An Overview of Ephesians

Ephesians is one of my favorite books in Scripture … and I’ve been preaching through it for years.

In this episode, we step back and gain a broad 10,000 foot view of Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, the reason he wrote it, the context surrounding it, and important things to take notice of.

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Paul’s Prison Epistles

• Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon

Background

• Paul’s 2nd missionary journey (49-52 AD), Paul travels through Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem
• Acts 18:18–22 – And Paul, having remained many days longer [in Corinth], took leave of the brothers and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. … And they arrived at Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch.
• Acts 18:24–26 – Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, arrived at Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
  • Acts 18:28 – … [he went to Achaia and] he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
• As Paul heads out on his 3rd missionary journey (53-58 AD), he leaves the church in Antioch, travels through Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and stays in Ephesus for nearly 3 years
• Obviously Paul saw the tremendous advantage of spreading the Gospel by staying in one strategic location

Why Ephesus?

• Ephesus is on the eastern coast of modern day Turkey
• Population 250,000 – one of the largest populations in the Roman world
• Was the major deep-water port in Asia Minor and thus a major city of commerce and trade in the Roman World – making it a wealthy and influential city
• The people were sophisticated and educated (very different than the mainly dock workers and cult prostitutes from the temple of Aphrodite at Corinth), they had a great library (third largest in the ancient world after Alexandria Egypt and Pergamum – where paper was invented), and a theatre that sat 25,000 people
• A city made of marble
• One of the 7 wonders of the world (Temple of Artemis/Diana – Acts 19 … Paul’s skirmish with the idol makers)
• Large Jewish population in the city
• Concept: if Paul stayed in Ephesus, he wouldn’t have to go around, people would come to him and he could evangelize Asia Minor by pouring into one place because it was a hub of commerce, trade, and thus people traveling in and through the city
  • (for example church of Colosse … on one of the major Roman Roads that flowed out of Ephesus – church met in the living room of a Christian named Philemon whom Paul later writes a letter to). Paul had never been to Colosse though he knows a lot of people there because Christians from Colosse heard Paul in Ephesus, went back to Colosse and started the church there
• Acts 19:8–10 – And after he entered the synagogue, he continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and were not believing, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he left them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
  • New strategy – by the end of the almost 3 years Paul said that everyone in Asia Minor had heard the Gospel (Acts 18:10).
• Ephesus was also a hub of sorcery and magic (in Acts 19 people came together and burn their magic books, equated to approximately 10 million dollars) … Paul alludes to this in Ephesians as he talks about the principalities, powers, mights, and dominions of this world – are under the feet of Jesus. Jesus sits in the heavenly realms and has all power, control, and dominion (everything comes beneath his feet — see Ephesians 1:19–22)
• At the end of Acts 19 a riot takes place in Ephesus with the temple makers of Diana. Demetrius the silversmith said of Paul,
  • Acts 19:26 – “And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable crowd, saying that things made with hands are not gods.”
  • Acts 20:1 – Now after the uproar had ceased, Paul having summoned and exhorted the disciples, said farewell and left to go to Macedonia.
  • As he concludes his 3rd missionary journey – visiting places like Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth (and he writes 1 + 2 Corinthians, and Romans) – he sails past Ephesus, staying only long enough to talk to the elders at Ephesus.
  • Acts 20:16 – For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
  • Paul tells the elders:
    • Acts 20:18–38 – And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me. But I do not make my life of any account nor dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be watchful, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to those who were with me. In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and falling on Paul’s neck, they were kissing him, being in agony especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship.
    • Paul knows imprisonment and afflictions are coming (which they do)
• Paul is arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21), comes under Roman protection, and is taken to Caesarea to have his case examined by the governor – who has to work with the religious leaders. The case is put off and delayed, and after 2 governors, Paul appeals legally as a Roman citizen to Caesar. So the Romans put him on a ship and sends him off to Rome.
• After he gets to Rome, via a crazy adventure, he is there for 2 years (60–62 AD) in a rented house (in essence house arrest though he is free to come and go as he pleases) and is able to proclaim Christ to everyone there. While he is there he writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and his pastoral letters: 1-2 Timothy and Titus.
• Acts 28:30–31 – And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, unhindered.

Epistle

• A formal correspondence that is meant to be read out loud to an audience.

Overview

• Author: Apostle Paul
• Location: Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote it (similar to books like Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
• Date: written likely around 60–62 AD
• Audience: Many scholars presume that Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians to a group of churches in Asia Minor. Paul presumably addressed the letter to the Ephesians because it was the biggest city, and therefore biggest church, in the region—but because of his lack of personal correspondence in Ephesians, it is presumed he may have been writing to a larger group of churches. In most of Paul’s letters he gives a lot of personal correspondence like “Greet so and so” or “say hi to this person” — but he doesn’t do that in Ephesians (which seems odd since he lived for three years in the city). Regardless of whether he was writing to a larger group of churches in the region or not, understanding the city of Ephesus which the letter was addressed to will give you greater insight into the letter itself.
• NOT a correction letter!
• Summary Passage of the Book
  • Ephesians 4:1–2 – Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Key Themes

• 1. Identity in Christ
  • Paul wants you to know who you are as a Christian and how to live as a Christian
• 2. Position in Christ
  • Paul talks over and over about your position (30x in chapters 1–3) that your position is in Christ (In Him, In Whom, In Christ)
  • en (in): stationary, resting
• 3. Heavenly Realms/Places
  • epouranios (1:3, 1:20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12)

Outline

• 6 Chapters
  • 1-3: Sitting Position (Christ is the position)
  • 4-6: Walking Response (the daily lived out lifestyle of being in Christ)
    
  • 1-3 theological section
  • 4-6 practical section
    
• Ephesians: the daily flow of our lives are to be lived from the position of being in Christ

NRJohnson Detailed Outline of Ephesians

• Our Calling: The Seated Position (1–3)
  • Prologue Greeting
  • Position of Blessings (1:3–14)
    • The Blessing’s Provision (1:3)
    • The Blessings of the Father (1:4–6)
    • The Blessings of the Son (1:7–12)
    • The Blessings of the Spirit (1:13–14)
  • Prayer for Enlightenment (1:15–19)
  • Power of God & the Resulting Position (1:20–2:22)
    • Of Christ (1:20–23)
    • Of Individuals (2:1–10)
    • Of the Church (2:11–22)
  • Parenthetical Explanation of the Mystery (3:1–13)
  • Prayer for Enablement (3:14–21)
• Our Conduct: The Walking Response (4–6)
  • Walk Worthy of the Calling (4:1–3)
  • Walk in Unity (4:4–16)
  • Walk in Holiness (4:17–32)
  • Walk in Love (5:1–7)
  • Walk in Light (5:8–14)
  • Walk in Wisdom (5:15–17)
  • Walk in the Spirit (5:18–21)
  • Walk in Relationship Harmony/Submission – The Submission Position
    • Wives & Husbands (5:22–33)
    • Children & Parents (6:1–4)
    • Slaves & Masters (6:5–9)
  • Walk in Victory (6:10–20)
    • Schemes of the Enemy (The Reason for the Armor) (6:11–13)
    • Stand Strong in the Armor (6:14–18)
    • Supplication for Paul (6:19–20)
  • Well Wishes farewell

Practical Application

• 1. God has placed you somewhere strategic for the sake of the Gospel and His purposes
  • where is your Ephesus?
• 2. Everything we need is found in Christ Jesus
  • Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ …
  • Jesus is not the add-on to the Christian life, He is the Christian life
• 3. We must know our position IN Christ … and live from our immovable position IN Him
  • Ephesians 4:1 – Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called …
• 4. Don’t let your love grow dim
  • Population: 220,000 – 250,000
  • At one point the church in Ephesus was estimated at 100,000+ people … in approximately 6,000 house churches
  • Paul warned the elders of Ephesus to “be on guard” (Acts 20:28) and “be watchful” (20:31) because “savage wolves will come in among you … to draw away the disciples after them” (20:29–30).
  • Yet we find Jesus telling the church in Ephesus within a couple decades:
    • Revelation 2:2–4 – “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot bear with those who are evil, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, you also have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
  • Later Ignatius (elder at Ephesus) wrote a 29 page letter reminding them of Paul and Jesus’ words

FOOTNOTES

Photo Credit: Jessica Toth

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