Introduction to ephesians bible exposition commentary. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. There are, however, some texts that require careful thought to rightly interpret, namely. This would further seem to suggest, as i have believed, that not only did paul write the book of colossians, but that he wrote colossians before writing the book of ephesians.
Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ. Ephesians our blessings in christ importance this epistle was evidently addressed to the church in ephesus cf. When paul was on his second preaching journey, he was forbidden by the holy spirit to preach the word in asia acts. What where the circustances paul wrote this epistle from prison, as he did ephesians, philippians, and philemon. So, lets look at the order and then fit ephesians into the order because ephesians is a very important dividing line in pauls epistles. 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. Geographical background the city was situated on the western coast of asia minor at the mouth of the cayster river, one of the four major eastwest valleys that ended in the aegean sea. Although caesarea and ephesus have been suggested as possible locations of authorship, the bulk of. Ephesians 1 background information with maps and images. Ephesians and colossians have a number of parallels.
As a result, pauls travel companions, gaius and aristarchus of macedonia, were dragged into the theater. To begin with, the epistle to the ephesians may be improperly titled, which creates a difficulty in its opening verses. Constables notes on ephesians 2020 edition for some interpreters, the reference in 2 timothy 4. Public activity ceased in the cities of ionia for several hours at. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. I, paul, say to you that x if you accept circumcision, y christ will be of no advantage to you. This morning we come for our bible study to a book that is indeed a treasure of mine and of every believer, the book of ephesians.
The book is quite similar in many ways to colossians, but that book places more emphasis on the work of christ, where this book emphasizes more the involvement of the church. Bruce, in his commentary on the book of acts, provides us with some interesting information on the school of tyrannus. To purchase this briefing pack in its entirety, go to our. Ephesus forms an appropriate background to the book of ephesians because of this citys fascination with magic and the occult acts 19. John macarthur preached versebyverse through the book of ephesians in a sixtyonepart series that lasted from january 1, 1978 until june 24, 1979. Paul had spent nearly three years in ephesus acts 19. The reason they do this is because they center everything around a couple of passages in acts and some in 1 cor. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf. Heres some background did you know that the apostle paul was in prison at the time he wrote this letter to the ephesians. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at the. 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. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to.
In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Aug 23, 2012 date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. 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. There is not one exhortation in the first three chapters. Pauls doctrine of the church shines in ephesians unlike any other epistle. The church has been brought from death to life in christ.
Thus the most plausible account of the origin of this epistle seems to be as. Acts 19, but may have been intended as a circular letter to be read by neighboring churches. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. Ephesians commentary free bible study notes, commentary, and. 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. 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.
There are 41 commands in ephesians, 1 of which is found in chapters. Some have argued that paul wrote colossians from ephesus or caesarea, but most of the evidence favors rome as the place where paul penned all the prison letters ephesians, colossians, philippians and philemon. 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. Dec 18, 2012 in this segment chuck missler discusses ephesians. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Early in the history of grace church, the history of john macarthur at grace church at least, it was obvious to me that god had something very special in mind for this church. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Chapter 3 of the book of hebrews christ and moses chapter 4 of the book of hebrews the sabbath additional notes the rest of god chapter 5 of the book of hebrews christs qualifications as high priest additional notes mrs. The western text indicates that paul had the use of the building from 11 a.
Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary the zondervan encyclopedia of the bible 3. The book of ephesians page 3 what we possess in christ our possessions the believers blessed life ephesians 1 key verse. The letter seems to have been written to the church that he founded in ephesus, and it seems that he intended for it to circulate around the churches in western asia minor present day turkey. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said. Pdf bible study the book of ephesians john ndhlovu academia. Christ should stand up in full functioning form in his body the church just as he did in his human body in his incarnation. 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 ancient hebrews called the book by its opening words, in the beginning. 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. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or.
Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. The book of ephesians along with philippians and colossians, was written by the apostle paul while in prison in rome. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. As we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the protestant reformation, the northwestern ohio synod will celebrate the gift of gods grace through worship, bible study, book reading, and other faith practices. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. The book of ephesians is charged with weighty doctrines that reveal the glory of the triune god. Theme the letter describes gods plan for mans salvation, with emphasis on the role of the church.
Father, son, and spirit are seen in pauls epistle to the ephesians as operating from before the foundation of the world for the redemption of the church. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped by all asia and the world acts 19. The body must be whole and complete, and thats why in ephesians 4 it says, till we all come to the fullness of the stature of christ. Date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. It is clear from the bible account that these mens lives were in danger. Ephesians and colossians were probably composed at the same time in rome. Christ is at the centre of every biblical doctrine in the book of ephesians. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. 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. Luke records in acts that paul spent two years in ephesus see acts 19. Every day on my 3045 minute commute, i turned over these words in my mind and heart. For other books, devotionals and bible studies by anne graham lotz.
Commentary on galatians and ephesians by john calvin. Finally, be strong in the lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in christ. The below chart will help underline and point out these similarities. In this lesson, we will commence our study of the book of ephesians. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our.
The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. A few years back, i was teaching an adult new members class. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. It is one of the four books that are commonly referred to as the prison epistles the others being philippians, colossians, and philemon. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. This segment comes from the ephesians commentary published by koinonia house. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of.
Introduction from the niv study bible go to ephesians. The church can thank phillip and his son alexander for establishing the greek empire, which gave way. White on bible study chapter 6 of the book of hebrews steadfastness in the faiththe covenant oath additional notes. Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the book of ephesians. They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a separate outline. The epistle to the ephesians introduction author the apostle paul 1. Commentary on galatians and ephesians bible study guide. The church in ephesus was also not one large church, but a. Background paper on the epistle to the philippians the city of philippi the city of philippi was located in modern macedonia, which is north of greece. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. Ephesians background information fbc seguin students. Tyrannus no doubt held his classes in the early morning.
Background to the book of ephesians chuck missler youtube. The general theology of ephesians is direct, unambiguous, and presents no ideas or interpretations whose meanings are seriously contended. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. 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. Put on the full armor of god so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. This helps explain pauls emphasis on the power of god over all heavenly authorities and on christs triumphant ascension as head over the church and over all things in this age and the next. In salvation, god acts at the origin and deepest point of the human person. However, the similarities between ephesians and colossians have led most scholars to. The city was founded by phillip ii, the father of alexander the great. 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.
Ligon duncan also preached a sixtyonepart series on ephesians beginning june 26, 2005 and. 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. A brief introduction to ephesians ephesians online reading room extensive collection of online resources for. Workbook on the fundamentals of the gospel of christ. Style and genre in ephesians q m t qdonovan the authorship of ephesians is an increasingly open question in current discussion. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. Headings throughout the following book of ephesians. The book s chief concern, however, is not with physical origins, but with the relationship god desires to have with. Historical background ephesians the letter to the ephesians was written probably during pauls imprisonment in rome between 60 and 62 ad. Two significant prayers of paul are found in this book eph 1. The whole bible is a splendid book and its my prayer that youll. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Introduction while i was a student in college, i took a class in economics. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a.
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