Ephesians - Introduction

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INTRODUCTION

 

Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians in 60-61 A.D., while he was a prisoner in ROME. During that same period of imprisonment, Paul also wrote the New Testament letters to the Philippians, to the Colossians, and to Philemon.

In New Testament times, Ephesus was an important city of the Middle East. It was the chief city of the Roman province of Asia, (now the western part of present-day Turkey). Ephesus was also a major commercial center, and people came there on business from all over the Middle East (see Acts 18:19).

Paul himself had lived in Ephesus from 53 to 55 A.D. During that time he taught daily in a lecture hall, and many people came to listen to him. Some believed in Christ, and soon a church was established in Ephesus. Not only that, but many of those who came from outside of Ephesus on business also heard Paul and believed, and then took the Gospel back to their own cities. In this way, the Gospel of Christ spread throughout a wide area around Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10).

Many Bible scholars believe that Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written not only to the Ephesian Christians, but also to the churches in the surrounding cities which had sprung up as a result of Paul’s two years of teaching in Ephesus. Most of Paul’s other New Testament letters are written in a personal style to individual churches; but this letter is different. In this letter Paul writes about broad and general subjects with almost no reference to the Ephesians themselves.1 Many scholars believe that this letter was written as a circular letter to be passed from church to church.

For further information about Paul’s life, see Romans: Introduction.

OUTLINE

  1. The Believer’s Position in Christ (1:1-3:21).
    1. Spiritual Blessings in Christ (1:1-14).
    2. A Prayer of Intercession (1:15-23).
    3. Salvation by Grace through Faith (2:1-10).
    4. Jews and Gentiles Reconciled in Christ (2:11-22).
    5. The Revelation of the Mystery (3:1-13).
    6. Paul’s Second Prayer (3:14-21).
  2. The Believer’s Conduct in the World (4:1-6:24).
    1. The Unity of the Church (4:1-16).
    2. The Changed Life (4:17-32).
    3. Living as Children of Light (5:1-21).
    4. Christian Marriage (5:22-33).
    5. Christian Parenthood (6:1-4).
    6. Christian Employment (6:5-9).
    7. Christian Warfare (6:10-24).
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