The Epistle to the Ephesians

1. The Epistle to the Ephesians Background and Introduction • Was Paul really the author? • Questioned in the 19th century • The critics built a case against Pauline authorship from • linguistic and stylistic features • not typically Paul’s style • smooth and deep-flowing, not vigorous and challenging • literary comparisons chiefly with the epistle to the Colossians • historical evidence • doctrinal peculiarities • 38 words not found elsewhere in the N.T. and 44 words not used by Paul elsewhere • Most N.T. scholars, however, feel confident that Paul wrote Ephesians along with Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians - the other “Prison Epistles” while imprisoned in Rome in 60-62 A.D. – see Acts 28:16-31 • Paul knew the church at Ephesus well • Doctrinal similarity to Colossians apparent. 1 Jan 4, 2009 Bob Eckel

2. The Epistle to the Ephesians Background and Introduction • He had ministered in Asia Minor, the Roman province of which Ephesus was the capitol, with Ephesus as his headquarters for ~3 years, 53-56 A.D. - Acts 19:1—20:1 • It appears that Paul sent the epistle to the church at Ephesus so that it would be circulated elsewhere from there • Tychicus evidently delivered this epistle to the Ephesian church Eph. 6:21-22. • Was this epistle really directed to the Ephesians? • Some claim that ‘who are at Ephesus’ was not included in some of the ‘best manuscripts’. • Vaticanus, A.D. 350 • Sinaiticus A.D. 375 • Chester Beatty Papyrus A.D. 200 • Impersonal nature of the epistle • Eph 1:15, 3:2, 4:21 • Col 4:16 mentions an epistle to be also read by the Laodiceans • Thus, this epistle could have been directed ‘to the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus’ anywhere. Huh? 2 Jan 4, 2009 Bob Eckel

3. The Epistle to the Ephesians Background and Introduction • What is the message of the epistle to the Ephesians? • The Church – a mystery until now • Eph 1:9, 10 – “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in Him:” • Eph 2:14,15 – uniting Jew and Gentile • Eph 3:3-5, 9,10 – “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; ….. And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from 3 Jan 4, 2009 Bob Eckel

4. The Epistle to the Ephesians Background and Introduction • the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” • Eph 5:32 – “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” • Unity reflected by • The Temple – Eph 2:19-22 • The Body – Eph 4:11-16 • The Bride – Eph 5: 21-33 • Love • ‘More than one-sixth of Paul's references to love in his 13 epistles occur in Ephesians. • This also shows that he wanted to promote Christian unity in the church.’ - Notes on Ephesians, 2004 Edition, Dr. Thomas L. Constable 4 Jan 4, 2009 Bob Eckel

5. The Epistle to the Ephesians Background and Introduction • The Approach • Eph 1-3: Jan 11 to April 26 • Eph 4-6: May 3 – Sept 20 • Summary: Sept 27 • The Team: • Jeremy Doan • Brad Maston • Randy Peterman • Bob Eckel 5 Jan 4, 2009 Bob Eckel