Ephesians

Introduction and Background

 

What is it?

®Ephesians is a divinely inspired ancient letter :
­Opening
­Introduces the writer first – “Paul”
­Addresses the reader - “To the saints in Ephesus”
­Gives a greeting - “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
­Body of the Letter
­Concluding Remarks

Who wrote it?

®Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul
­1:1a - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. . .
­3:1a - For this reason I, Paul. . .

To whom was it written?

®The Ephesian letter is addressed to the Christians living in the ancient city of Ephesus:
®1:1b - To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus
®There is some evidence that this letter was also sent to other churches in Asia Minor (area where the country of Turkey is found today).

Where, when and how was it written?

®Paul wrote the Ephesian letter while awaiting trial in Rome as a prisoner under house arrest in around A.D.60
­3:1 -  I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. . .
­4:1 - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you. . .
­6:20 -  I am an ambassador in chains

 

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Introduction and Background (continued)

®Paul under house arrest:
­Acts 28:16-17, 20, 30-31 –When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: . . . “It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain”. . . For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Paul’s “Prison Epistles”

Notice how central Ephesus was to Paul's travels

 

®Paul wrote four NT letters (commonly called “prison epistles”) while under house arrest in Rome in around A.D. 59-62

 

 

Outline

®We Should Know What God Has Done for Us in Christ and Praise Him for it. (Ephesians 1-3)
­Chapter 1 – Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ
­Chapter 2 – Jew and Gentile United in Christ
­Chapter 3 – Paul as Minister to the Gentiles
®We Should Live Holy Lives Because God Has Made Us as Holy in Christ. (Ephesians 4-6)
­Chapter 4 – Maintain Church Unity; Put Off the Old Self and Put on the New
­Chapter 5 – Walk in Love and as Children of Light; Be Filled With the Spirit
­Chapter 6 – Put on the Full Armor of God