Background and Authorship of the Book of Ephesians
The Epistle to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome, likely around A.D. 62 [2, 4]. This places its composition around the same time as the Epistle to the Colossians, which it resembles in many aspects [1, 3]. Paul was held in Rome, as described in Acts 28:16, 30, and it appears this period of imprisonment was less severe than what he would later experience [2, 3].
The letter is addressed to the Christian church in Ephesus [2, 8]. Ephesus was a significant city in the Roman province of Asia, and Paul had a strong connection to the church there. Unlike some of Paul's other letters, such as Colossians, which were written to address specific theological errors or issues within a church [1, 3, 4], Ephesians does not seem to have been prompted by particular problems [1]. Instead, it appears to be a general letter expressing Paul's affection for the Ephesian believers and his desire for their thorough instruction in the profound doctrines of the Gospel [1].
The content of Ephesians is typically divided into two main sections: the first three chapters are largely doctrinal, while the latter three chapters focus on practical exhortations for Christian living [2, 6]. The doctrinal portion, for instance, includes a doxology that summarizes the grace of God through the Father's work of election and sonship, the Son's redemption, and the Holy Spirit's sealing and earnest of inheritance [7]. The epistle begins with an inscription identifying Paul as the author, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, addressing the "saints which are at Ephesus" [5, 8, 9]. The letter encourages believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling and emphasizes unity within the church [6].
The close relationship between Ephesians and Colossians is notable. Both epistles were delivered by Tychicus, whom Paul sent to inquire about the state of the churches and to offer encouragement [4]. While Colossians primarily aims to counteract false teachings, Ephesians focuses more broadly on the foundational truths of the Christian faith [1, 4].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ephesians, Epistle to — Was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles. Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the church there, and indicative of his earnest desire that they should be fully instructed in the profound doctrines of the gospel. It contains (1) the s”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ephesians, The Epistle To The — was written by the apostle St. Paul during his first captivity at Rome, (Acts 28:16) apparently immediately after he had written the Epistle to the Colossians [[489]Colossians, The Epistle To The, EPISTLE TO], and during that period (perhaps the early part of A.D. 62) when his imprisonment had not assumed the severer character which seems to have marked its close. This epistle was addressed to the Christian church at Ephesus. [[490]Ephesus] Its contents may be divided into two portions, the first mainly doctrinal, ch. 1-3, the second ho”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Colossians, Epistle to the — Was written by Paul at Rome during his first imprisonment there (Acts 28:16, 30), probably in the spring of A.D. 57, or, as some think, 62, and soon after he had written his Epistle to the Ephesians. Like some of his other epistles (e.g., those to Corinth), this seems to have been written in consequence of information which had somehow been conveyed to him of the internal state of the church there (Col. 1:4-8). Its object was to counteract false teaching. A large part of it is directed against certain speculatists who attempted to combine”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Colossians, The Epistle To The — was written by the apostle St. Paul during his first captivity at Rome. (Acts 28:16) (A.D. 62.) The epistle was addressed to Christians of the city of Colosse, and was delivered to them by Tychicus, whom the apostle had sent both to them, (Colossians 4:7,8) and to the church of Ephesus, (Ephesians 6:21) to inquire into their state and to administer exhortation and comfort. The main object of the epistle is to warn the Colossians against the spirit of semi-Judaistic and semi-Oriental philosophy which was corrupting the simplicity of the”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1 (introduction): In this chapter are contained the inscription of the epistle, the salutation of the persons to whom it is written, the apostle's thanksgiving for blessings received by him, and them; in which the efficient, moving, procuring, and final causes of salvation are taken notice of, and the several parts and branches of it observed; and the whole is concluded with prayers for the Ephesians; in which mention is made of various things to the comfort of the saints, and to the glory of Christ. The inscription is in Eph 1:1, in which the author of the epistle puts ”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 4 The apostle having in the three former chapters treated of the doctrines of grace, and explained and established them, proceeds in the three following to exhort to the duties of religion; and in this advises to a becoming conversation in general, and to brotherly concord and unity in particular; and dehorts from several vices, and encourages to the contrary virtues. And inasmuch as these Ephesians were called with an holy calling, he entreats them, if they had any regard for him as a prisoner of Christ, that they would walk”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:3: The doxologies in almost all the Epistles imply the real sense of grace experienced by the writers and their readers (Pe1 1:3). Eph 1:3-14 sets forth summarily the Gospel of the grace of God: the FATHER'S work of love, Eph 1:3 (choosing us to holiness, Eph 1:4; to sonship, Eph 1:5; to acceptance, Eph 1:6): the SON'S, Eph 1:7 (redemption, Eph 1:7; knowledge of the mystery of His will, Eph 1:9; an inheritance, Eph 1:11); the HOLY SPIRIT'S, Eph 1:13 (sealing, Eph 1:13; giving an earnest of the inheritance, Eph 1:14). the God and Father of . . . Christ”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,.... See Gill on Rom 1:1. See Gill on Co1 1:1. See Gill on Co2 1:1. See Gill on Gal 1:1. To the saints which are at Ephesus; of this place, see the note above upon the title of the epistle, and See Gill on Act 18:19. The persons residing there, to whom the epistle is written, are described by their character, as "saints"; being separated by the grace of God the Father in eternal election; whose sins were expiated by the blood and sacrifice of Christ; and to whom he himself was made sanctification; and who were in”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1 (introduction): INSCRIPTION: ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH IN THE FATHER'S ETERNAL COUNSEL, AND THE SON'S BLOODSHEDDING: THE SEALING OF IT BY THE SPIRIT. THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER THAT THEY MAY FULLY KNOW GOD'S GRACIOUS POWER IN CHRIST TOWARDS THE SAINTS. (Eph. 1:1-23) by--rather, "through the will of God": called to the apostleship through that same "will" which originated the Church (Eph 1:5, Eph 1:9, Eph 1:11; compare Gal 1:4). which are at Ephesus--(See Introduction.) to the saints . . . and to the faithful--The same persons are referred to by both design”