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EPHESIANS - INTRODUCTION

I. PAUL'S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS IN EPHESUS:

A. Paul came to Ephesus at the end of his second preaching tour - stayed for only a short time (Acts 19:19-21)

1. Left Aquilla and Priscilla here.

2. Reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue.

B. Paul came to Ephesus on his third preaching tour and preached here and the surrounding areas of Asia for 3                  years (Acts 19:1-20:1; 20:31).

1. Teaching the baptism in the name of the Lord to 12 disciples of John (19:1-7).

2. Spoke boldly concerning the kingdom of God for 3 months in the synagogue (19:8)

3. Taught disciples in school of Tyrannus for 2 years - All Asia (Jews and Greeks) heard the word of                     the Lord (19: 9 -10).

4. Through miracles the name of the Lord was magnified - Magical books willingly burned amounting to                 the price of 50,000 pieces of silver over presumptuous spirit of seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high                    priest (19:11-20).

5. Uproar over goddess Diana and the preaching of Paul (19: 22-41).

a) Diana - the Ephesians' mother goddess of the earth.

b) Temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

(1) Built on marshy ground - pains taken to build good foundation.

(2) feet by 425 feet with 107 pillars, each 60 feet high.

(3) A place of safe keeping of people's money.

(4) Annual feasts were celebrated with people all over the world taking home shrines of                    Diana as souvenirs (Acts 19:24).

(5) Her rituals involved sacrifices and ceremonial prostitution (cf. Eph. 4:17-20).

II. AUTHOR

A. Paul - twice refers to himself by name (1:1, 3:1)

1. "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God..." (1:1).

2. "I Paul" (3:1).

III. DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING

A. Probable date - A.D. 61-62

1. Companion letters of PHILEMON and COLOSSIANS were probably sent at the same time by the                   same messengers: Tychicus and his companion, Onesimus. (Eph. 6:21; Col.4:7-9; Philemon 10,12).

B. Place: Prison in Rome (cf. Acts 28:16-31).

1. Paul refers to himself as a prisoner (4:1; 6:20; cf. Col. 4:18; Philemon 1,9,23)

IV. THEME AND PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

A. Theme: The Glorious Church

1. Glorious as conceived in eternity by God.

2. Glorious as it functions in time.

B. Purpose: To set forth God's purpose in summing up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and things                 upon the earth (1:9-10).

V. FEATURES OF THE BOOK

A. No personal salutations - leads to the belief the epistle was to be a circular letter read to other area                      churches, not just the one in Ephesus.

B. The church:

1. The church is revealed in its "universal" sense (1:22-23; 4:4, 16).

2. Its divine and eternal character:

a) Conception: Planned by God in eternity (1:4; 3:11)

b) Construction: Grace of God through faith (1:19 - 2:10).

c) Consummation: fullness of God (1:10, 23).

3. Three metaphors emphasizing relationship:

a) The BODY of Christ - Christ the authoritative HEAD (1:22-23; 4:4, 16).

b) The BUILDING of God - Christ is the chief CORNERSTONE (2:19-22).

c) The BRIDE of Christ - Christ the sacrificial HUSBAND (5:25-27, 32).

C. Key words and phrases:

1. "in" occurs some ninety times denoting relationship -"in Christ"

a) Where all spiritual blessings are found (1:3, 11; 2:6, 7, 13).

b) Where God's chosen, unblemished, and holy people dwell in love (1:4).

c) Where Redemption from sin is found (1:7)

d) The focal point for the summation of all things in the heavens and upon the earth (1:10).

e) The theme of the gospel message (1:13).

2. "Grace" occurs thirteen times denoting the numerated favor of God expressed in salvation for man                  through Christ (1:6, 7; 2:5, 8).

                        3. "Heavenlies" occurs 5 times; the realm of the Christian's walk and warfare (1:3; 2:6; 6:12; etc.)

4. "Mysteries" occurs 6 times; Not something you cannot understand, but the truth held in secret until                 revealed by God at the proper time (3:3-6, 9; 6:19).

5. "Walk" occurs 8 times denoting the character of living (2:2, 10; 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 11 15-16 ; etc.).

D. Our relationship with the Lord controls our personal relationships (5:21-6:9).

1. Wife - Husband

2. Children - Parents

3. Servants - Masters

VI. OUTLINE OF THE BOOK (Adapted from Baxter in EXPLORE THE BOOK)

A. OUR WEALTH IN CHRIST (Chapters 1-3).

1. Praise for spiritual possession (1:3-14).

2. Prayer for spiritual perception (1: 15-23).

3. Our new condition in Christ (2:1-10).

4. Our new relation in Christ (2:11-22).

5. Revealing of the Divine mystery (3:1-12).

6. Receiving of the Divine fullness (3:13-21).

B. OUR WALK IN CHRIST (Chapters 4-6)

1. Regarding the church corporately (4:1-16).

2. Regarding believers individually (4:17-5:2)

3. Regarding sensual living and living before outsiders (5:3-21).

4. Regarding special relationships at home (5:22-6:9).

5. Regarding resisting Satan's spirit -powers (6:10-20).

C. CONCLUSION (6:21-24)