Once we have a good idea as to why the book was written we can begin to interpret it. However, ephesians is generally believed not to be by paul it is a deuteropauline epistle. Paul wrote this letter to the church at ephesus, which he had led for over two years acts 19. Biblical scholar harold hoehner, surveying 279 commentaries written between 1519 and 2001. Colossians, philemon, ephesians, new international commentary on the new testament by f. People of all nations are united to christ and to one another in the church, through the working of the trinity. Eight of these book are letters to local churches like the one in ephesus. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. 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.
Ephesus was a city of ionia, in asia minor, and once. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. Every chapter of the bible in 140 characters or less. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Ephesians overview matthew henrys complete commentary. But when we glimpse how god is restoring all of creation through christ, and when we discover that our work plays an essential role in that. As we continue in our faith from day to day, month to month, and year to year, the temptation to get comfortable will always exist. Preface to the epistle of paul the apostle to the ephesians.
God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. When we are seeking to understand a book of the bible, our first question must be, why was this particular book written. Williswarningif you are not interested in learning the absolute truth of the word of god, then this book is not for. Ephesians with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Ephesians sets forth what no other book of the new testament describes so completely the nature of the body of christ, which is the true church. Bible commentary produced by tow project only a few verses of ephesians deal precisely with the workplace and even these are directed at thieves, slaves, and masters. Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds for doubting authorship by the apostle paul. Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the book of. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Ephesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul.
He is preaching on the book of ephesians every week. The book of colossians is an important look into the mystery of christ which was hidden for generations and now disclosed to the saints col. The others were philippians, colossians, and philemon. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Andy is a professor of bible and theology at the college of biblical studies in houston. Hes the author of several books, including jesus, continuedwhy the spirit inside you is better than jesus beside you, gospel. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Swindolls living insights new testament commentary. We are to put away sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and foolish talk as it is improper for gods holy people. Dever did preach an overview sermon on the book where he identified the message of ephesians to be grace.
The book of ephesians is a beautiful revelation of our spiritual. Recovering the power that made christianity revolutionary, and stop asking jesus into your heart. Ephesians summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ephesians for bible study or sunday school lessons. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the. One of four prison epistles, along with philippians, colossians, and philemon. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. A historical introduction to the early christian writings. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. Greear is the lead pastor of the summit church in the raleighdurham area of north carolina.
Paul was excited about gods good gifts ephesians 1. Ephesians commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Ephesians 16 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to.
The book of ephesians is in the bibles new testament. David guzik commentary on ephesians 1 talks about the work of the triune god, the father. 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. The first half of the letter focuses on the ephesians calling. So after laying out profound theological truths in the first half of the book, paul. Chapter 1 brief overview of ephesians the douay rheims catholic bible the content of ephesians according to the douay rheims roman catholic bible scriptures contains a short overview of the main subjects, people, events and ancient topics in the following summary of the douay rheims roman catholic bible scriptures. When paul wrote the book of ephesians, paul was in prison. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. How to understand ephesians have you sat down to study a book of the bible and found yourself confused about why an author wrote certain things. Check out this commentary and summary of ephesians.
Check out the ephesians bible study trailer below for an overview. Themes in the book of ephesians christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. Ephesians executable outline study resources blue letter bible. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years.
Summary of the book of ephesians summary of hebrews. This letter is one of pauls four imprisonment letters. In ephesians, paul shows how the good news should create ethnically. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, filling six volumes, provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the bible. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. Although the lords sun rises everyday upon the earth as commanded, the earth is still blanketed and covered in great darknesssatanism. This letter is a glorious reminder of everything christ did for us in conquering sin and death.
Neither mark dever nor john piper has systematically taught through the entire book of ephesians. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. Study the bible online using commentary on ephesians and more. Read ephesians commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. According to tradition, ephesians was written by paul when he was a prisoner in rome, around ad 62. The book of ephesians is almost certainly one of four epistles that paul wrote during his first imprisonment. Therefore put on the full armor of god, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no. Gospel glimpses, wholebible connections, theology, practice, and more.
In lesson one, we look at an overview and outline of the book of ephesians. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said. 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. There is no reference to ephesus, or to any individuals, despite acts recording that paul spent a long time there. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. In the first chapter you have the doctrines of the gospel. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of ephesians in his audio message from the classic. The book of ephesians clearly leaves its mark among other bible books by displaying the powerful impact of the gospel of christ jesus in the individual and corporate life of believers. The church has been brought from death to life in christ.
The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. An indepth versebyverse bible study series of pauls letter to the ephesians. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Purpose, background and structure posted on may 12, 2014 by matt dabbs 1 comment a few weeks ago, i started a wednesday night series on the book of ephesians. Ephesians 5 emphasizes that we are to be imitators of god and live a life of love because christ gave himself up for us as a sacrifice to god. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. I summarised the bible on twitter between aug 2010 and nov 20 one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day.
This letter, in many ways, is the crowning glory of the new testament. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written.
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