Feb 16, 2018 new book study background to the book of ephesians. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. There is not one exhortation in the first three chapters. Ephesus forms an appropriate background to the book of ephesians because of this citys fascination with magic and the occult acts 19. One of the seven wonders of the world was in ephesus. Aug 23, 2012 author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. 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. This time ive selected the amazing book of ephesians.
Two theories, besides the ordinary one, have been held on the question, to whom the epistle is addressed. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. It is more wonderful than any temple made with hands, because. 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. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle. Early in the history of grace church, the history of john macarthur. We each have special gifts and special doors for ministry. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters.
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 audio sermon and transcript is entitled introduction and background, and is from the ministry of david legge, a christian preacher and bible teacher from belfast, northern ireland. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf. To the saints in ephesus, a the faithful in christ jesus. Introduction to ephesians bible exposition commentary.
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. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. Ephesians historical background 950 words bartleby. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. Introduction to the book of ephesians summary of hebrews.
Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary the zondervan encyclopedia of the bible 3. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. Ephesians executable outline study resources blue letter bible. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding.
Therefore, early scribes inserted in ephesus into the text 7. Ephesians background information fbc seguin students. He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. Ephesians introduction commentary commentary critical and. Keep a notebook handy with pencil to jot down questions, ideas and applications as you study ephesians. This video provides the background to the book so we can. Julian colorado christian university ephesians historical background we must understand ephesus if we want to understand the book of ephesians.
Waymentapart from a few memorable phrases, the epistle to the ephesians often passes by our attention without significant notice or comment. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. Background to the book of ephesians chuck missler youtube. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. We believers are all christs body, all called to ministry. Ephesus was a city of ionia, in asia minor, and once the metropolis of that part of the world. This is part 1 of a versebyverse bible study series in ephesians. Pauls doctrine of the church shines in ephesians unlike any other epistle. Let us consider, then, the characteristics of the book of ephesians. The grandeur of the ancient city of ephesus stands as a stark contrast to this rather small epistle. Ephesus was located at the mouth of the cayster river on the western coast of asia minor zondervan pictorial encyclopedia of the bible zpeb, volume 2, page 324. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. 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.
Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. The historical background of the book of ephesians 805. The book of ephesians overview of the book of ephesians the book of ephesians is a masterpiece of revelation that bridges the principles of grace and obedience into one solid irremovable form. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Ephesians introduction commentary commentary critical. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. Two significant prayers of paul are found in this book eph 1. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians.
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. 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. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Read the short background information for ephesians below. Turn with me in your bibles to pauls epistle to the church at ephesus, the book of ephesians. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the. It is clear from the bible account that these mens lives were in danger. 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.
Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds for doubting authorship by the apostle paul. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. During his third missionary journey in 5556 ad, he wrote corinthians, galatians and romans which all clearly defined the meaning and purpose of the cross. Shaul shaaool, by gods will an emissary of the messiah yeshua. 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.
Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. As a result, pauls travel companions, gaius and aristarchus of macedonia, were dragged into the theater. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the. Introduction from the niv study bible go to 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. The book of ephesians is about the letters of paul and how he overcame hardship by being faithful to god and following his commands. Ephesians reveals the church as gods masterpiece poema see ephesians 2. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. The fundamental principles of grace and mans responsibility to abide by gods laws are thoroughly revealed in the old testament. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Historical background ephesus was an ancient city whose origins are lost in the mists of antiquity.
They were to the thessalonians and chiefly centered on jesus return. The book of ephesians is charged with weighty doctrines that reveal the glory of the triune god. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. 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. Colossians is somewhat tense to be more specific and concrete, while ephesians is more general and abstract. Although colossians is similar to ephesians, it is brief while the book of ephesians is much more articulate and extensive. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. 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 mood of colossians is argumentative and controversial, that of ephesians clam and peaceful.
The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and. The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. To really jump ahead in your study of ephesians, complete our how to study a book of the bible lesson using ephesians as your subject. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, paul. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Dec 18, 2012 in this segment chuck missler discusses ephesians.
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. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. It is you whom god positioned strategically to reach your neighborhood, your school, your place of employment, perhaps for local prisons, nursing. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. Ephesians and colossians were probably composed at the same time in rome. But without the references to the whole armour of god and the foundation of the church being built upon the apostles. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp.
The book of ephesians clearly leaves its mark among other bible books by displaying the powerful impact of the. Niv ephesians was for jews and gentiles who comprise one church. 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. Audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Ephesians and colossians have a number of parallels. And well take time this evening, were going to look at the introduction of this little epistle and the salutation that we find in verses 1 and 2, were only going to look at these two verses because its important as we look at any book that we lay are historical and contextual foundations of the. This book sets forth one of the clearest presentations on the relation between positional truth and experiencing positional truth in ones life. The former is a letter of discussion and the latter is a letter of reflection. John calvin called ephesians his favorite book of the bible. Did you know that the apostle paul was in prison at the time he wrote this letter to the ephesians. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Ephesians, more than any other book, presents the purpose and plan of god for the church. Ephesians 5 background information with maps and images.
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. 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. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. This segment comes from the ephesians commentary published by koinonia house. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped by all asia and the world acts 19. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at the. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god.
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. 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. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. Just put the appropriate words in your favorite search engine. One cannot step over the threshold of this letter into the book of ephesians without being inundated with thoughts of gods mercy and grace. Ignatius epistle to the ephesians, 12, which alludes to the frequent and affectionate mention made by paul of the christian state, privileges, and persons of the ephesians in his epistle. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes.
The church has been brought from death to life in christ. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world. The historical background of the book of ephesians plays an important reality of what the author is intending in the writings. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives.
Preface to the epistle of paul the apostle to the ephesians. 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. 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. A brief introduction to ephesians ephesians online reading room extensive collection of online.
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. 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. Purpose, background and structure posted on may 12, 2014 by matt dabbs 1 comment a few weeks ago, i started a wednesday night series on the book of ephesians. Paul probably wrote his letter to the ephesians while under house arrest in rome. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. Bible commentaries adam clarke commentary ephesians. New book study background to the book of ephesians. The authors circumstances he went through, his relationship with god, the audience. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. 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. 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.
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