Ephesians
Subtitle
Summary | About | Why You Should Read it | Author | When Written | Context | Timeline | Location | Outline | Observations | Resources
Summary
The book of Ephesians is focused on the doctrine of the church. In Ephesians, Paul describes what is God’s purpose in the church. The topics addressed include salvation, reconciliation between the Jews and the Church, revelation of God’s Wisdom through the Church, and practical Ways to Fulfill God’s Purpose in the Church. Ephesians also includes the description of the spiritual “Armor of God”.
The table below is a high-level look at the structure and contents of Ephesians.
The next table is a high-level look at the structure and contents of x.
About
The epistle to the church at Ephesus is the 10th book of the New Testament, and 49th book of the Bible.
Why You Should Read It
Ephesians provides a look at the intent and practice of the “church”. As such, it helps us today understand how we are to believe in terms of what the church is. It also addresses how we are to behave in terms of uniting with the believing Jews, which also shines a light on acceptance of believers from every walk of life, no matter where they are coming from, physically, or spiritually.
Ephesians contains the classic work on the “Armor of God”, which tells the believers how to protect themselves against the spiritual darkness prevalent in our everyday lives. We all need to put on this “armor” daily and use all aspects of it, not just our favorite parts, in order to stay protected from the evil of Satan and his dark angels and demons.
Author
The author of this epistle is identified as Paul in verse 1 of chapter 1. Paul is the author of at least 13, probably 14 books of the New Testament. Those that argue his authorship base their views on the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to Colossians, among other reasons. However, this was probably a circular letter intended for many of the churches in the area in addition to Ephesus, similar to the 7 letters to the 7 churches John penned in the book of Revelation (see Rev 2, 3). This is alluded to in 1 John 1:1,15; 6:21-23.
When Written
Paul’s letter to Ephesus was most likely written during his first imprisonment at Rome in the latter part of 60 A.D. (see 3:1; 4:1; 6:20).
Context
The city of Ephesus was a very important city in western Asia Minor. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the Cayster River, which in turn emptied into the Aegean Sea. Ephesus was at an intersection of major trade routes and became a commercial center. It boasted of a major pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana (Greek Artemis – see Ac 19:23-31). Paul used Ephesus a center for evangelism for about three years, and the church prospered for some time, but later needed the warning of Rev 2:1-7.
At the time of the writing, heavy persecution of the believers of “the way” (now known as Christianity) had begun. Paul had finished up his time in Ephesus and said his goodbyes in late 56, early 57 A.D. He then was arrested in Jerusalem and appealed to Caesar. His appeal was granted and he was taken to Rome to plead his case before Emperor Nero. He was held in house arrest until his appeal was heard, which is when this letter was written.
Timeline
The general order of events from the New Testament period of the early 50s to the early 60s is shown below.
Location
Ephesus was in Asia Minor, a province of Rome located in what is today Turkey. It is the area located on the southwestern coast, close to the island of Patmos, where John wrote the first of his seven letter in Revelation 2.
Outline
Greetings (1:1-2)
The Divine Purpose: The Glory and Headship of Christ (1:3-14)
Prayer That Christians May Realize God’s Purpose and Power (1:15-23)
Steps Toward the Fulfillment of God’s Purpose (chs. 2-3)
Salvation of Individuals by Grace (2:1-10)
Reconciliation of Jew and Gentile through the Cross (2:11-18)
Uniting of Jew and Gentile in One Household (2:19-22)
Revelation of God’s Wisdom through the Church (3:1-13)
Prayer for Deeper Experience of God’s Fullness (3:14-21)
Practical Ways to Fulfill God’s Purpose in the Church (4:1; 6:20)
Unity (4:1-6)
Maturity (4:7-16)
Renewal of Personal Life (4:17; 5:20)
Deference in Personal Relationships (5:21; 6:9)
Principle (5:21)
Husbands and wives (5:22-33)
Children and parents (6:1-4)
Slaves and masters (6:5-9)
The Armor of God: Strength in the Spiritual Conflict (6:10-20)
Conclusion, Final Greetings and Benediction (6:21-24)
Observations
- The Book of Ephesians is one of four “Prison Epistles,” so titled because they were written by the apostle while he was a Roman prisoner in Rome at the time they were written. The four “Prison Epistles are:
- Ephesians
- Colossians
- Philippians
- Philemon
- Paul remained in Ephesus for nearly three years on his 3rd missionary journey. Acts 18:23 – 19:41
- “In Christ” is an expression that Paul uses some 200 times in his epistles. It is found 30 times in Ephesians.
- What others have said about the Book of Ephesians:
- Martin Luther – The sublimest composition of man.”
- Alford – “The greatest and most heavenly work of one whose very imagination is peopled with things in heaven.”
- Farrar – “The epistle of the Ascension, the most sublime, the most profound and the most advanced and final utterance of that mystery of the gospel which was given to Paul for the first time to proclaim in all its fullness to the Gentile world.”
- The city of Ephesus:
- Was the commercial center of Asia Minor.
- Famous for the temple of Diana (Roman name) or Artemis (Greek name), considered to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Acts 19:35
- The Seven Ones of Ephesians 4:4-6:
- One BODY (Church)
- One SPIRIT (Holy Spirit)
- One HOPE
- One LORD (Jesus Christ)
- One FAITH
- One BAPTISM (Immersion)
- One GOD (Jehovah)
- Blessings for Christians:
- Adoption
- Acceptance
- Life
- Redemption
- Grace
- Forgiveness
- Citizenship
- Wisdom
- Inheritance
- The seal of the Holy Spirit
- Every spiritual blessing
“Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it.”
Ephesians 5:25
Sections in Ephesians
- Our position in Christ 1-3
- Our practice on earth 4-6
Theme
- The theme of Ephesians is to explain the doctrine of the church.
- The holy community God is creating and how it is to live out its calling.
- Paul follows this up with a practical explanation of how to apply that to our everyday lives.
- The emphasis of this practical section is on dealing with the spiritual warfare using the armor of God.
Jesus in Ephesians
- Jesus is the source of spiritual blessing, the Cornerstone of the church, and the goal of spiritual maturity (1:3; 2:20; 4:11-16).
