While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle. Public activity ceased in the cities of ionia for several hours at. History of ephesus, history of ephesians, church of ephesus. 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. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. While he already does a great job with the history and meaning, i think he has nailed it with bridging context and contemporary significance sections. New book study background to the book of ephesians. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people.
For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the new testament, and the biblical book of ephesians, written around 60 a. Picture study bible ephesians bible history online. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. 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. Harold hoehner begins his massive volume on ephesians with a long account of the thoughts and comments about the importance of ephesians to leaders throughout history. 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. Just put the appropriate words in your favorite search engine. The book of malachi, the last of the twelve minor prophets, was written by an anonymous writer called malachi, or my messenger. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing.
Emperor nero came to power very shortly thereafter, in ad 64, and he was one of the most horrific persecutors of christians ever in. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of writing in all history and english poet samuel taylor coleridge called it the divinest. In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of paul. Ephesians 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. According to excevations, the history of ephesus dates back to 6000 bc, to chalcolithic period. This time ive selected the amazing book of ephesians. 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. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. Niv ephesians was for jews and gentiles who comprise one church. He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians bay. 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. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and.
Translate, according to the greek order, i beseech you, therefore seeing that such is your calling of grace, the first. Goodspeed 7 suggests to us that this book has proven to be greater than the minds of those who have studied it. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same. It is assumed by such theorizers that although paul knew the devils personal name and used it frequently, he did not know that satan was the devil, and. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. This page provides a background study to the biblical book of ephesians that is part of a series of pages on how to study the bible. Even though paul has a history with ephesus, the letter has little of a personal nature the style is somewhat different from his other letters, having longer sentences some scholars find significant differences between the theology in ephesians and that in the rest of pauls letters. Furthermore, christianity was not a widely accepted or politically correct religion in the grecoroman empire at the time the letter to the ephesians was written. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Some have argued that paul wrote colossians from ephesus or caesarea, but most of the evidence favors rome as the place where paul penned all the prison letters ephesians, colossians, philippians and philemon. To analyze this letter fully, it is important to consider it in conjunction with colossians and in light of the jerusalem council recorded in acts 15. Biblical resources daily devotional insights on the bible insights by topic article.
The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to. Dec 18, 2012 in this segment chuck missler discusses ephesians. It is hard to overestimate the importance of the book of ephesians on this history of christs people. The western text indicates that paul had the use of the building from 11 a. Mar 01, 20 a quick dig into history with the book of ephesians posted by bayareamomma on march 1, 20 july 28, 20 im diving into ephesians and i thought a bit of history might be helpful as we look at the work god does in ephesus. Ephesians is one of those books which, like the god of whom it speaks, is beyond the grasp of the finite minds of men. Finally, due to the persistent silting up of the harbour and repeated raids by arabs, the city changed its location back to ayasuluk hill forming fourth ephesus. The ephesians were the residents of ephesus to which paul visited and wrote the book of ephesians too in the form of a. Ephesians, written around the same time as pauls epistle to the colossians, remains an important piece of historical evidence that also preserves some important doctrinal concepts. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Mar 03, 2020 the book of malachi, the last of the twelve minor prophets, was written by an anonymous writer called malachi, or my messenger.
He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor scholars have increasingly questioned pauls authorship and attributed the letter to an. Ephesians 5 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. This settlement of ephesus is the biggest and can be visited today. Emperor nero came to power very shortly thereafter, in ad 64, and he was one of the most horrific persecutors of christians ever in all of history.
Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to god. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor. Detailed outline of the book of ephesians bible blender november 10, 2010 detailed outline of the book of ephesians 20171014t10. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh. A quick dig into history with the book of ephesians posted by bayareamomma on march 1, 20 july 28, 20 im diving into ephesians and i thought a bit of history might be helpful as we look at the work god does in ephesus. Overview of the book of ephesians third millennium ministries. Ephesians the niv application commentary book 10 kindle edition by snodgrass, klyne. Ephesians 5 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. 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. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society.
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. This may reflect jamess local authority in jerusalem, where the problem was being discussed. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Bruce, in his commentary on the book of acts, provides us with some interesting information on the school of tyrannus.
Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. Biblical scholar harold hoehner, surveying 279 commentaries written between 1519 and 2001. This is well done enough book to use for a seminary class, but practical enough and engaging enough to use for a bible study. We are still faced with a world that is lost in sins. 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. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. Likewise, bruce remarks 11 that of such a second paul who could write an ephesians early christian history has no knowledge.
Although the church is a new emphases in the letter, there is a clear background of pauline theology. Feb 16, 2018 its time for another book study on fridays. Perhaps written from about 500450 bce, the book is concerned with spiritual degradation, religious perversions, social injustices, and unfaithfulness to the covenant. An ancient hittite document from the 14th century b. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. Ephesians 6 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. 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. We hope this series has been a satisfying journey through the bible and that it has strengthened your faith. 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. However, i would tender a tentative thought which ties together the evidence above, and might well explain the subtle genius and majestic beauty that lies behind ephesians. F or a relatively short letter, ephesians has more than its share of passages that individual christians have turned to for spiritual inspiration, and various faith traditions have adopted for doctrinal support throughout the centuries.
The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. Tyrannus no doubt held his classes in the early morning. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. 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.
Much of ephesuss ancient history is unrecorded and sketchy. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters. According to excevations,the history of ephesus dates back to 6000 bc, to chalcolithic period. Ephesians was written by paul when imprisoned in rome. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. 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. Highly recommend to get a much better understanding of ephesians. 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. The below chart will help underline and point out these similarities. The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. Historical background on the book of ephesians 1 historical. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. His character and perhaps even his teaching seem to have been questioned by some, as a result of his imprisonment philippians 1. Ephesians 6 commentary james burton coffman commentaries.
There are a huge number of sites on the internet that offer pictures of ephesus as it looks today and other background information. Acts clearly teaches that peter delivered a clear decision on the issue of gentile circumcision acts 15. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Gods message of in the book of ephesians is still for the church today. Ephesians the niv application commentary book 10 kindle. His ministry may have appeared to have been hindered. This segment comes from the ephesians commentary published by koinonia house. During the 11th century many athenians arrived, assimilating the older population and.
Aug 02, 2001 this solid advice is of lasting value to the entirety of the church at any time in its history. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Some suggest that pauls time in imprisonment enabled him to develop an exalted christology and a high appraisal of the privileges of believers in christ 11.
This solid advice is of lasting value to the entirety of the church at any time in its history. Apparently the city of ephesus was settled by people of asiatic origin about the middle of the 2nd millennium b. Aug 23, 2012 furthermore, christianity was not a widely accepted or politically correct religion in the grecoroman empire at the time the letter to the ephesians was written. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. 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. An introduction to the book of ephesians related media. Background to the book of ephesians chuck missler youtube. Dec 23, 2015 who were the ephesians mentioned in the bible. Ephesians 5 commentary james burton coffman commentaries. Detailed outline of the book of ephesians bible blender.
954 1343 477 49 1135 1109 1053 1120 1431 736 692 231 513 1533 468 958 378 483 227 1504 1100 1136 1346 551 1090 1034 1133 513 289 120