The book of ephesians is a masterpiece of revelation that bridges the principles of grace and obedience into one solid irremovable form. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. As ive preached through ephesians over the past two years, ive benefited from hoehner in many ways, and have read almost all of the book. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. I would easily recommend him as one of the top three commentators on the book, though id slightly prefer peter obrien, who writes with more depth with a keen eye for biblical theology. The book of ephesians free online bible study lessons. These are all of the chapters of the book of ephesians. Book of ephesians ephesians chapter 1 ephesians chapter 2 ephesians chapter 3 ephesians chapter 4 ephesians chapter 5 ephesians chapter 6.
People of all nations are united to christ and to one another in the church, through the working of the trinity. Its especially relevant to all who have been gentiles in the past most o f us i would think, and were converted to christianity. Upon completion of the study, it is recommended that you discuss your answers and insights with other bible students who also completed the workbook. 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. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. The early church fathers irenaeus, clement of alexandria, and tertullian all understood the letter to be to the ephesians 8. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in christ. To the ephesians appears on all manuscripts of this epistle.
Even so, the book of ephesians has a lot of application that applies to all christians. Summarize what the bible says about ephesus the city or the church outside the book of ephesians. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true. Free sermon book of ephesians martyn lloydjones trust. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. But, when we probe a little deeper we see that there are. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the.
Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. Ephesians colossians philippians philemon paul remained in ephesus for nearly three years on his 3rd missionary journey. The greek verb peripateo, rendered walk in the english bible, is found 96 times in the new testament. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. Paul uses several word pictures to describe the church.
From ephesus the gospel spread abroad almost throughout all asia. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Because the name ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, some scholars believe the letter was an encyclical, intended to be circulated and read among all the churches in asia. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of ephesus in asia minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is christ, the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making gods plan of salvation known throughout the universe eph 3. On the surface, then, the issue seems cut and dried. Ephesians 4 new king james version nkjv walk in unity. All of the letters paul wrote to churches include their destinations. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. 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. Paul instructs the church that christianity is for all men. 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.
Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same time he wrote colossians and philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand. If the words of demetrius are to be believed, she was worshipped by all asia and the world acts 19. As a result, pauls travel companions, gaius and aristarchus of macedonia, were dragged into the theater. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. Determining the precise destination for the ephesian letter would seem like a straightforward matter. 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. Each paragraph calls us to renewed thinking that leads to faithful godly lives. The word is composed of two roots, peri around, and pateo walk.
Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4. Ephesians 1, new international version niv the bible app. Martyn lloydjones proclaims the words of paul in ephesians 2. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of ephesians in the bible king james version. This letter, in many ways, is the crowning glory of the new testament.
In jesus christ we see a new harmony formed, not along the lines of race, family, or country, but in the basis of membership in the family of god. 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. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. You are there because of being persecuted for your zealous activity as a christian missionary.
Ephesians 16 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. The book of ephesians is a survival manualit equips believers to thrive in a world that hates the message of jesus christ. He wrote that all christians are adopted as sons through jesus christ 1. Summary of the book of ephesians summary of hebrews. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. The importance and style of prayer needed for the welfare of the church. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. The book of ephesians is a beautiful revelation of our spiritual blessings in christ. The many features include literary context, outline of each section, a paragraph stating the main idea, translation and block diagram, literary structure, exegetical outline, all followed by explanatory commentary and then a theology in application section.
To the saints in ephesus, a the faithful in christ jesus. After you have read the whole epistle, state the theme of the book. The book of ephesians chapter four workbook eeonline biblestudy. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. 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. 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. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title. 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. Arnold may be the most gifted living evangelical scholar on ephesians. Ephesians bible book with full chapters king james version. 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.
The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. 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. Bible book number 49ephesians watchtower online library. 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. Christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. Furthermore, a study in ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfill the purpose and calling god has given.
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