Overview of the book of ephesians safe harbor church. 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. 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. Themes in the book of ephesians christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes. Ephesians with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Ephesians 1, new international version niv the bible app. The western text indicates that paul had the use of the building from 11 a. The book of ephesians is a letter written to the christians at ephesus. Tyrannus no doubt held his classes in the early morning. Overview of the book of ephesians deeper christian. I summarised the bible on twitter between aug 2010 and nov 20 one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day. 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.
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. When paul wrote the book of ephesians, paul was in prison. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry. 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. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Every chapter of the bible in 140 characters or less. Ephesians our blessings in christ importance this epistle was evidently addressed to the church in ephesus cf. 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. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. Overview and outline of ephesians paul has one main desire in ephesiansfor you to know jesus christ and your position in him. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle.
The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. With its exalted view of the church in gods plan of redemption, it is common to suggest the theme as the church, the fullness of christ. 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. Public activity ceased in the cities of ionia for several hours at. Summary of the book of ephesians summary of hebrews. Sproul examines these important topics and demonstrates why they are. Epistle to the ephesians read the bible online bible study tools.
The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. The book of ephesians is in the bibles new testament. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. Paul instructs the church that christianity is for all men, jews, gentiles, male female, bond, free, all are united in christ. Published on nov 10, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. 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. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity. Acts 19, but may have been intended as a circular letter to be read by neighboring churches. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Paul had spent nearly three years in ephesus acts 19. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god.
People of all nations are united to christ and to one another in the church, through the working of the trinity. When christ redeemed us from sin and death, he incorporated all believers into his body. Ephesians role in the bible ephesians is the fifth of pauls letters. Overview of the book of ephesians overview author the book of ephesians was written by the apostle paul 1. 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 city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at.
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 corporate life of believers. All of life, according to paul, flows from this reality. Many scholars presume that paul wrote the letter of ephesians to a group of churches in asia minor paul presumably addressed the. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Ephesians summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ephesians for bible study or sunday school lessons. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. 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.
Headings throughout the following book of ephesians. The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, paul. It is therefore critical to understand the nature and calling of the church that we might be effective members of the one body that is called to bear witness to gods grace in this world. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives.
Paul was in prison in rome when he wrote it similar to books like philippians, colossians, philemon. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. This epistle was not written to a specific church and could be themed the church, the fullness of christ. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. It was the capital of proconsular asia, being about a mile from the sea coast, and was the great religious, commercial and political center of asia. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. A grand epistle like ephesians almost defies coming up with one main theme. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. They were chosen by god, sealed with his spirit, and saved by his grace. Furthermore, a study in ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfill the purpose and calling god has given. Bruce, in his commentary on the book of acts, provides us with some interesting information on the school of tyrannus. Paul doesnt specify a specific heresy but does seem to want them to be identified with christ and one in a sense of purpose. 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.
The purpose of this paper is to give a brief overview the new testament book, ephesians. Paul instructs the church that christianity is for all men. Paul wrote this letter to the church at ephesus, which he had led for over two years acts 19. The first half of the letter focuses on the ephesians calling. The author of ephesians is believed by many to be paul, although modern scholars have pointed to the differences in grammar and the strikingly similar vocabulary in pauls other letters as proof that paul did not author the book. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ.
Pastor steven cole sermons ephesians pastor steven. They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a separate outline. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. Eight of these book are letters to local churches like the one in ephesus. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of gods eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals god has for the church. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. 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.
Ephesians executable outline study resources blue letter bible. Paul uses several word pictures to describe the church. Paul explains the mystery of the church and gives practical insight into living as believers. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. 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. What was hidden throughout the ages was revealed to us when christ came. Paul was excited about gods good gifts ephesians 1. A description of the change in the spiritual position of gentiles as a result of the work of christ. The book of ephesians is a beautiful revelation of the church and the spiritual blessings we have in christ jesus. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said. Most books attribute the authorship to that of the apostle paul. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include.
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