Upon completion of the study, it is recommended that you discuss your answers and insights with other bible students who also completed the workbook. Perhaps more than any other book of the bible, the book of ephesians emphasizes the connection between sound doctrine and right practice in the christian life. Paul wrote this letter we know as the book of ephesians to settle or establish the ephesians in the truth, and to acquaint them with the mystery of the gospel. It can be used offensively when needed and is a good reason for believers to hide gods word scripture in their heart or memorize it. 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. The letter declares that the christian mystery gospel of salvation, first. We will study pauls teachings on relationships based on mutual submission. Paul did not forget the ephesians, and, from rome, he wrote them this letter. And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all pauls epistles that has nothing. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of ephesians in the bible king james version.
Why was the book of ephesians written in the bible. Paul founded a church, and which for a time flourished gloriously, was not the ancient ephesus. Paul wrote this letter to the church at ephesus, which he had led for over two years acts 19. Commentary for ephesians 1 this epistle was written when st. Bible study lesson sheets these are lessons designed for either a class or personal study. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. This epistle is addressed to the saints at the church in ephesus, a prosperous port city in the roman province of asia minor. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. Pauls most eloquent teaching on gods plan of salvation and life in the body of christ. Ephesians was written by paul when imprisoned in rome. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. A salutation, and an account of saving blessings, as prepared in gods eternal election, as purchased by christs blood.
As i was doing this, i found that ephesians and revelation were the two easiest books in the bible to outline. 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. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as. Because the name ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, some scholars believe the letter was an encyclical, intended to be circulated and read among all the churches in asia. These are all of the chapters of the book of ephesians.
Nov 01, 2010 ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. 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. Spiritual blessings in christ blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus. 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 ephesians, paul argues that theology is practical. The book of ephesians chapter one workbook ee onlinebiblestudy. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars. Pauls known characteristics are apparent in the letter 3. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Free, online access to study passages and verses contained in the chapters and verses of the book of ephesians for bible study or sunday school lessons. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of paul on his second missionary journey, as recorded in acts 18.
Tom constables expository notes on ephesians this is also available in the net. An introduction to the book of ephesians an argument of the book of ephesians selected bibliography on the book of ephesians. When paul wrote the book of ephesians, paul was in prison. The book of ephesians is a survival manualit equips believers to thrive in a world that hates the message of jesus christ. Paul wrote his prison epistles ephesians, philippians, colossians, and philemon from rome in approximately 6062 a. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. The new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. The book of ephesians free online bible study lessons. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. But before we delve into the rich content of this epistle, we should understand the context in which it was written. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In our common pick and choose reading method where we flip open the bible, read a passage, and then jump somewhere else, we often miss the importance of the flow, tone, and message of what an.
His character and perhaps even his teaching seem to have been questioned by some, as a result of his imprisonment philippians 1. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. Letter of paul to the ephesians work by saint paul britannica. Ephesians is the goto book in the new testament for an understanding of gods sovereignty in salvation by grace, and therefore it shares much in common with pauls other masterwork.
In this ephesians bible study we learn that paul tells of the great privilege of the ephesians. The word of god, the bible, is the only offensive weapon the believer has. In his 1997 book introduction to the new testament, raymond e. The book of ephesians bible study and ministry resources. To the saints in ephesus, a the faithful in christ jesus. Paul wrote this letter while enduring his first roman imprisonment in house arrest. Paul, accompanied by priscilla and aquila, arrived in ephesus. Read the book of ephesians from the bible with full chapters, highlighted popular verses, and helpful bible commentary for studying scripture. 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. Some scholars think that this was really a circular letter, addressed to all the churcheson the grounds that there are no personal references in it, nor does it have the opening greeting and the signoff which are so characteristic of the apostles letters. After you have read the whole epistle, state the theme of the book. 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 very likely written between a. Asked in the bible, bible statistics and history, new testament.
He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no. Biblical scholar harold hoehner, surveying 279 commentaries written between 1519. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same time he wrote colossians and philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand of tychicus, accompanied by onesimus ephesians 6. Introduction to the epistle of paul to the ephesians. The book of ephesians chapter two workbook ee onlinebiblestudy. Make a list of bible passages outside the book of ephesians that refer to the city or church at ephesus use a concordance and crossreferences. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world. Early church writers are agreed on the matter, with testimonies beginning as early as a. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. See commentaries on ephesians in the bible gateway store. Ephesians colossians philippians philemon paul remained in ephesus for nearly three years on his 3rd missionary journey.
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. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Ephesians introduction new testament matthew henry st. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment.
His farewell speech to the ephesian elders acts 20. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. Ephesus was a city of ionia, in asia minor, and once the metropolis of that part of the world. He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no longer our own but all things are gods. In the book of ephesians, the apostle paul highlights christian unity and the need to go on walking in love and to stand firm against the crafty acts of the devil. 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. According to ephesians, christ and believers are seated in the heavenly places, the church bears witness to gods wisdom in the heavenly places, and the armor of god is made available for believers to battle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places ephesians 6.
Ephesians gives us wonderful examples and basic overviews of a christian life. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. His ministry may have appeared to have been hindered. The apostle paul wrote the epistle to the ephesians see ephesians 1. This section of the catholic bible contains the complete content of the book of ephesians with numbers, chapters and text of individual verses from the douay rheims version of the catholic bible. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city.
How to understand ephesians have you sat down to study a book of the bible and found yourself confused about why an author wrote certain things. The book of ephesians lessons bible study and ministry. Here you will learn about the sheer greatness and wonder of your salvation, of gods immeasurable grace, of christian unity in christ, of the lifestyle appropriate for those who are gods wellloved children, and of the total adequacy of christ to. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat the latter part as secondary or of less value see the right diagram where a wall separates the two sections. A great textual study for those who want to go deep into gods word. The design appears to be to strengthen the ephesians in the faith of christ, and to give exalted views of the love of god, and of the dignity and excellence of christ, fortifying their minds against the scandal of the cross. Those who are strong in the lord have victory over the evil one in the great. Paul went to the synagogue in ephesus and proclaimed christ, and was asked to stay on and teach further. Paul the apostle writes to encourage believers to live wellweve been lifted from the graveyard of sin and called to shout the gospel into the darkened world. We will see how paul reveals the mystery of the church age for the very first time.
If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. In the book of ephesians, paul reminds us that jesus longs for the day he will be united with the churchhis bride in all her beauty. This series on ephesians contains nine studies which take you progressively through pauls impactive letter to the church at ephesus. Summarize what the bible says about ephesus the city or the church outside the book of ephesians.
Some think that this epistle to the ephesians was a circular letter sent to several churches, and that the copy directed to the ephesians happened to be taken into the canon, and so it came to bear that particular inscription. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul. The other prison epistles are the books of philippians, colossians, and philemon. Ephesians overview and outline of ephesians author. The book of ephesians hadavar messianic ministrieshadavar. May 15, 2017 the new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians to strengthen these gatherings, these assemblies of believers, these churches. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. Ephesus boasted international trade, a thriving silversmith guild, and a theater that seated 20,000 people. There may be two purposes for paul having written the book of ephesians.
Perhaps the greatest of all points paul makes in this book is the fact that it is by grace you have been. The book of ephesians is in the bibles new testament. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Brown states that the evidence has pushed 70 to 80 percent of critical scholarship to reject authenticity, the view that the apostle himself wrote ephesians. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is.
This letter is one of pauls four imprisonment letters. Perhaps it seems like a nobrainer to say the book of ephesians was written to the ephesians. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Ephesians 1, new american standard bible nasb the bible app. The ancient city was situated at the mouth of the river cayster, on the shore of the aegean sea, about 50 miles south of smyrna. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any. This class will do an in depth study of the book of ephesians. It is also seems equally obvious that in gods providence this epistle was incorporated in the canon of scripture for the whole body of christ. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of ephesus in asia minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is christ eph 4. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of ephesians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Some scholars believe ephesians was a circular letter distributed to several early christian churches, which may explain why the reference to ephesus is missing from copies of some manuscripts. To help folk learn what the bible is all about, i wrote a book called briefing the bible in which i attempted to give a helpful outline of every book in the bible. Popular bible verses from ephesians bible study tools.
Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. The apostle paul wrote the letter to the ephesians while in prison. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the. Letter of paul to the ephesians, new testament writing once thought to have been. Ephesians teaching copy to correct and pdf for final use. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Stay encouraged and united with christ with these popular bible verses from the tenth book of the new testament, ephesians. By exploring who the audience and the author of the book were. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. However, a clear majority of modern new testament scholars believe it was written in pauls name, long after his death. Paul spent more than two years in the city, preaching the gospel to jew and gentile, ministering with power and building up the church there.
Read through the rest of the new testament in one year with this 365day reading plan. Paul wrote ephesians while under house arrest as a prisoner in rome. Far too many people ignore theology and instead want to only discuss things that are practical. The book of ephesians chapter one workbook eeonline biblestudy. Read the following scripture passages and complete the form for each day. Ephesians bible book with full chapters king james version. We will look at pauls theological thesis in chapter one, which underlies the rest of the book.
The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. The book of ephesians in the bible was written in rome. 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. Paul was excited about gods good gifts ephesians 1. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus.
1390 1198 1440 234 693 928 1424 747 1198 309 1332 458 770 99 66 1510 854 353 796 735 726 183 444 1357 757 933 501 1058 822 177