This epistle is addressed to the saints at the church in ephesus, a prosperous port city in the roman province of asia minor. Hes the author of several books, including jesus, continuedwhy the spirit inside you is better than jesus beside you, gospel. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. His character and perhaps even his teaching seem to have been questioned by some, as a result of his imprisonment philippians 1. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. All these are verbs found in the book of ephesians a book rich with. The book of ephesians is a beautiful revelation of the church and the spiritual blessings we have in christ jesus. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our everyday story. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul.
And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all. Best commentaries and books on ephesians logos bible software. The letter to the ephesians pillar new testament commentary by peter t. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. Ephesians 1, international childrens bible icb the bible app. To head up all things in christ 1 to head up all things in christ 2 to head up all things in. 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. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of writing in all history and english poet samuel taylor coleridge called it the.
Shaul shaaool, by gods will an emissary of the messiah yeshua. The book of ephesians was a letter written by paul to the christian congregation in ephesis, but it is appropriate for us because it gives instruction on many aspects of christian life. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the bible. Ephesians was written by paul a prisoner in rome ephesians 4. I pray that he will give you a spirit that will make you wise in the knowledge of godthe knowledge that he has. What was hidden throughout the ages was revealed to us when christ came. The little fellow answered, sir, i didnt know he was lost. 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 5 new king james version nkjv walk in love. As a prisoner for the lord, then, i urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Rank is a value from 0 to indicating how closely a match scored or ranked against the original search string. His ministry may have appeared to have been hindered. Heather holleman gives us a picture of being included in christ and the words that describe the gift of being a part of his family. We also learn when we become christians we are not who we used to be and we are filled with new life and have the blessings of gods kindness and eternal gift to us.
In her new book, praying epheshians, christin ditchfield takes us on an exciting prayer. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity. Niv this was likely early in his imprisonment he had appealed to caesar in 59 a. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. All these are verbs found in the book of ephesians a book rich with reminders of the gospel and the blessings of being jesus. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. 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. Encounter ephesians, and get swept up into the story of jesus. Ephesus boasted international trade, a thriving silversmith guild, and a theater that seated 20,000 people. The local church at ephesus would eventually be pastored by timothy see 1 timothy 1. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a. The book of ephesians is a survival manualit equips believers to thrive in a world that hates the message of jesus christ. This letter, in many ways, is the crowning glory of the new testament.
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. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. The concept that the elect jews and gentiles compose the one family of god, the one holy nation, is a central theme of the book of ephesians. Summarize what the bible says about ephesus the city or the church outside the book of ephesians. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Spiritual blessings in christfrom paul, an apostle of christ jesus. Ephesians also contains two of the most memorable passages in the new testament. 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. You will also learn about how we are members of one body in this second. Ephesians 4 niv bible as a prisoner for the lord, then. This course is designed as an expository study of the epistle to the ephesians, taking the student through the entire epistle with cross references to other portions of scripture.
The purpose is to assist the student in gaining a greater comprehension of the biblical teaching contained in the epistle to the ephesians with. Gods people living in ephesus, that is, those who are trusting in the messiah yeshua. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. Paul explains the mystery of the church and gives practical insight into living as believers. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. His farewell speech to the ephesian elders acts 20. Ephesians sets forth what no other book of the new testament describes so completely the nature of the body of christ, which is the true church. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus.
The traditional idea, that god deals in one manner with the gentile christians and in another with the jewish christians, and that the races are identifiable in christ, has created havoc in the. Ephesians 4 niv bible as a prisoner for the lord, then, i. 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 total number of occurrences of the original search wordsphrases in a portion of a book. 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. Roberts is wellinformed and easy to read, and any lack of distinctive interpretive contribution is made up for in his keen ability to keep sight of the whole. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle.
Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to. Dec 23, 2015 the ephesians were the residents of ephesus to which paul visited and wrote the book of ephesians too in the form of a letter to the church while in prison in rome. These important questions are answered in the book of ephesians. Book of ephesians chapter two in ephesians chapter 2 we learn that christians are saved by grace. 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. Best ephesians commentaries updated for 2020 best bible.
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 epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. 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. Based on the contents of the book, it appears as though pauls purpose for writing the book of ephesians was to remind the ephesian believers of their high calling in christ chapters and to exhort them to live up to that calling chapters 46.
The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. The traditional idea, that god deals in one manner with the gentile christians and in another with the jewish christians, and that the races are identifiable in christ, has created havoc in the interpretation of the scripturesparticularly the writings. 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. Book of ephesians ephesians chapter 1 ephesians chapter 2 ephesians chapter 3 ephesians chapter 4 ephesians chapter 5 ephesians chapter 6. Roberts is a unique contribution that offers a unified presentation of one of the most theologically significant pauline epistles. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. Best commentaries and books on ephesians logos bible. The book of ephesians is home to some of the bibles greatest promises and deepest spiritual insights. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. This instructional letter is packed with practical advice, all given in an encouraging tone. 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.
Ephesians 5 nkjv walk in love therefore be imitators. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. The ephesians were the residents of ephesus to which paul visited and wrote the book of ephesians too in the form of a letter to the church while in prison in rome. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Baughs comments are invariably measured, judicious, the product of informed and careful scholarship, lightly worn. Campbell divides the book into logical sections and highlights the key themes and focal points of each passage, concluding each section with practical suggestions on how to preach the text. The story of god bible commentary explains and illuminates each passage of scripture in light of the bibles grand story. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Constantine campbell teaches how to interpret and preach the concepts communicated by paul to the church in ephesus. After you have read the whole epistle, state the theme of the book. Greear is the lead pastor of the summit church in the raleighdurham area of north carolina. I have always done this since the time i heard about your faith in the lord jesus and your love for all gods people. The central organizing theological idea in ephesians is that through christs atoning work god has mightily brought about the churcha new humanity, i. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world.
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 believers in ephesus were primarily gentiles see 2. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Get this book on amazon using its exact isbn interview. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. Ephesians was written by paul when imprisoned in rome. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. Summary of the book of ephesians summary of hebrews. Ephesians 3, international childrens bible icb the. Ephesians 1, international childrens bible icb the. Ephesians summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ephesians for bible study or sunday school lessons.
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