OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS – The Church Of Christ, 15 Grey Street, Warri

THEME: FELLOWSHIP AND INTIMACY INTO GOD’S FAMILY: STUDIES FROM THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS

Ephesus was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia, located some 175 kilometers west of Colossae. It was an important commercial, cultural, and religious center, and its magnificent marble temple (Acts 19:27) was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world Paul was a prisoner at the time he wrote this letter (Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20). Scholars differ on whether Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24:27) in A.D. 57-59, or in Rome (28:30) in A.D. 60-62. All things considered, The Roman imprisonment seems more likely. Along with Ephesians, the Books of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are thought to have been written during the same time period and hence are called the “Prison Epistles” (cf. Phil 1:7; Col 4:10; Philem 9). Since Ephesians gives no hint of his release from prison, as do Philippians (1:19-26) and Philemon (v. 22), it is reasonable to think that he wrote it in the early part of his stay, or about A.D. 60. This would have been when Paul was kept under guard in rental quarters (Acts 28:30). Following his release he traveled, wrote 1 Timothy and Titus, was arrested again, wrote 2 Timothy, and was martyred in Rome.

PLACE AND DATE

Paul was a prisoner at the time he wrote this letter (Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20). Scholars differ on whether Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24:27) in A.D. 57-59, or in Rome (28:30) in A.D. 60-62. All things considered, the Roman imprisonment seems more likely.

Since Ephesians gives no hint of his release from prison, as do Philippians (1:19-26) and Philemon (v. 22), it is reasonable to think that he wrote it in the early part of his stay, or about A.D. 60. This would have been when Paul was kept under guard in rental quarters (Acts 28:30). Following his release he traveled, wrote 1 Timothy and Titus, was arrested again, wrote 2 Timothy, and was martyred in Rome.

DESTINATION

This is supported by two observations: (1) the words “in Ephesus” (1:1) do not appear in three early Alexandrian Greek manuscripts, and (2) it is strange for Paul not to mention by name any of the individuals in a church where he had lived and worked for three years (Acts 20:31). However, it seems better to accept “in Ephesus” as genuine because of the wide geographical distribution of the Greek manuscripts that do include those words. Also no manuscripts of this epistle mention any other city, and none have only the word “in” followed by a space to insert a city’s name.

The prescript or title “To the Ephesians” appears in all manuscripts of this epistle. Furthermore, all the letters Paul wrote to churches mention their destinations. With regard to the absence of names of individuals in Ephesus, it may be that Paul did not want to single out certain persons in this short epistle since he knew so many people there.

Even so, the epistle may still be considered a circular letter, with Ephesus being the primary church addressed since Paul had stayed there so long and since it was the capital city of the province of Asia. This helps explain the absence of personal names of Ephesian believers. If this epistle were routed to other churches after the Ephesians read it, it may have gone to Laodicea and Colosse, for Paul in writing Colossians urged the believers there to “read the letter from Laodicea” (Col 4:16), possibly a reference to the Ephesian epistle. (For the locations of Ephesus, Asia, Laodicea, and Colosse see the map between Acts and Rom.) Ephesians was probably delivered by Tychicus (Eph 6:21-22), who also took Paul’s letter to the Colossians (Col 4:7-9).

Ephesus was a leading center in the Roman Empire. Paul had spent a short time in Ephesus on his way back to Antioch from his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19-22). On his third missionary journey he stayed in Ephesus three years (Acts 20:31). Several remarkable things happened in Ephesus. Paul baptized a dozen of John the Baptist’s followers (Acts 19:1-7). He had discussions in the hall of Tyrannus (19:8-10). Unusual miracles occurred (19:11-12), strange events took place (19:13-16), Sorcerers were converted (19:17-20), and the city rioted over silversmith. Demetrius’ loss of business because of people who turned to Christ from worshiping the great Ephesian goddess Artemis (19:23-41). On Paul’s return to Jerusalem from his third missionary journey he gave a moving farewell address to the Ephesian elders at the coastal town of Miletus (20:13-35). That was his last time to see them (20:36-38), unless Paul visited Ephesus after he was in Rome (cf. 1 Tim 1:3 with 3:14).

This letter affirms that it was written by Paul to the church in Ephesus while he was in prison (3:1; 4:1; 6:20); it was to be taken to the church by Tychicus (6:21-22).
There are questions concerning the author and the recipients of the letter. As for the recipients, the words “in Ephesus” in 1:1 are missing in important early manuscripts-a fact which makes it very probable that the original copy did not have the name of the place to which the letter was being sent.
The lack of any personal greetings at the close of the letter is also strange, since the apostle Paul had begun the Christian work in Ephesus and had spent almost three years there (Acts 18:19-21; 19:1-20:1,17-38). Furthermore, unlike other letters, this one does not have any specific references to problems or conditions in the church itself. All references are general, applying equally well to Christians in any Gentile community at that time.
Questions about the author of the letter arise because of the kind of relation between the writer and readers, as reflected in the letter itself. Twice Paul’s name appears (1:1; 3:1), and the reference to Tychicus (6:21-22) obviously implies that Paul is the one about whom the Ephesian Christians are anxious to hear. But the lack of personal greetings is especially noticeable when compared with the final greetings in the letter to the Colossians (4:17-18), a letter with which Ephesians has striking similarities. The writer refers to his knowledge of the readers of this letter in the following terms:

“Ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all God’s people” (1:15). This is a strange way for Paul to speak of people with whom (or, at least, with some of whom) he had lived for nearly three years. The same relation is seen in the statement in 3:2: “Surely you have heard…”

From information in the letter itself, it appears to have been written at the same time and from the same place as the letter to the Colossians, as is seen by comparing Col 4:7-8 and Eph 6:21-22; in fact, Col 4:8 and Eph 6:22 are identical in Greek.

The relation between the two letters is difficult to understand, and there are many possible explanations. One fact that emerges from a close study of the letters is that key words used in both of them do not have the same meaning in the two letters, which is hard to account for if both were written by the same person at the same place and time.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER

THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER is to proclaim God’s plan through Jesus Christ, which is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head (1:10). This unity has already been achieved in the Church; here the new humanity already exists. Whereas the old humanity was composed of Jews and Gentiles, the new humanity is composed of all who through Christ have become the people of God (see especially 2:17-22).

The oneness of God’s people is seen in the Church, which is the Body of Christ (1:23); it is the sacred Temple, in which God lives through the Holy Spirit (2:21-22); and it is the wife of Christ (5:25-32).

Those who through God’s grace have been saved (2:8-10) must live as God’s people. In the second half of the letter the writer exhorts his readers to live in such a way as to show that they are God’s children, loving one another as Christ loved them.

As children of God they are expected to be like their Father, God himself (5:1). The letter opens with the standard greeting, and the body of the letter falls naturally into two parts: exposition and exhortation. A brief statement about Tychicus’ plans and a benediction bring the letter to a close.

CONCLUSION

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION. 1:1-2.

EXPOSITION 1:3-3:21.