Introduction to the Book of Ephesians
Introduction to the Book of Ephesians
The Book of Ephesians is an epistle attributed to the Apostle Paul, written during his first captivity at Rome around 62 AD [1, 2]. The epistle is addressed to the Christian church at Ephesus, a city in ancient Asia Minor.
The contents of Ephesians can be broadly divided into two sections: the first three chapters are primarily doctrinal, while the final three chapters are more practical and exhortative [2]. The epistle begins with a thanksgiving and praise to God for the blessings bestowed on believers, including their predestination, adoption, and redemption through Christ (Eph 1:3-14) [6]. Paul then explains the mystery of Christ and the church, highlighting the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the body of Christ (Eph 2:11-22, Eph 3:1-13) [8, 9].
The epistle emphasizes the importance of understanding the mystery of Christ, which is described as "the mystery of the gospel" (Eph 6:19) [4]. This mystery is closely tied to Paul's role as an apostle to the Gentiles, and his imprisonment for the sake of the gospel (Eph 3:1-13, Eph 4:1, Eph 6:20) [3, 4]. The epistle encourages believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, with humility, gentleness, and patience, and to put on the armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil (Eph 4:1-3, Eph 6:10-20) [7, 5].
The authorship of Ephesians has been a subject of debate among scholars, but the traditional attribution to Paul is supported by many early Christian writers and is still widely accepted today [1, 2]. The epistle's style and content are consistent with Paul's other writings, and its themes of unity, redemption, and the mystery of Christ are characteristic of his theology.
The historical context of Ephesians is closely tied to Paul's imprisonment at Rome, which is referenced throughout the epistle (Eph 3:1, Eph 4:1, Eph 6:20) [3, 4]. This imprisonment is believed to have taken place around 62 AD, during the reign of Emperor Nero [1, 2]. The epistle's emphasis on the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church may have been a response to the growing tensions between Jewish and Gentile Christians in the early church.
The theological themes of Ephesians are closely tied to the broader context of Paul's theology, particularly his emphasis on the importance of faith, love, and unity in the church [6, 7, 8]. The epistle's emphasis on the mystery of Christ and the church has been seen as a key aspect of Paul's theology, highlighting the central role of Christ in the salvation of humanity.
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”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 3:1 cross-references: Luke 21:12, Acts 21:33, Acts 23:18, Acts 26:29, Acts 28:17, 2 Corinthians 10:1, 2 Corinthians 11:23, Galatians 5:2, Galatians 5:11, Ephesians 3:13, Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 6:20, Philippians 1:7, Philippians 1:13, Colossians 1:24, Colossians 4:3, Colossians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Timothy 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:16, 2 Timothy 2:9, Philemon 1:1, Philemon 1:9, Philemon 1:23, Revelation 2:10”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 6:20 cross-references: 2 Samuel 10:2, Proverbs 13:17, Isaiah 33:7, Isaiah 58:1, Jeremiah 1:7, Jeremiah 1:17, Ezekiel 2:4, Matthew 10:27, Acts 5:29, Acts 21:33, Acts 26:29, Acts 28:20, Acts 28:31, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 6:19, Philippians 1:7, Philippians 1:13, Philippians 1:20, Colossians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 2 Timothy 1:16, 2 Timothy 2:9, Philemon 1:10, 1 John 3:16, Jude 1:3”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 6:11 cross-references: Judges 3:2, Nehemiah 4:13, Mark 13:22, Luke 14:29, Romans 13:12, Romans 13:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Ephesians 4:14, Ephesians 4:24, Ephesians 6:13, Colossians 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Peter 2:1, Jude 1:24, Revelation 2:24, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:11, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:7”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 1 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. The introduction to the whole epistle, which is much the same as in others (Eph 1:1, Eph 1:2). II. The apostle's thanksgivings and praises to God for his inestimable blessings bestowed on the believing Ephesians (Eph 1:3-14). III. His earnest prayers to God in their behalf (Eph 1:15-23). This great apostle was wont to abound in prayers and in thanksgivings to almighty God, which he generally so disposes and orders that at the same time they carry with them and convey the great and important doctrines of the Christian reli”
- 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 (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 2 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 2 The design of the apostle in this chapter, is to magnify the riches of divine grace, in the effectual calling and salvation of sinners, by Christ Jesus; in order to which, he describes the sad estate they are in by nature, and before conversion, even God's elect among the Jews, and especially among the Gentiles; and then observes how peace is made for and between them both, by Christ the peacemaker; and the various privileges and blessings which both enjoy, in consequence of it: he begins with the Ephesians, and expresses t”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 2 (introduction): This chapter contains an account, I. Of the miserable condition of these Ephesians by nature (Eph 2:1-3) and again (Eph 2:11, Eph 2:12). II. Of the glorious change that was wrought in them by converting grace (Eph 2:4-10) and again (Eph 2:13). III. Of the great and mighty privileges that both converted Jews and Gentiles receive from Christ (Eph 2:14-22). The apostle endeavours to affect them with a due sense of the wonderful change which divine grace had wrought in them; and this is very applicable to that great change which the same grace works in ”