Ephesians

Overview of the Book

Similar to the metropolitan cities1 of the modern world, Ephesus was one of the most advanced cities in ancient Asia Minor.  Under Roman rule, the city flourished to become an influential trade center with a harbor, a religious center with a temple dedicated to the pagan goddess Artemis2, and a meeting place of various cultures from around the world.  Despite all such obstacles, Apostle Paul chose the city to be the center for his ministry outreach in the Asia Minor (Acts 19). 

The Epistle of Ephesians is included with the epistles of Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon (these are together known as the prison epistles3 written by Apostle Paul4).  The Epistle of Ephesians is full of practical advice to believers, of the resurrected Christ, in Ephesus and rest of the world in order that they would keep themselves pure and holy.  Thus, Apostle Paul was considered as the guardian of Christian faith in the province of Asia Minor.  He was one of the most outspoken defenders of Christian faith, especially during the later part of his own life.  Prior to his conversion to Christian faith5, Paul was an ardent follower and promoter of Judaism, spending his earlier life persecuting Christians (Acts 9).  Although Apostle Paul was called to serve both the Jews and the Gentiles alike, he specifically focused on serving the Gentiles and winning them for Christ at any cost (Romans 11:13).  Thus, he came to be known as the apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:7-10; Acts 11:19-26).

The Title, Authorship, Date of Writing, and Recipients of the book

The title of the book is often mentioned as ‘The Epistle to the Ephesians’ or ‘The Letter to the Ephesians’ or simply ‘Ephesians.’  The author of Ephesians identifies himself as Paul (Ephesians 1:1; 3:1).  The following references show that the author is very familiar with his readers, which supports that Apostle Paul wrote the epistle: Ephesians 1:15-16; 3:1-14; 6:1.  Most scholars accept that the book was written by Apostle Paul sometime between 60 and 62 AD, while he was in a Roman prison (Acts 28:30; 3:1, 4:1, 6:20). 

According to Acts 18:18-19, Apostle Paul visited Ephesus during the end of his second missionary journey.  Although, some of the Jewish Christians asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined extending his stay with them during that particular trip (Acts 18:20-21).  However, he returned to Ephesus for a longer period of stay during his third missionary journey and stayed there for a period of three years (Acts 19:1-41; 20:31).  In the light of these descriptions and according Ephesians 1:1, it is understood that the epistle was primarily written to the faithful in Christ Jesus at Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1) but it was also meant to circulate to the rest of the churches in and around Asia Minor.

The Purpose of Writing

As a spiritual leader of the Church, Apostle Paul made an effort to strengthen the faith and spiritual foundations of the believers at Ephesus by revealing the fullness of God’s eternal purpose of redemption in Christ.  Therefore, he encourages the believers (Ephesians 1:15-17):

    1. to advance in faith, love, wisdom, and revelation of God
    2. to live a life that is worthy of the Lord – Christ Jesus

The Major Divisions of the Book

The book is divided into two main parts under two interconnected themes-

Part I. Our Redemption and Salvation through God’s Grace (Ephesians 1-3) 

Part II. Our Response to God for the Gift of Salvation (Ephesians 4-6)

Part I. Our Redemption/Salvation by God’s Grace (Ephesians 1-3)

Part one focuses on answering the question ‘How are we saved?’ and it ends with the answer that ‘we are saved by God’s Grace.’

Chapter One

  1. Greetings: Paul introduces himself and the recipients (Ephesians 1:1-2)

  2. Paul talks about the guiding principles of believers’ Redemption (Ephesians 1:3-14) [“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”]
    1. Chosen by God the Father and His election, predestination and adoption (Ephesians 1:3-6)
    2. Redeemed by God the Son through His Blood (Ephesians 1:7-12)
    3. Sealed by God the Holy Spirit for the Day of Redemption
    4. What we can understand from here is:
      1. The work of God the Father: God adopted us as His sons and daughters, which indicates that God chose you and me as His very own (Ephesians 1:3-6)
      2. The work of God the Son: Since we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), Jesus redeemed us by laying down His very own life as a ransom. Thus, He paid in full, the redemption cost of our lives, to God the Father and redeemed us from eternal condemnation (Ephesians 1:7-12). According to Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He died on the cross on our behalf, that is, yours and mine

      3. The work of God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guarantees our redemption in Christ Jesus. As stated in Ephesians 1:14, the Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession (Ephesians 1:13-14)  

  3. Paul’s First Apostolic Prayer for the Believers’ Spiritual Enlightenment (Ephesians 1:15-23)
    1. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:16-19a that:
      1. “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
    2. From verses 19b-23, Paul explains the significance of that power:
      1. “That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

​Chapter Two

Ministry of Reconciliation (Ephesians 2:1-22)

  1. Salvation through Grace (Ephesians 2:1-10)
    1. Our Position in the past (Ephesians 2:1-3):
      1. Paul says, “…you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air … gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.”
    2. Our Position in the Present (Ephesians 2:4-5)
      1. “…God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
    3. Our Position in the Future (Ephesians 2:6-7)
      1. “…God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
    4. We are saved by Grace (Ephesians 2:8-10)
      1. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
  2. Unity in Christ [Oneness of Jews and Gentiles] (Ephesians 2:11 -22)
  3. Gentiles’ Position without Christ (Ephesians 2:11-12)
    • Formerly, you were Gentiles by birth
    • Formerly, you were known as the uncircumcised
    • Formerly, you were separated from Christ
    • Formerly, you were excluded from Citizenship in Israel
    • Formerly, you were foreigners to the covenant
  4. Uniting all believers in Christ as One Body (Ephesians 2:13-22)
    1. Now, all are called to be ONE body in the Lord by destroying the wall of hostility (vs. 14-18)
    2. Also, we are called God’s household built on the foundation of apostles and prophets with Christ Himself being the Cornerstone (vs. 19-20).

Chapter Three

  1. The Mystery Revealed [and God’s Wisdom and Grace] (Ephesians 3:1-13)​​
    1. The Mystery of Christ:
      1. Christ was hidden for ages past in God (v. 9)
      2. Christ made known by revelation (v. 3) through the Spirit to the apostles and prophets (v. 5)
    2. The Mystery of authority and unity:​
      1. It was God’s purpose “…to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:10), and include people of all nations in the promise of life and salvation (v. 6)​
      2. In Christ Jesus, God created a new people for Himself by bringing together the Jews and people from the Gentile nations​
      3. “​This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”​ (Ephesians 3:6)
  2. Paul’s Second Apostolic Prayer for the Believers’ Spiritual Fulfillment (Ephesians 3:14-21)​

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Part II. Our Response to God for the Gift of Salvation (Ephesians 4-6)

Chapter Four

  1. Christian Unity and Maturity (Ephesians 4:1-16)
    1. Key Verses:
      • v. 2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
      • v. 3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
      • vs. 4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”
      • vs. 11-13 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
  2. Guidelines for Christian Living (Ephesians 4:17-32)
    1. Attitude of Worldly People (Ephesians 4:17-19):
      1. vs. 18-19 “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”
    2. Attitude of Godly People (Ephesians 4:20-24):
      1. vs. 22-24 “You were taught … to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
    3. Therefore, we must change our attitude (Ephesians 4:25-32):
      1. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry (v. 26)
      2. Don’t give a chance to devil to act on your lives (v. 27)
      3. Don’t steal any longer (v. 28)
      4. Don’t talk in vain (v. 29)
      5. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit (v. 30)
      6. Don’t be slave of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice (v. 31)
      7. We must be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, just as Christ (v. 32)

Chapter Five

  1. Being Imitators of God and Living a life of Love (Ephesians 5:1-21)
    1. Be Imitators of God as dearly loved children (v. 1)
    2. Live a life of Love just as Christ loved us (v. 2)
    3. There must not be Deeds of Darkness (vs. 3-21)
      1. Improper for God’s people (vs. 3-4)
        • sexual immorality (v. 3) 
        • any kind of impurity (v. 3) 
        • any kind of greed (v. 3)
        • obscenity (v. 4)
        • foolish talk (v. 4)
        • coarse joking (v. 4)
      2. There must not be idolaters (vs. 5-7):
        • immoral person (v. 5)
        • impure person (v. 5)
        • greedy person (v. 5)
        • disobedient person (v. 7)
      3. Rather, we must live as children of light (vs. 8-14)
        • live as people of goodness (v. 9)
        • live as people of righteousness (v. 9)
        • live as people of truth (v. 9)
        • live as people who please the Lord (v. 10)
      4. We must live as wise people (vs. 15-21)
        1. make use of godly opportunities (v. 16)
        2. understand the will of God in our lives (v. 17)
        3. avoid too much wine, so you can avoid debauchery (v.18)
        4. be filled with the Spirit (v. 18)
        5. always sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs always thank God for all His goodness in the name of Christ Jesus (v.20)
        6. submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (v. 21) 
  2. Christian Relationships (Ephesians 5:22-6:9)
    • To the married couple (Ephesians 5:22-33):
      1. Wives: Develop an attitude of submission (vs. 22-24 & 33)
        • submit to the Lord (v. 22)
        • submit to the husband (v. 22)
        • submit to Christ as the head of the Church (v. 23)
        • submit to husband as the head of the wife (v. 23)
        • submit to your husband in everything (v. 24)
        • respect your husband (v. 33)
      2. Husbands: Develop an attitude of Love (vs. 25-33)
        • understand that Christ loved the Church, His body (v. 25)
        • love your wife as Christ loved the Church (v. 25)
        • wash and cleanse her through the Word of God (v. 26)
        • provide for her spiritual and physical needs (v. 29)

Chapter Six

  1. Christian Relationships [continuation] (Ephesians 5:22-6:9)
    • To Children and Parents (Ephesians 6:1-4):
      1. Children:Develop an attitude of love and obedience (Ephesians 6:1-3)
        • obey your parents (v. 1)
        • honor your father and mother (v. 1)
        • reward: long life on the earth (v. 3)
      2. Fathers: Bring the children up in the training and instruction of the Lord (v. 4)
    • To the Slaves and Masters (Ephesians 6:5-9):
      1. Slaves: Develop a responsible approach (Ephesians 6:5-8)
        • Obey your masters (v. 5)
        • be respectful; that is, obey with respectful attitude (v.5)
        • be fearful; that is, obey with fearful attitude (v.5)
        • be sincere; that is, obey with sincere heart (v.5)
        • serve wholeheartedly (v. 7)
        • The outcome: The Lord’s reward for every good work (v. 8)
      2. Masters: Treat your slaves well (v. 9)
  2. Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6:10-20)
    1. Who is on our side as an ally in this war (Ephesians 6:10)?
      • The Lord Himself (v. 10)
    2. Who is our enemy in this war (Ephesians 6:11-12)?
      • the devil (v. 11)
      • the rulers of this dark world (v. 12)
      • the authorities of this dark world (v. 12)
      • the powers of this dark world (v. 12)
      • the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (v. 12)
    3. What is the Armor we use to defend us (Ephesians 6:13-20)?
      • the full armor of God (v. 13)
      • the belt of truth buckled around waist (v. 14)
      • breastplate of righteousness on the chest (v. 14)
      • feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (v. 15)
      • the shield of faith (v. 16)
      • helmet of salvation (v. 16)
      • the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v. 17)
      • pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of requests (v. 18)
  3. Final Greetings (Ephesians 6:21-24)
      • vs. 23-24 “Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

Summary of the book of Ephesians

  • Christ’s followers are called to be holy and blameless in God’s sight (Ephesians 1:4)
  • Christ’s followers are called to become a Holy Temple for God (Ephesians 2:21) 
  • Christ’s followers are called to bear Christ in their hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17) 
  • Christ’s followers are called to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is His love for them (Ephesians 3:18)
  • Christ’s followers are called to live a life worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1)
  • Christ’s followers are called to become spiritually mature (Ephesians 4:13)
  • Christ’s followers are called to live in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24)
  • Christ’s followers are called to lead a life of love and compassion (Ephesians 5:2)
  • Christ’s followers are called to lead a life based on the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26)
  • Christ’s followers are called to present a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any blemish (Ephesians 5:27a) 
  • Christ’s followers are called to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:27b)
  • Christ’s followers are called to lead a faithful family life (Ephesians 5:22 – 6:4)
  • Christ’s followers are called to lead an honorable way of work-related life (Ephesians 6:5-9)
  • Christ’s followers are called to stand against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Elaboration (of the superscripts)

A metropolitan city primarily refers to the chief city of a country with large settlements of people and large surrounding areas.  The English noun ‘metropolis’ comes from the Greek term Μητρόπολη (mitrópoli), which was derived from two Greek words, μήτηρ (mētēr) meaning ‘mother’ and πόλις (pólis) meaning ‘city.’  Thus, the term Μητρόπολη (mitrópoli) means ‘mother city or chief city.’   Unlike ancient times, in today’s context, there are many metropolitan cities, in almost every country on earth.  These cities flourish with large settlements of people from all walks of life, advanced technologies and cultural diversity.  In the world today, many metropolises have developed to become megalopolises, with have much higher populations and much larger surrounding areas. 

In some translations it is mentioned as goddess Dianna (Acts 19:23-28). 

The Epistles to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and the book of Philemon are generally known as the prison epistles because the following references show that Apostle Paul was a prisoner at the time of their writing: Ephesians 3:1, 4:1, 6:20; Philippians 1;7; Colossians 4:10; Philemon v. 9. 

Originally, the Bible introduced Apostle Paul as ‘Saul of Tarsus’ (which is a chief city in eastern Cilicia), later his name changed to Paul.  

Apostle Paul, who was a Jew by birth and a Roman citizen by nationality, converted to Christian faith as a result of an encounter with the glorified Christ at the entrance to the city of Damascus.  This encounter is described in Acts 9.  It is believed that Paul’s encounter with Jesus took place sometime between AD 32 and 35.  

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