Book of Ephesians
Summary of the Book of Ephesians
This summary of the
book of Ephesians provides information about the title, author(s), date of
writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the
chapters of the Book of Ephesians.
The author identifies
himself as Paul (1:1; 3:1; cf. 3:7,13; 4:1; 6:19-20). Some have taken the
absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts
to Colossians, among other reasons, as grounds for doubting authorship by the
apostle Paul. However, this was probably a circular letter, intended for other
churches in addition to the one in Ephesus (see notes on 1:1,15; 6:21-23). Paul may have
written it about the same time as Colossians, c. a.d. 60, while he was in
prison at Rome (see 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; see also chart, p. 2261).
Ephesus was the most
important city in western Asia Minor (now Turkey). It had a harbor that at that
time opened into the Cayster River (see map, p. 2429), which in turn emptied
into the Aegean Sea (see map, p. 2599). Because it was also at an intersection
of major trade routes, Ephesus became a commercial center. It boasted a pagan
temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana (Greek Artemis);
cf. Ac 19:23-31.
Paul made Ephesus a center for evangelism for about three years (see note on Ac
19:10), and the church there apparently flourished for some time, but later
needed the warning of Rev 2:1-7.
Unlike several of the
other letters Paul wrote, Ephesians does not address any particular error or
heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might
understand better the dimensions of God's eternal purpose and grace and come to
appreciate the high goals God has for the church.
The letter opens with
a sequence of statements about God's blessings, which are interspersed with a
remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to God's wisdom,
forethought and purpose. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for
our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to God. The climax of
God's purpose, "when the times will have reached their fulfillment,"
is to bring all things in the universe together under Christ (1:10). It is crucially important that Christians
realize this, so in 1:15-23 Paul prays for
their understanding (a second prayer occurs in 3:14-21).
Having explained God's
great goals for the church, Paul proceeds to show the steps toward their
fulfillment. First, God has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of
grace (2:1-10). Second, God has
reconciled these saved individuals to each other, Christ having broken down the
barriers through his own death (2:11-22). But God has done
something even beyond this: He has united these reconciled individuals in one
body, the church. This is a "mystery" not fully known until it was
revealed to Paul (3:1-6). Now Paul is able to
state even more clearly what God has intended for the church, namely, that it
be the means by which he displays his "manifold wisdom" to the
"rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (3:7-13). It is clear through
the repetition of "heavenly realms" (1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12) that Christian existence is not merely on an
earthly plane. It receives its meaning and significance from heaven, where
Christ is exalted at the right hand of God (1:20).
Nevertheless, that
life is lived out on earth, where the practical daily life of the believer
continues to work out the purposes of God. The ascended Lord gave
"gifts" to the members of his church to enable them to minister to
one another and so promote unity and maturity (4:1-16). The unity of the
church under the headship of Christ foreshadows the uniting of "all things
in heaven and on earth" under Christ (1:10). The new life of
purity and mutual deference stands in contrast to the old way of life without
Christ (4:17 -- 6:9). Those who are
"strong in the Lord" have victory over the evil one in the great
spiritual conflict, especially through the power of prayer (6:10-20; see note on 1:3).
- The Divine Purpose: The Glory and Headship of Christ (1:3-14)
- Prayer That Christians May Realize God's Purpose and
Power (1:15-23)
- Steps Toward the Fulfillment of God's Purpose
(chs. 2-3)
From the NIV Study
Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, Ephesians
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
