Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. 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. The letter opens with a sequence of statements about gods blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to gods wisdom, forethought and purpose. Some liberal critics have attempted to raise doubts, yet the authorship of the book is solidly established both by the clear statement in the book itself and by the records of the early uninspired christian writers. Pauls letter to the ephesians epistole bible studies book 3 by dr. Ephesians introduction new testament matthew henry st. Teaching through the book of ephesians in my sunday school class. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. The book of ephesians, introduction the reason for. The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead urge students to study to understand scripture.
This epistle purports to have been written to the saints in ephesus, and to the faithful in christ jesus, though, as we shall see, the fact of its having been directed to the church at ephesus has been called in question. Introduction to the book of ephesians learn the bible. Introduction to ephesians bible exposition commentary. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Ephesians small group series lesson 1 introduction to.
Paul instructs the church that christianity is for all men, jews, gentiles, male female, bond, free, all are united in christ. Bible study questions on ephesians and philippians introduction. And so, were going to study the book of ephesians together. I therefore, the prisoner of the lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the. When he does, record the verse number, what it is he seems to be saying to you and your response to him in this final step. This instructional letter is packed with practical advice, all given in an encouraging tone. Most scholars believe paul wrote ephesians the first time he was. Introduction to ephesians by matthew henry blue letter bible. Author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus.
First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the bible. 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. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Early in the history of grace church, the history of john macarthur at grace church at least, it was obvious to me that god had something very special in mind for this church. It is believed that the reason for this is that this letter was intended to be circulated among several churches and paul did not want to stir up any hard feelings over personal greetings to. 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.
Introduction to the book of ephesians one cannot step over the threshold of this letter into the book of ephesians without being inundated with thoughts of gods mercy and grace. Paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to the saints who are in ephesus, and are faithful in christ jesus. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. 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. This morning we come for our bible study to a book that is indeed a treasure of mine and of every believer, the book of ephesians. The conquest reached far beyond the city limits of ephesus. Well, i invite you to turn to the new testament, to the book of ephesians, and to chapter 1, and ill read from verse 1. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to god. The books of 1 kings and 2 kings were originally one book. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers.
In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Ephesians introduction, king james version, american edition. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. John calvin called it his favorite book of the bible. An introduction to the book of ephesians related media.
But when we glimpse how god is restoring all of creation through christ, and when we discover that our work plays an essential role in that plan, then our workplace becomes a primary context for us to do the good works that god has prepared for us. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. Others attribute a group of anonymous authors called the deuteronomists, since language from the book of deuteronomy is repeated in 1 kings. Intro to philippians biblica the international bible. Read ephesians prayerfully, objectively, thoughtfully, and attentively as you listen for god to speak. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle. Variously known as the greatest story ever told, the book of books and many other names, the bible is reputed to be the biggest bestseller of all time. The apostles design is to settle and establish the ephesians in the truth, and further to acquaint them with the mystery of the gospel, in order to it. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. 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. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. This book sets forth one of the clearest presentations on the relation between positional truth and experiencing positional truth in ones life. It was a prosperous roman colony, which meant that the citizens of philippi were also citizens of the city of rome itself.
An exposition, with practical observations, of the epistle of st. Commentary for ephesians 1 this epistle was written when st. 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. I asked and you voted, so welcome to the study of ephesians. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all pauls epistles that has nothing in it peculiarly adapted to the state or case of. Several years ago, a couple started coming to our church.
The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. Ephesians introduction commentary commentary critical and. Pauls epistle to the ephesians is most likely a circular letter intended to be read in many churches in western asia minor, not just in ephesus. The conquest reached far beyond the city limits of.
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 minor and was simply. Only a few verses of ephesians deal precisely with the workplace and even these are directed at thieves, slaves, and masters. 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. Listen, the mystery is not that the king would come and bring a kingdom, the. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus.
Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. First, all they which dwelt in asia heard the word of the lord jesus, both jews and greeks gentiles acts 19. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing. Ephesians introduction new testament matthew henry. It is interesting to note and observe that while the new testament often refers to the church, it does not speak of going to church in the way we. 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.
Cotton is king, and proslavery arguments comprising the writings of hammond, harper, christy. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. He may not speak to you through every verse, but he will speak. This would further seem to suggest, as i have believed, that not only did paul write the book of colossians, but that he wrote colossians before writing the book of ephesians. Ephesians also contains two of the most memorable passages in the new testament. In the king james version of the bible, ephesians 1. Right away, they were interested in helping with our.
Ephesians 1, new king james version nkjv the bible app. 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. Ephesus was the third largest city in the roman empire population 250,000 in what is today. We know that the king is above all, though we cannot name all the officers of his court.
Ephesians probably circulated in the region for which ephesus was the primary church center. The situation of ephesus, and the character of its people. This is likely since several of the most important ancient new testament manuscripts do not have the words at ephesus 1. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. Ephesians overview albert barnes notes on the whole bible. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. Jewish tradition credits jeremiah the prophet as the author of 1 kings, although bible scholars are divided on the issue. The below chart will help underline and point out these similarities.
Ephesians introduction verse by verse bible commentary. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Samuel coleridge called it the most divine composition of man 2. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Ephesians introduction, king james version, american. The bible, king james version kjv introduction by free. Introduction paul was one of a long list of godly men and women. The ancient city of ephesus was first colonized by greeks in the tenth century b. In the first chapter you have the doctrines of the gospel. Christ should stand up in full functioning form in his body the church just as he did in his human body in his incarnation. Read ephesians introduction commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. Ephesus was an ancient port city whose wellpreserved ruins are in modernday turkey. Bible study questions on ephesians and philippians. Have you ever wondered how so much heretical teaching infiltrated the early church.
In the seventh chapter of the third book of his testimonies, he speaks of the apostle paul writing to the ephesians and then proceeds to quote ephesians 4. And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all pauls epistles that has nothing. Why is the new testament divided into parts under the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration, 2 tim 3. Doctrinal ephesians chapter 1 gods purpose in christ from before the foundation of the world ephesians 1. 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.
Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. Writing, as he does in this epistle, on the constitution and prospects of christs universal church, he refers the ephesians, as to personal matters, to the bearer of the epistle, tychicus ephesians 6. Ephesians, more than any other book, presents the purpose and plan of god for the church. These important questions are answered in the book of ephesians. The body must be whole and complete, and thats why in ephesians 4 it says, till we all come to the fullness of the stature of christ. These remarkably relevant writings include prophetic interpretations of how each king affected the spiritual decline of israel and judah. A historical introduction to the early christian writings.
Ephesians introduction commentary commentary critical. Richison value of ephesians ephesians, more than any other book, presents the purpose and plan of god for the church this book sets forth one of the clearest presentations on the relation between positional truth and experiencing positional truth in ones life john calvin called ephesians his favorite book of the bible we see something of the supremacy of christ in gods. Now viewing scripture range from the book of ephesians chapter 4. The book of 1 kings traces the history of gods covenant people under israels kings, beginning with the reign of king solomon. 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. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. Introduction to the book of ephesians juli camarin february 24, 2015 introduction. John knox asked that calvins sermons on ephesians be read to him on his deathbed.