History of the book of ephesians

Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. According to greek mythology, the ancient city of ephesus was established by greeks in 11 century b. Paul wrote that salvation can be attained by the grace of god and that it is through faith alone not by any other way, not. Most early writers spoke of the epistle as having been addressed to the ephesians. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in. The book of isaiah kjv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 23 duration. 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. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at the. Ephesians 1 full chapter greeting paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to the saints who are in ephesus, and are faithful in christ jesus. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 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. Although the church is a new emphases in the letter, there is a clear background of pauline.

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. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Paul having preached for a considerable length of time at ephesus, the history is confirmed by the two epistles to the corinthians. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. History of ephesus, history of ephesians, church of ephesus. One cannot step over the threshold of this letter into the book of ephesians without being inundated with thoughts of gods mercy and grace. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. In 479 bc, the ionians, together with athens, were able to oust the persians from the shores of asia minor. Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the new testament, and the biblical book of ephesians, written around 60 a. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city.

Ephesians, written around the same time as pauls epistle to the colossians, remains an important piece of historical evidence that also preserves some important doctrinal concepts. Furthermore, in the book of revelation we find that ephesus is the first one of the seven churches of asia mentioned in a series of churches that gives the entire history of the church. Overview of the book of ephesians third millennium ministries. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters.

A description of the change in the spiritual position of gentiles as a result of the work of christ. 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. Ephesus continued to prosper, but when taxes were raised under cambyses ii and darius, the ephesians participated in the ionian revolt against persian rule in the battle of ephesus 498 bc, an event which instigated the grecopersian wars. The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. In this ephesians bible study we learn that paul tells of the great privilege of the ephesians. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. Pauls letter to the ephesians 8 hour course learn from new testament and pauline studies expert dr. Lynn cohick as she guides you through each chapter and theological concept in ephesians, including salvation, the trinity, and the church. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus.

It is clear from the bible account that these mens lives were in danger. Furthermore, christianity was not a widely accepted or politically correct religion in the grecoroman empire at the time the letter to the ephesians was written. As a result, pauls travel companions, gaius and aristarchus of macedonia, were dragged into the theater. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. Ephesus was the church at its best, the church at the highest spiritual level. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is. Picture study bible ephesians bible history online. To analyze this letter fully, it is important to consider it in conjunction with colossians and in. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of. 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. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. 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. Much of ephesuss ancient history is unrecorded and sketchy.

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. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. Aug 23, 2012 furthermore, christianity was not a widely accepted or politically correct religion in the grecoroman empire at the time the letter to the ephesians was written. 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. Ephesus was an ancient port city whose wellpreserved ruins are in. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Greek was the common dialect of the roman world, spread originally by alexander the great. Feb 16, 2018 its time for another book study on fridays. Let us consider, then, the characteristics of the book of ephesians. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. To analyze this letter fully, it is important to consider it in conjunction with colossians and in light of the jerusalem council recorded in acts 15.

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. In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of paul on his second missionary journey, as. Jun 16, 2011 the book of isaiah kjv audio holy bible high quality and best speed book 23 duration. The book is address by paul to the church at ephesus.

Baugh is a ordained minister in the orthodox presbyterian church as well as being a distinguished professor of the new testament at westminster seminary california. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Paul probably wrote his letter to the ephesians while under house arrest in rome. Although colossians is similar to ephesians, it is brief while the book of ephesians is much more articulate and extensive. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians.

The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. The ephesians volume is one of the most articulate and practical modern commentaries on the book of ephesians. Emperor nero came to power very shortly thereafter, in ad 64, and he was one of the most horrific persecutors of christians ever in. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p.

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. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. 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. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians bay. Ephesians 4 niv bible as a prisoner for the lord, then, i.

Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Best commentaries and books on ephesians logos bible software. The book of ephesians concerns what god is doing in redemptive history by making the church. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. Grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. His ministry may have appeared to have been hindered. Emperor nero came to power very shortly thereafter, in ad 64, and he was one of the most horrific persecutors of christians ever in all of history. This time ive selected the amazing book of ephesians. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians posted by bayareamomma on march 1, 20 july 28, 20 im diving into ephesians and i thought a bit of history might be helpful as we look at the work god does in ephesus.

God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped by all asia and the world acts 19. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Niv ephesians was for jews and gentiles who comprise one church. New book study background to the book of ephesians. Jun 27, 2019 the book of ephesians concerns what god is doing in redemptive history by making the church. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Several of the early church writers site the book of ephesians. 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.

Ephesians niv paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. 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. God is forming the body of christ, that he might fill them to walk in works of love and to stand firm in christs victory. An introduction to the book of ephesians related media. 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. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. Paul having preached for a considerable length of time at ephesus, the history is confirmed by the two epistles to the corinthians, and by the two epistles to timothy. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle. Ephesians was written by paul when imprisoned in rome.

The traditional idea, that god deals in one manner with the gentile christians and in another with the jewish christians, and that the races are identifiable in christ, has created havoc in the interpretation of the scripturesparticularly the writings. The church, therefore, is not a simple social construct in the hands of sinners skilled with organizational savvy and robust. 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. Paul names himself as the author of the epistle to the ephesians ephesians 1. Also known as the epistle to the ephesians, it is one of the prison epistles which the apostle paul wrote around 6062 a. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus.