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CHAPTER 49 – Ephesians: Approx. 63 A.D.

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians is the forty-ninth book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek is Pros Ephesious meaning “To the Ephesians.” The title in the English Bible is “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians.”

Authorship

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. It was probably written not later than 63 A.D.

Summary

The book of Ephesians is actually a letter (epistle) that was written by the apostle Paul to the Christian church in the city in of Ephesus in ancient Asia Minor, in what is modern-day Turkey. It was probably written from Rome in Italy, during his first imprisonment there in the approximate period, 61 A.D. to 63 A.D.

Ephesians opens with Paul declaring that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. Paul then sends greetings and he praises God for His plan of salvation for humanity. Next, he states that humanity has been redeemed (bought back from Satan) and a provision made for the forgiveness of sins through the shed blood of Christ. For God’s purpose in the plan of salvation is to gather all things, both in heaven and in the earth, together in Christ.

Paul then states that, according to the God’s will and for which God is to be praised, God has sealed the true believers in Christ with the Holy Spirit. That is, the true believers have received the Holy Spirit as a Mighty Helper in their efforts to overcome sin. After this, Paul prays that the church will receive wisdom and a knowledge of God according to the greatness of God’s power in those who believe in Christ.

Next, Paul declares that the true Christian was, figuratively, dead in their sins because they lived according to Satan’s ways, but now God has raised them to life with Christ. This God did, that in the ages to come He might demonstrate His kindness to humanity. For it is by God’s grace alone (God’s unmerited favour), and not by the works of the law, that people are saved from eternal death (annihilation). In so doing, God has united Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) as one body where the individuals are filled with (have received) the Holy Spirit.

Paul next declares that God has now revealed the mystery of the plan of salvation to the apostles and prophets and to him, Paul, whom God has made a minister of the gospel. He then prays that the church and all saints would come to comprehend the fullness of Christ’s love.

He next prays that the church would be united through the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to each Christian, for the purpose of Christian ministry through which they come to the perfection of Christ’s character of love. Thus, the Christian would not then be deceived by every kind of teachings from those who cunningly state falsehoods. Paul then encourages the church to put off the “old man” with its uncleanness and instead put on the “new man” with its true holiness. Thus, he implores the church to put away lying, unrighteous anger, theft, bitterness, and all malice, and instead speak the truth, do honest work for a living, be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. In other words, they are to live according to Christ’s ways of love and so avoid joining others in their sins.

Paul then states that wives are to submit themselves to, and respect their husbands, as they would Christ, and that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Children are to obey and honour their parents as they would Christ, and the fathers are not to provoke their children to anger but train their children according to the ways of Christ. Servants are to be obedient to their masters serving them with goodwill as they would serve Christ, and their masters are to treat their servants as Christ would.

Next, Paul cautions the church to put on the whole armour of God so that they may be able to withstand the wicked schemes of the devil, who is Satan, for their source of moral strength is Christ. The armour, Paul says, is made up of righteousness, the gospel, faith, the word of God, the Bible, and prayer.

Paul ends his letter by asking the church to pray that he will boldly preach the mystery of the gospel for which he is an ambassador in prison. He then states that Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister, whom he is sending to the church to comfort them, would inform them of Paul’s affairs and how he, Paul, is doing. Lastly, Paul pronounces a blessing upon the church.

Themes

• Praise to God.
• Prayer.
• Unity of all Christians through the Holy Spirit.
• Salvation of humanity through Christ.
• Spiritual encouragement to be holy by the founder of a church.
• How to stand against the wicked schemes of Satan.
• How to have holy relationships in society.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who does all things according to His own will.
• God’s kindness toward humanity in providing salvation.
• God who blesses humanity with all spiritual blessings.
• God who unites all Christians through the Holy Spirit.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

The book of Ephesians often uses the phrase “in Christ.” For example, “For we are his [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

The words “in Christ” are a reference to the words of Christ when He was on earth: “I am the true vine…I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing [good].” John 15:1-5. This refers to the “give-and-take” relationship between the true Christian and Christ. For just as a branch is grafted into (is in) and receives nourishment from the parent stock of the vine, Christ gives His gift of love to those who have a living connection with Him, and the Christian is to open their heart to take this gift.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Praise God for the gift of salvation.
• Ensure that you cause no division in the church.
• Follow God’s counsel on how to resist Satan’s wicked schemes.
• Follow God’s counsel on how to have holy relationships.
• Pray for all the ministers (pastors) of the Christian church.

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