Contrary to what is probably the majority opinion in current new testament scholarship, i think the ephesian letter is by paul. Ephesus forms an appropriate background to the book of ephesians because of this citys fascination with magic and the occult acts 19. Cultural and historical background for ephesians in order to understand the radical nature of the message of ephesians or even some of pauls harsh language toward gentiles, it is important to provide some cultural and historical context for the jew gentile relationship in the ancient world. Some assumptions about ephesians itself and the role of this passage in this letter.
The historical context a daily devotion for june 26, 2014 as we looked at the literary context yesterday, today the goal is to look at the historical context of colossians. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in christ. Translate, according to the greek order, i beseech you, therefore seeing that such is your calling of grace, the first. Geographical background the city was situated on the western coast of asia minor at the mouth of the cayster river, one of the four major eastwest valleys that ended in the aegean sea. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf. They were to the thessalonians and chiefly centered on jesus return. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. The others are philippians, colossians, and philemon. While there is not much that is needed to be known here, there are some things to know. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. Throughout history, ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed.
Put on the whole armour of god, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Although caesarea and ephesus have been suggested as possible locations of authorship, the bulk of. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. 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. 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. Notes 1 pauls epistle to ephesus may have been written during his imprisonment at caesarea maritima as described at the end of acts. Introduction from the niv study bible go to ephesians. The book of ephesians is about the letters of paul and how he overcame hardship by being faithful to god and following his commands. The phrase armor of god is derived from ephesians 6. It was during this time that paul sat in rome undergoing his first roman imprisonment ephesians 3.
The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Gods people living in ephesus, that is, those who are trusting in the messiah yeshua. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary the zondervan encyclopedia of the bible 3. To the saints in ephesus, a the faithful in christ jesus. Introduction to colossians bible exposition commentary. Doing a historical background study is helpful in understanding the specific situation and setting of the author and the reader of biblical literature. Begin your study of the book of james with some preliminary work.
What where the circustances paul wrote this epistle from prison, as he did ephesians, philippians, and philemon. Ephesians colossians philippians philemon paul remained in ephesus for nearly three years on his 3rd missionary journey. Arnold argues that the power language that fills the book of ephesians is connected to the local fears of the demonic powers associated. The concept of power in ephesians in light of its historical setting by.
Ephesians 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. The historical and cultural context of the book of. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. Julian colorado christian university ephesians historical background we must understand ephesus if we want to understand the book of ephesians.
Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. 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. 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. Niv this was likely early in his imprisonment he had appealed to caesar in 59 a. Purpose, background and structure posted on may 12, 2014 by matt dabbs 1 comment a few weeks ago, i started a wednesday night series on the book of ephesians. Ephesians background information fbc seguin students. There are 41 commands in ephesians, 1 of which is found in chapters. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. In order to explore the full richness of the book of ephesians, it is necessary to not only examine the literary text of the book, but to examine the historicalcultural context of the book as well. 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.
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. The letter seems to have been written to the church that he founded in ephesus, and it seems that he intended for it to circulate around the churches in western asia minor present day turkey. Historical background on the book of ephesians 1 historical. All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of ephesians in his audio message from the. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Shaul shaaool, by gods will an emissary of the messiah yeshua.
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. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Ignatius epistle to the ephesians, 12, which alludes to the frequent and affectionate mention made by paul of the christian state, privileges, and persons of the ephesians in his epistle. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people.
Mar 05, 2018 the book of james, in general, challenges us to live out our faith. There are, however, some texts that require careful thought to rightly interpret, namely. Ephesians was written by paul a prisoner in rome ephesians 4. The evidence here is negative rather than positive. As a biblical reference, the metaphor may refer to physical armour worn by god in metaphorical battles, or it may refer to vigilant righteousness in general as bestowed by the grace of god romans. Ephesians 2 background information with maps and images. Two theories, besides the ordinary one, have been held on the question, to whom the epistle is addressed. The historical and cultural context of the book of philemon. Its also important to discover the authors intended meaning of the text in order to interpret it. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding. It is interesting to note and observe that while the new testament often refers to the church, it does not speak of going to church. 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.
Author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Turn with me in your bibles to pauls epistle to the church at ephesus, the book of ephesians. 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. Prior to writing his epistle to the ephesians in 6061 ad, paul had an established ministry in ephesus. The historical background of the book of ephesians 805. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the. He also was a slaveholder whose slave onesimus had escaped, had later encountered the apostle paul, and had responded to the gospel message about jesus. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. Epistle to the ephesians study 1 historical context acts 19. The full quote as outlined in the king james bible, is from paul the apostles letter to the ephesians 6. Ephesians was written by paul when imprisoned in rome. And well take time this evening, were going to look at the introduction of this little epistle and the salutation that we find in verses 1 and 2, were only going to look at these two verses because its important as we look at any book that we lay are historical and contextual foundations of the.
Ephesus is mentioned multiple times in the new testament, and the biblical book of ephesians, written around 60 a. One of the seven wonders of the world was in ephesus. So, lets see what the bible tells us about the background of the book of james. This helps explain pauls emphasis on the power of god over all heavenly authorities and on christs triumphant ascension as head over the church and over all things in this age and the next. The author of the book of ephesus was the apostle paul. The first step of studying any book of the bible, especially epistles, is to answer some. Ephesians, written around the same time as pauls epistle to the colossians, remains an.
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. The temple and streets were lined with immoral goddess prostitutes. We can do this by learning the historical situation of the author and his reader. Audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. During his third missionary journey in 5556 ad, he wrote corinthians, galatians and romans which all clearly defined the meaning and purpose of the cross. Yes, we want to know how god sees the world, but beyond that, we want to then live according to that new knowledge. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. His character and perhaps even his teaching seem to have been questioned by some, as a result of his imprisonment philippians 1. Mystery of gentiles as fellow members of the church. The below chart will help underline and point out these similarities. Therefore, prior to carefully exegeting ephesians, it is important to gain an understanding of the epistles authorship, its recipients, its historical background, and its themes and central message.
He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. For example, if you knew that magic was an important practice in the firstcentury graecoroman world, which was used to protect oneself from evil spirits, and you were writing an exegetical paper on ephesians, you would probably want to consult ephesians, power, and magic. Ephesians historical background we must understand ephesus if we want to understand the book of ephesians. Ephesians towers over pauls thirteen known epistles in its exaltation of the glory of god and his grace toward the church. Historical, cultural, and literary background exegetical. His ministry may have appeared to have been hindered. Pauls first imprisonment in rome at which time he wrote ephesians it follows that this is a relatively young church even if there were believers there prior to pauls visit. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. Aug 23, 2012 date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. In the letter to the colossians, paul addresses how our relationship to god through jesus christ affects us in the. So after laying out profound theological truths in the first half of the book, paul. The church in ephesus was also not one large church, but a. Ephesians introduction commentary commentary critical and.
Date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. Historical background ephesians the letter to the ephesians was written probably during pauls imprisonment in rome between 60 and 62 ad. It is interesting to note and observe that while the new testament often refers to the church, it does not speak of going to church in the way we. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. When you start studying any book of the bible, you should start by collecting some background information. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society.
The historical background of the book of ephesians plays an important reality of what the author is intending in the writings. He calls us to not only learn more about god intellectually by to put that knowledge into practice. Ephesians historical background 950 words bartleby. Feb 07, 2015 in order to explore the full richness of the book of ephesians, it is necessary to not only examine the literary text of the book, but to examine the historical cultural context of the book as well. Arnold argues that the power language that fills the book of ephesians is connected to the local fears of the demonic powers associated with pagan idols in ephesus like the cult of artemis. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. Philemon was a citizen of colossae and an upright leader in that church. It was a large temple dedicated to a goddess named diana artemis. The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth.