The Book of Ephesians

The Book of Ephesians Overview of the Book of Ephesians The book of Ephesians is a masterpiece of revelation that bridges the principles of grace and obedience into one solid irremovable form. The fundamental principles of grace and man's responsibility to abide by God's laws are thoroughly revealed in the Old Testament. These principles are reaffirmed by the apostle Paul in clear and concise language in the book of Ephesians. Introduction The book Ephesians is written to the Christians who lived in Ephesus. There were apparent race occurring in Ephesus between Jew and Gentile Christians. Paul sets out to prove that God's grace is lot distributed unequally based upon a person's race. Those who obey the gospel are recipients of God's grace no matter their skin color. Both Jew and Gentile needed to understand their united front in grace and obedience. Paul exposes those sinful things that militate against God's will for man to walk in obedience and charges the Christian to put on the whole armor of God. Whether one is in the home, church, or place of employment truth must be upheld in obedience. The driving force in man's life that will motivate him to obey the Lord's will is God's rich grace. The City of Ephesus A brief history of Ephesus and Bible references to the city will prove profitable in understanding the contents of the book. Ephesus was a world city of the day much like Chicago, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, or New York of our day. Ephesus was located in the southwest corner of Asia approximately 2 to 3 miles from the Aegean Sea. “Ephesus was well situated to become the chief commercial center of western Asia Minor, for it had ideally positioned passes which gave immediate access for trade both N and S to the Hermus and Maeander river valleys... So prominent was the city that during the early Christian period the population of Ephesus probably exceeded a quarter million.” 1 The temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders of the then known world, Picture taken from was located in Ephesus. This temple measured 420’ long and 240’ wide with 117 the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary supporting columns. The height of the temple was 60’. Artemis (Diana) was a multi page 484. breasted female deity that was supposed to represent her fruitfulness and wealth. During the months of March and April people would come from all around the world to celebrate various festivals related to the worship of Diana. There was also a great theater in Ephesus that held more than 24,000 people on sixty-six tiers of seats. There was a sports stadium just to the north of the great theater as well. The main street through Ephesus was made of marble, known as the Arkadiane. This marble road ran NW from the theater to the coast of the Aegean Sea. Bible References to Ephesus The apostle Paul's first encounter with Ephesus is recorded at Acts 18. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had left Antioch of Syria on rout to what is commonly referred to as Paul's second tour of preaching. The three travel through Galatia intending to 1 G. L. Borchert. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia; vol. 2, pp. 115 1 make their way into Asia. The Holy Spirit; however, forbids them from entering Asia and instead they travel north toward Bithynia (Acts 16:6-7). The three preachers travel west to Troas and meet Luke (Acts 16:10). The four men cross the Aegean Sea and land at Neapolis of Macedonia and then travel to Philippi. Leaving Luke and Timothy behind in Philippi, Paul and Silas travel further southward until Paul alone comes to Corinth (Acts 18:1). Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth and the three become good friends due to a common trade (i.e., tentmakers). Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla travel through the Aegean Sea and land at Ephesus. This is the first reference to the city of Ephesus. The year is 54 AD. Paul's preaching and the obedience of some Ephesians resulted in the church being established there. Paul does not stay long in Ephesus but assured the brethren that he would return shortly (Acts 18:21). Aquila and Priscilla remain in Ephesus continuing their work of tent making and no doubt preaching the gospel. While Paul was away, Aquila and Priscilla meet Apollos, the man mighty in the scriptures, and teach him more accurately concerning the gospel message (see Acts 18:24-28). The next year, 55 AD, Paul travels back through Galatia and arrives at Ephesus. He immediately baptized twelve men who had known only the baptism of John the baptizer (see Acts 19:1-10). The apostle Paul remains in Ephesus edifying the new church and preaching to the lost for three years (see Acts 20:31). During this time the Lord was greatly magnified by the miraculous works and preaching of Paul as many Jews and Gentiles were obeying the gospel (see Acts 19:11-20). Not all Paul's work in Ephesus was smooth sailing. Demetrius, a silversmith who made his living making shrines of Diana, stirred up the people against Paul and the gospel message. Paul's message had shed light on the vanity and sinfulness of idolatry and thereby Demetrius' trade was in jeopardy (see Acts 19:23-41). The city of Ephesus was filled with wrath and confusion yet Paul continued to preach. Paul pens the first epistle to the Corinthians while in Ephesus and writes, " I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost; for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries " (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). Date of the Epistle to the Ephesians Paul leaves Ephesus after preaching there for three years due to a great need among the brethren in Jerusalem (the year was 57 AD). Paul traveled to Macedonia to collect funds for the needy saints in Jerusalem (see Romans 15:22-25). Paul eventually makes his way back to Jerusalem, after collecting monies from the Macedonian brethren, and one week later is apprehended by the Jews (Acts 21:17-27). He is imprisoned, tried, and taken to Rome for judgment (Acts 22-28). There are references in the book of Ephesus that point toward a time when the apostle Paul was in prison (see Ephesians 3:1; 4:1). Paul said, “ For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak ” (Ephesians 6:20). If these prison statements are to be taken literally most believe that he would have written the book of Ephesians from his Roman prison during the years AD 62 – 64. Eight to ten passed between the time a church was established in the city of Ephesus and the writing of this epistle. During these few years the brethren experienced more troubles and were in need of further teaching. The Purpose of Writing the Book of Ephesians During these early days of the church the erring teaching of Judaizism was spreading like a wild fire (see Acts 15). Men were teaching that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the ceremonial feast of the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. Such events was separating the Jewish Christians from Gentile Christians in the Lord's church. The epistle to the Ephesians is primarily written so that both Jew and Gentile would fully understand the magnitude of God’s promise to forgive the sins of all humanity. Both Jew and Gentile needed to understand 2 that God’s merciful and kind favor to forgive men of their sins had ever been intended for the Gentile as well as the Jew (see Genesis 12:1-3). Paul was commissioned to preach the divine gospel message to the Gentiles because of God's eternal purpose to save all nations of men (Galatians 1:15). When the Gentile heard, believed, confessed Christ, repented of sins, and was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins they were added to the Lord’s church (see Acts 2:38-42). Once in the body of Christ they stood on equal ground with the Jew who had done the same. Paul's point is that there is no Jewish Christian or Gentile Christian there is simply Christians. All, Jew and Gentile, were now “saints ” and “ fellow-citizens ” in the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:19). Paul refers to Jew and Gentile as " fellow-heirs, fellow-members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel " (Ephesians 3:6). Another issue dealt with, through this epistle, is man's temptation to walk as the world through disobedience to God's laws (see Ephesians 4-5). Paul refers to the distinguishing characteristic that differentiates the “ old man ” of sin (Ephesians 4:22) and the “ new man ” of righteousness and holiness in truth (Ephesians 4:24). This distinction is identified as a “ walk ” (Ephesians 4:1, 17). Before one becomes a Christian they “ walk in the vanity of their mind ” (Ephesians 4:17) and are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). The spirit of man is “ renewed ;” however, when introduced to truth through hearing and learning (Ephesians 4:20-23). He that “ gives place to the devil ” is marked by another character, spirit, or mind (Ephesians 4:27). Said individual is governed not by truth but by “ the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error ” (Ephesians 4:14). The old man of sin walks by the “ vanity, lust of deceit, falsehood, thievery, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, railing, and malice ” (Ephesians 4:17, 22, 25, 28, 31).

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