Who wrote the book ephesians

All tradition takes the epistle as being pauline until it was first disputed by erasmus. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Niv ephesians was for jews and gentiles who comprise one church. With other books, the writer does not tell us why he wrote the book. Letter of paul to the ephesians, new testament writing once thought to have been composed by paul in prison but more likely the work of one of pauls disciples, who probably wrote the text sometime before ad 90 while consulting pauls letter to. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. If ephesians had been copied from colossians, why would the author have omitted timothys name when he is mentioned in the latter as pauls coauthor. The book of colossians was likely written between a. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, paul ministered to the church at ephesus acts 18. The oldest and best manuscripts do not have the address to the ephesians. It was written, according to the text, by paul the apostle and timothy to the church in colossae, a small phrygian city near laodicea and approximately 100 miles 160 km from ephesus in asia minor. 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. Nowhere in this letter does paul tell us explicitly why he wrote it.

The apostle paul wrote the epistle to the ephesians see ephesians 1. Perhaps it seems like a nobrainer to say the book of ephesians was written to the ephesians. Grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes. The use of ephesians in early christian writings points to the firstcentury churchs belief that it was written by the apostle named in the text. 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. Introduction to the epistle of paul to the ephesians.

If we are going to properly understand the book of ephesians, we need to understand its immediate. In our common pick and choose reading method where we flip open the bible, read a passage, and then jump somewhere else, we often miss the importance of the flow, tone, and message of what an. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. Ephesians in the picture study bible 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. The authorship of ephesians has been one of the most hotly debated issues in the critical scholarship of the letter. Ephesians 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, like many of ironsides writings, are a standard that has stood the test of time. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. The books of the new testament were composed not in order to satisfy.

Ephesians 1 is the first chapter of the epistle to the ephesians in the new testament of the christian bible. John in this verse tells us why he wrote his gospel. This is the most oftquoted passage from the book of ephesians and one of the most quoted from the whole bibleso it. It is also seems equally obvious that in gods providence this epistle was incorporated in the canon of scripture for the whole body of christ. It was intended to be circulated, and as it was a few scribes deleted the words in ephesus as some also did with romans. As we begin our study of the book of ephesians, i would like to draw attention to some of its characteristics, and then to attempt to identify its unique identity and contribution to the revelation of the scriptures. While early lists of new testament books, including marcions canon and the muratorian fragment. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. But the vast majority of prominent evangelical scholars who have written commentaries, monographs, and journal articles on ephesians in recent years are convinced of pauline. No particular problem is raised in the book unlike many of pauls other letters. 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 of tychicus, accompanied by onesimus ephesians 6.

The apostle paul wrote the letter to the ephesians while in prison. Nov 18, 2015 why did paul write the book of ephesians. Paul did not forget the ephesians, and, from rome, he wrote them this letter. Letter of paul to the ephesians, new testament writing once thought to have been. Prior to writing his epistle to the ephesians in 6061 ad, paul had an established. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of writing in all history and english poet samuel taylor coleridge called it the divinest composition of man. It is far easier to account for the verbal similarities with colossians by assuming that paul wrote ephesians shortly after completing colossians. When paul returned to jerusalem after his third missionary journey, some of the jews made false charges against him. Paul wrote ephesians while under house arrest as a prisoner in rome. May 15, 2017 the new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ.

In any case, we can be sure that paul was clarifying the teaching of christ, the church, salvation and sanctification for these saints. Ephesians 1 commentary ironsides notes on selected books. The other prison epistles are the books of philippians, colossians, and philemon. The letter to the ephesian church is regarded as one of the masterworks of the nt, but it is also one of those books that the critics like to say wasnt authored by paul. Paul was excited about gods good gifts ephesians 1. The books of ephesians, philippians, colossians, and philemon are often called the prison epistles. The book of ephesians in the bible was written in rome. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Arnold defends the traditional evangelical view that paul wrote the book of ephesians. He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no longer our own but all things are gods. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. Ephesians 1 full chapter greeting paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to the saints who are in ephesus, and are faithful in christ jesus.

Stay encouraged and united with christ with these popular bible verses from the tenth book of the new testament, ephesians. Paul had called these christians to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called 4. The author there is little doubt that the apostle paul wrote the book of ephesians and likely. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. Outline of the book of ephesians opening salutation ephesians 1.

This deep, spiritual letter discusses our position in christ, the body of christ, salvation by grace through faith, our christian inheritance, unity of the church, prayer, ministry, ethical right living, and instructions to fathers, husbands, wives, children, masters, employees, and employers. Compiled and edited by biblestudytools staff on 242015. 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. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Why we still believe paul was the author of ephesians. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the bible. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. The letter was written to the ephesians and addressed to them even though paul wrote it in a form which would make it suitable for other churches. There is little doubt that the apostle paul wrote the book of ephesians and likely around ad 62.

Answering bible contradictions, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. Paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god, to the saints which are at ephesus, and to the faithful in christ jesus. Paul wrote this letter we know as the book of ephesians to settle or establish the ephesians in the truth, and to acquaint them with the mystery of the gospel. It demands far less credulity to imagine paul adopting an unusually prayerful mode to focus on the cosmic significance of christs church and of christ himself. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of gods eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate. They were written by the apostle paul during his first imprisonment in rome. Ephesians is primarily written to gentile nonjewish followers of.

Some scholars believe ephesians was a circular letter distributed to several early christian churches, which may explain why the reference to ephesus is missing from copies of some manuscripts. The epistle of paul to the colossians, or simply colossians, is the twelfth book of the new testament. 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 minor and was simply. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat the latter part as secondary or of less value see the right diagram where a wall separates the two sections. The first verse in the letter identifies paul as its author. Let us consider, then, the characteristics of the book of ephesians. 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 disciple to sum up pauls teaching and to apply it to a new situation fifteen to twentyfive years after. Paul probably wrote his letter to the ephesians while under house arrest in rome.

Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Paul wrote this letter to the church at ephesus, which he had led for over two years acts 19. The second half is a miniethics course, addressing every area of christian life. Williamson i chose not to provide detailed discussion of who wrote ephesians in the com mentary because it is not crucial for understanding the meaning of ephesians for christian faith. The book known as the epistle to the ephesians is actually not a letter at all, but an encyclical to all christians. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. When studying the book of philippians, you should pay attention to the role of christ in the life of every believer. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Pauls letter to the ephesians an overview david anderson. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. The new testament book known as the epistle to the ephesians is signed as written by paul, an apostle of jesus christ. 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. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the.

Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians. Some suggest that pauls time in imprisonment enabled him to develop an exalted christology and a high appraisal of the privileges of believers in christ 11. In this ephesians bible study we learn that paul tells of the great privilege of the ephesians. Aug 21, 2014 the book of ephesians in the bible was written in rome. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. Is the ephesian church of the revelation the same group as. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. What timeless truths can we glean from this special book. 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. Overview of the book of ephesians third millennium ministries. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. While colossians and ephesians are remarkable similar, and many point to the copied information as evidence for later authorship, what is not copied is of equal importance.

Letter of paul to the ephesians work by saint paul britannica. When paul wrote the book of ephesians, paul was in prison. Paul was undoubtedly concerned about the ephesians and he tried to give them encouragement and hope. Traditionally, it is believed to have been written by apostle paul while he was in prison in rome around ad 62, but more recently, it has been suggested that it was written between ad 80 and 100 by another writer using pauls name and style. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Some scholars think that this was really a circular letter, addressed to all the churcheson the grounds that there are no personal references in it, nor does it have the opening greeting and the. The author of the book of ephesus was the apostle paul. 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. We have to read the book itself and then deduce the purpose of the writer in writing it. 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. The first half of the book of colossians is a theological treatise that includes one of the most profound presentations of christology anywhere in the new testament.