The concept that the elect jews and gentiles compose the one family of god, the one holy nation, is a central theme of the book of ephesians. Book of ephesians ephesians chapter 1 ephesians chapter 2 ephesians chapter 3 ephesians chapter 4 ephesians chapter 5 ephesians chapter 6. You may remember him from such new testament letters as romans. The epistle to the ephesians, additionally called the letter to the ephesians and frequently abbreviated to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new testament. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. Audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Pauls doctrine of the church shines in ephesians unlike any other epistle. Overview of the book of ephesians the letter opens with a sequence of statements about gods blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing. Ephesians and colossians summary the epistle to the ephesians. Entry for ephesians, book of holman bible dictionary one of 28 bible dictionaries freely available, this readable and easy to use dictionary takes advantage of the finest modern bible.
Ephesians 16 nkjv greeting paul, an apostle of jesus. Bruce, noted new testament scholar, calls ephesians the. All tradition takes the epistle as being pauline until it was first disputed by. As a result, pauls travel companions, gaius and aris. One cannot step over the threshold of this letter into the book of ephesians without being inundated with thoughts of gods mercy and grace. The traditional idea, that god deals in one manner.
Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. In pauls day, asia comprised the western section of the peninsula of what later. The ephesian letter doctrinally considered by lewis sperry chafer 1935 contents dedication. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. 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. The book of ephesians is a masterpiece of revelation that bridges the principles of grace and obedience into one solid irremovable form. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus.
Sproul has himself written a very helpful introductory level commentary on it titled the purpose of god. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this. Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. Ephesians thru the bible radio mp3 archives with dr. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. Ephesians ivp bible background commentary institute of biblical. An introduction to the book of ephesians related media. This letter, along with pauls letter to the colossians was delivered by pauls faithful fellowservant, tychicus.
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. It is more wonderful than any temple made with hands, because it is constructed of living stones and indwelt by the holy. The book of ephesians and colossians, and titus, and. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. The book of ephesians week six workbook eeonline biblestudy. This segment comes from the ephesians commentary published by koinonia house. This would further seem to suggest, as i have believed, that not only did paul write.
The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Here we have yet another letter from the apostle paul. In this lesson, we will commence our study of the book of ephesians. 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. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters. An introduction to the study of the book of ephesians ephesus was a jewel in the roman province of asia. The book of ephesians grace given and grace applied an.
The church has long accepted that paul was the author of the letter. The book of ephesians chapter four workbook eeonline biblestudy. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at the mouth of the cayster river near the aegean sea. 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. Background to the book of ephesians chuck missler youtube. The book of ephesians free online bible study lessons. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. John macarthur takes readers on a journey through biblical texts to discover what lies beneath the surface, focusing on meaning and context, and then reflecting on the explored passage or. 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 book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. The mystery of the body of christ esv edition preaching the word hughes, r. The purpose for writing this letter paul does not write this letter to the ephesians to rebuke them for any irregularity of conduct, like he does the corinthians, nor for any perversion of the gospel, as he does the galatians.
Ephesians 1 1 paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god, to the saints which are at ephesus, and to the faithful in christ jesus. Ephesians commentary free bible study notes, commentary, and. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped by all asia and the world acts 19. Like the letter to the romans, ephesians provides a unique insight into pauls theology, for it was written when paul had the luxury of not addressing a critical, local controversy. 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. Some suggest that paul s time in imprisonment enabled him to develop an exalted christology and a high appraisal of the privileges of believers in christ 11. The book of ephesians is charged with weighty doctrines that reveal the glory of the triune god. Author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. Understanding the book of ephesians and bible study guide. The book of ephesians grace given and grace applied an introduction and outline authorship. The general theology of ephesians is direct, unambiguous, and presents no ideas or interpretations whose meanings are seriously contended.