in this verse tells us why he wrote his gospel. Answering bible contradictions, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries.
The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. However, a clear majority of modern new testament scholars believe it was written in pauls name, long after his death. This epistle is addressed to the saints at the church in ephesus, a prosperous port city in the roman province of asia minor. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. Written to encourage persecuted believers and to show them what it means to follow jesus as a believer. 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. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus.
But the vast majority of prominent evangelical scholars who have written commentaries, monographs, and journal articles on ephesians in recent years are convinced of pauline. The books of ephesians, philippians, colossians, and philemon are often called the prison epistles. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. Prior to writing his epistle to the ephesians in 6061 ad, paul had an established. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. There is not a suggestion of the personal paul in the book. A delineation of the plan is impossible apart from an understanding of the purpose. Pastor steven cole sermons ephesians pastor steven. Why was the letter of ephesians written to the church in ephesus.
Paul wrote his letter to the ephesians while in prison in rome, probably around a. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat the latter part as secondary or of less value see the right diagram where a wall separates the two sections. Ephesus boasted international trade, a thriving silversmith guild, and a theater that seated 20,000 people. The books of the new testament were composed not in order to satisfy historical curiosity about the events they recount but to bear witness to a faith in the action. Sproul takes us on a tour through the city of ephesus to catch a glimpse of the religious environment in which paul preached the gospel of god. The author of the book of ephesus was the apostle paul. Perhaps it seems like a nobrainer to say the book of ephesians was written to the ephesians.
Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. The book of ephesians is an epistle written by paul bartleby. Introduction to the epistle of paul to the ephesians. The purpose and plan of the ephesian letter are inextricably interwoven. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. 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. 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. Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul. Bu t it seems that he had only heard about them from verses 15 and 16 of ephesians chapter 1. 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. The apostle paul wrote the letter to the ephesians while in prison. Nowhere in this letter does paul tell us explicitly why he wrote it.
Sadly, it has been greatly misunderstood by almost everyone who reads it. 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. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Williamson i chose not to provide detailed discussion of who wrote ephesians in the com mentary because it is not crucial for understanding the meaning of ephesians for christian faith. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. 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. The letter to the ephesian church is regarded as one of the masterworks of the nt, but it is also one of those books that the critics like to say wasnt authored by paul. It is the nearconsensus of scholars that paul did not actually write the epistle to the ephesians. Is the ephesian church of the revelation the same group as. The new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ. You could say yes or no, because the bible doest tell us specifically. Pseudepigraphy and the early church it might seem odd to the average biblical reader that there would be debate over the authorship of a letter like ephesians which presents itself, unambiguously, as from the apostle paul 1. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat. 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.