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Introduction to the Epistle to the Ephesians

(Caleb Huang)

I. Writer

The Apostle Paul (Eph. 1:1, 3:1, 4:1) Also please refer to the commentary on this website entitled: “Introduction to the Epistle to the Galatians.”

II. The Recipients

To the saints who are in Ephesus (1:1), but the best ancient manuscripts does not have the phrase “who are in Ephesus.” Yet taking into account the fact that the church in Ephesus was personally established by the apostle Paul, he dwelt there for as long as 3 years, he knew well many of the saints in Ephesus, but the epistle actually mentioned only a few individuals by name – unlike how he wrote to most of his epistles to the other churches where he mentioned specific names in sending his regards to the saints. Due to these facts, many Bible scholars believe that this epistle might have been an official letter written to all the churches in Asia Minor. It is also possible that this is that epistle mentioned to the church in Colosse where he referred to in Colossians 4:16 “… that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea,” but the phrase “who are in Ephesus” was added to the manuscript after this epistle was read by the church in Ephesus.

The church in Ephesus is a church in the province of Asia Minor, located in the East Mediterranean sea, at the East bank of the Aegean sea. It is used as a station city by the Roman Empire. It is also situated by the seacoast where the commodity ships come in and are distributed from Ephesus to other localities; therefore, it is a strategic place for commerce as well for the Asia Minor. There in Ephesus is the Temple of Diana, which is one of the seven greatest wonders of the world. The entire temple is made of marble; its 127 columns reaches as high as 56 feet and are made of solid marble. Ephesus is known as the city designated to defend the temple of Diana. Idolatry and sorcery/witchcraft were very prevalent there. The sales of the goddess’ silver shrines were very prosperous. Tens of thousands of people who worship the goddess Diana must have often visited Ephesus. There were many people who depended their livelihood on this temple.

At the apostle Paul’s second missionary journey at the Spring of approximately 54 A.D.; he brought Aquila and Priscilla from Corinth to Ephesus to preach the gospel with him. At that time, the results were very positive and productive; thus, they wanted to retain Paul, Aquila and Priscilla. Yet, due to the fact that the apostle Paul has already planned his itinerary, he left behind Aquila and Priscilla there at Ephesus for their benefits, but he promised that he would return there if the Lord is willing (Acts 18:19-21). Subsequently, Apollos also went and stayed there for a short period of time (Acts 18:24-27). About the Summer of the same year, Paul returned to Ephesus. When Paul commenced to speak, 12 were saved, baptized immediately, and were filled with the Holy Spirit (Act 19:7). Paul remained there for about three months. He went into the synagogues to reason and persuade the Jews concerning the things concerning the kingdom of God, but he encountered much opposition from the Jews. Therefore, he moved to the school of Tyrannus to continue to preach the gospel for two more years, and the gospel was spread throughout all of Asia (Act 19:8-12). The Lord’s Name was greatly uplifted as the gospel continues to prosper prolifically. Many who had believed came confessing their sins and they burnt their books of magic/sorcery, which were valued at 50,000 pieces of silver, in the sight of all (Act 19:17-20). When there arose a great commotion about “the Way” (Acts 19:23) and the goddess of Diana falling into disrepute, Paul departed from the city (Acts 20:1).

Later in Miletus, he sent and called for the elders of Ephesus to give them a word of exhortation. And from Paul’s prophetic words, they knew that wolf and heresy shall emerge (Acts 20:17-35). It was likely that after Paul’s house arrest, he returned back to Ephesus; he left behind Timothy to complete the needed tasks, and exhorted some not to teach heresy (1 Tim 1:3). According to the biography of the apostle John, he also went to Ephesus in the latter day. The Lord Jesus, through a vision, also asked John to write an epistle to the messenger of the church in Ephesus… rebuking them for their forsaking their First Love, Who is the Lord Jesus. The severity of their condition is such that if they refuse to repent, they were in danger of having their lampstand removed (Rev. 2:1-7). Eventually the city of Ephesus became forsaken place of desolation, because they failed to heed the warning Words of love from the Lord; thus the prophetic words of their lampstand being removed by God was brought to fulfillment.

III. The Time and Location this Epistle was Written in

This epistle was written approximately 61-63 A.D. while the apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome (Eph. 3:1, 4:1, 6:20). This epistle along with the epistle to the Philippians, Colossians, and the epistle to Philemon are commonly known as the “prison-epistles.” This epistle was delivered by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21, Col. 4:7).

IV. The Background

At the time when this epistle was penned, the churches throughout Asia Minor were steadily increasing in the number of Gentile believers (i.e. non-Jewish believers). The apostle Paul may have taught them to come out from the heathenistic world to be the God’s elect people of God among the Jews. However, the gospel is now preached to the foreigners/Gentiles, where then does God’s plan lies? Therefore, the apostle Paul’s heart had a heavy burden to disseminate and unveil the vision he had received from God concerning the mystery of the Church through this epistle. Thus, enabling them to know God’s plan and God’s goal concerning the Church – that is to clearly understand the origin of the Church, her nature, her testimony and so on.

V. Special Points of This Epistle

1) It lacks Paul’s usual greetings to particular individuals.

2) It was definitely God’s speaking from the beginning: Among all of Paul’s epistles, this is one is the least that began with speaking about man and one that has the least human relations.

3) It helps us to see the present events and situations from the standpoint of eternity. All that is taking place today is according to what God has foreordained in eternity past is for the sake of accomplishing what He has planned for the eternity future.

4) It is a “heavenly epistle”: Chapter 1 speaks of our blessings in the heavenlies; Chapter 2 speaks of our sitting together with Christ in the heavenlies; Chapter 3 speaks of the “family in the heaven and on earth is named” (Eph 3:14); Chapter 4 speaks of the Lord Jesus having risen far above all the heavens and gave gifts to man; Chapter 5 speaks of how the heavenly people ought to walk on this earth; Finally, chapter 6 speaks of our battle with the spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places.

5) The book of Ephesians involves a wide range of categories: its content involves both the Jews and the Gentiles; it reaches to the heavens and covers the entire earth; it also encompasses the things of the past, present, and future.

6) The book of Ephesians seems to emphasize the message of being reconciled or being of one accord:

a) Those who once were far off from God has become near through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13)

b) Those who once were separated by a middle wall of partition, the enmity, has been reconciled and made into a one New Man through the Lord Jesus tearing down the middle wall of partition through His cross; thus making peace (Eph. 2:14-16)

c) The disharmony between some saints were resolved by the fruits of the Spirit and the perfecting Grace of Christ, causing them to be brought into one accord. (Eph. 4:1-16)

d) The believers’ offenses against God and where we do not have peace with God are resolved by our obedience to the Holy Spirit and through our being filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18); thus reconciling us to God (Eph. 5:22-6:4)

e) Where there is disharmony between believer’s servants or masters, it must be resolved by both parties doing their job as to the Lord, knowing that there is no partiality with our Master in heaven. Thus, the master and the slave or the boss and the subordinates are at peace with one another (Eph. 6:5-9).

f) In the past, we who were dead in sins and offenses walked according to the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1-3); therefore, we had no peace within ourselves (cp. Rom. 7:17-25), but God has given us the full armor of God to put on that we may combat against the principalities and powers, the spiritual wickedness in the air. Thus, we may find peace in our spirit, soul, and body (Eph. 6:10-24)

VI. The Primary Meaning/Significance

The theme of the book is on the “Church” (Eph. 1:22, 3:21, 5:32). This book reveals that God’s heart’s desire on this earth throughout all generations is to build the “Body of Christ,” which is the “glorious Church.” This book we can see the Church in the glorious plan of God and the way for the Church to be testimony of Christ. This book tells us that the Church manifests the multifarious wisdom of God and a vessel that’s filled with His Life and power. The Church is the “fullness of the One Who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23, translated as close to the original language as possible). And the fullness of the Christ expressed by the Church is not something that can be apprehended/realized by any single believer. Rather it is as the believers are build together into one collectively, we shall become the dwelling place of God in spirit (Eph. 2:22). It is through the Church that the wisdom of God is manifested to the principalities and powers in the air (Eph. 3:10). It is through all the saints corporately that we can apprehend the vast dimensions of the love of God (Eph. 3:18-19). It is through all the members of the Body of Christ being properly fitted and knit together that the Church will grow into the full measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). It is through the Church putting on the full armor of God that we may be able to stand in the evil days and against the wiles of the enemy (Eph. 6:11). This book emphasizes the Church collectively, and not us individually, for us to be a corporate vessel to adequately express the fullness of Christ.

In short, the book of Ephesians gives us the highest revelations concerning the Church. We can see this revelation from the sequence of the record. The initial process that gave birth to the Church is not only from a group of people redeemed out of their sins, but also out from the world. Actually, the book of Ephesians is a complete history of the Church, including her position in God’s perfect will and God’s gracious work in redeeming her, until finally the Church attained to the original plan and purposes of God.

VII. It’s Position in the Bible

Some have called the book of Ephesians as “The empress of all the epistles.” Many people agree that its position is like the peak of the New Testament in its thought and content. John Knox said in his sickbed on the days before he passed away often requested to have a book read to him, and that book is The Collection of Expositions on the Book of Ephesians by John Calvin. Coleridge also said that the book of Ephesians is “the most sacred works/writings among man.”

VIII. It’s Relations with Other Books in the Bible

This book matches, pairs up, or is a sister book to the book of Colossians. Since this book talks about the Church as the Body of Christ, then the book of Colossians speaks of Christ as the Head of the Church. Tychicus was the sender of both of these books. In the book of Colossians, Paul mentioned that Tychicus will tell you all the news about me (Col. 4:7); then in the book of Ephesians, he mentioned Tychicus will tell them about his affairs and how he is doing (Eph. 6:21). In addition, there are numerous passages throughout the content of both books that are very similar in wordings. Therefore, Coleridge said that the book of Colossians can be called the “overflow of the book of Ephesians” or the book of Ephesus can be called the enlargement or expansion of the book of Colossians.

IX. Key Verses

* The Church, “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23)

* “In Whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:22)

* “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6)

* “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph 4:1)

* “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13)

* “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:17-18)

* “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:32)

* “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11)

X. Key Words

* The “Church” (Eph. 1:22-23, 3:10,21, 5:23-25, 27, 29, 32 …)

* “In Christ” or “In Christ Jesus” or “in the Beloved (Son)” or “in Him” or “in the Lord” (Eph. 1:1, 3, 4, 6, 10-12, 2:6, 7, 10, 13, 3:6, 11, 12, 21, 4:17, 5:8, 6:1, 10 …)

* “In one accord” or “joined together in one” or “made into one Body” (Eph. 1:10, 2:14, 16, 3:6, 4:3, 13, 5:31)

* “In heaven” or “in the heavenlies” (Eph. 1:1, 3, 10, 20, 2:6, 3:10, 15, 4:10, 6:9)

* “Grace” (Eph. 1:1, 2, 6, 7, 2:5, 7, 8, 3:2, 7, 8, 4:7, 29, 6:24)

* “Riches” or “abundantly” (Eph. 1:7, 18, 2:7, 3:8, 16, 20)

* “Mystery” (Eph. 1:9, 3:3, 4, 9, 5;32, 6:19)

* Moreover the following words are used many time: “saints” 7 times; “body” 9 times; “conduct” 7 times; “filled” 6 times; “His glory” 7 times.