Background study on the book of ephesians chapter 1

In the first chapter you have the doctrines of the gospel. We also want to help you use the text in real life. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same time. The introduction to the whole epistle, which is much the same as in others v. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. He blesses god for calling the gentiles to the adoption of children by jesus christ, by whose sacrificial death both they and the jews find redemption, ephesians 1. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. Oct 01, 2017 a minilesson on how to study the bible. 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. Ephesians small group series lesson 1 introduction to. Introduction from the niv study bible go to ephesians. Gods one eternal purpose is to unite one body of believers through christ, the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who filleth all in all ephesians 1. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible.

These are questions on the biblical text of ephesians. Another theme which does justice to the content of the epistle and one that i suggest for this study is that offered by warren wiersbe. This great apostle was wont to abound in prayers and in thanksgivings to almighty god, which he generally so disposes and orders that at the same time they carry with them and convey the great and. Ephesians 1 background information with maps and images. Ephesus was a big, prosperous harbor city in asia minor. Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. 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 sent first to believers in ephesus. Paul names himself as the author of the epistle to the ephesians ephesians 1. It was written to encourage believers to walk as fruitful followers of christ and to serve in unity and. 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.

All three letters were sent with tychicus and onesimus. Pauls first imprisonment in rome at which time he wrote ephesians it follows that this is a relatively young church even if there were believers there prior to pauls visit. In acts 19 we read about pauls trip to ephesus and how the city was full. We will not be extensive here, but reading and meditation on acts 1920 and revelation 2. Zondervan, 1992, 30911 2 a problem with the view that each church filled in its name in 1. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. Ephesians 1 1 paul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god, to the saints. Ephesians chapter 1 this is the first of six bible study worksheets one for each of the six chapters of the book of ephesians.

Jan 02, 2020 enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. The bible, the old testament and new testament, is addressed to gods people. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world. Ephesus was the third largest city in the roman empire population 250,000 in what is today the country of turkey. The idea of unity can be seen clearly in the first chapter of ephesians ephesians 1. Welcome to the first of six studies on the book of ephesians. 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. To really jump ahead in your study of ephesians, complete our how to study a book of the bible lesson using ephesians as your subject. The book of ephesians gives practical, encouraging advice on living a life that honors god, which is why its still relevant in a conflictridden world. Furthermore, a study in ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfill the purpose and calling god has given. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. Epistle to the ephesians study 1 historical context acts 19. The purpose of the book of ephesians was to warn the church elders about the false teachers that were teaching a false gospel and to maintain their first love that they held when they first became believers.

Paul begins the book of ephesians with the amazing truth that the body the church was planned by god before the foundation of the world. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. Paul probably wrote his letter to the ephesians while under house arrest in rome. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. The following section explains more of this mighty power and what it did.

Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. Paul instructs the church that christianity is for all men. The character and themes of pauls letter to the ephesians. Cultural background from the time the greeks took the city in 1080 b. Read the short background information for ephesians below. Introduction paul was one of a long list of godly men and women, beginning. The external testimony to the pauline authorship of colossians is ancient and consistent. Paul spent the first three chapters of the letter discussing gods creation of a holy. It was a center of learning and was near several key land routes. These questions are not examination questions with right or wrong answers. The book of ephesians is about the church the eternal purpose of god in christ. In any case, we can be sure that paul was clarifying the teaching of christ, the church, salvation and sanctification for these saints. Keep a notebook handy with pencil to jot down questions, ideas and applications as you study ephesians.

Ephesians 4 in the picture study bible, with maps and background information on ephesians 4 bible history online. A study guide for the book of ephesians answers chapter one. If we are going to properly understand the book of ephesians, we need to understand its immediate context. Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of. But the words take on fuller meaning in the christian context. Several of the early church writers site the book of ephesians, for example irenaeus and clement of alexandria both state that paul was its author. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus.

Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. The apostles thanksgivings and praises to god for his inestimable blessings bestowed on the believing ephesians. Carson, douglas moo, and leon morris, an introduction to the new testament grand rapids. To the saints who live in ephesus, the faithful in christ. It is interesting to note and observe that while the new testament often refers to the church, it does not speak of going to church in the way we. Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary the zondervan encyclopedia of the bible 3. Ephesians 1, new international version niv the bible app. If this is so, then the book was written to the churches in that reason. New book study background to the book of ephesians. Feb 16, 2018 new book study background to the book of ephesians. Ephesians 1 commentary spurgeons verse expositions of the. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the.

This is part 1 of a versebyverse bible study series in ephesians. This audio sermon and transcript is entitled introduction and background, and is from the ministry of david legge, a christian preacher and bible teacher from belfast, northern ireland. The introduction to the whole epistle, which is much. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of. This morning we come for our bible study to a book that is indeed a treasure of mine and of every believer, the book of ephesians. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. 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. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will. Ephesus was the third largest city in the roman empire population 250,000 in what is today.

Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ 1. Develop 1 2 questions about this chapter that you can ask of the other class. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. In ephesians chapter 1 we learn that christians are. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the bible. While this book begins, paul, an apostle of christ jesus through the will of god, to the saints who are at ephesus, and the faithful in christ jesus 1. The apostles salutation to the church, ephesians 1.

This was brought to our attention earlier in this chapter when we. This is assumed from the absence of the word ephesians ephesians 1. Ephesians 4 background information with maps and images. 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. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the. We hope that these questions will help you to understand the text. Aug 23, 2012 author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. Study the bible online using commentary on ephesians 1 and more. Some have argued that paul wrote colossians from ephesus or caesarea, but most of the evidence favors rome as the place where paul penned all the prison letters ephesians, colossians, philippians and philemon. William tyndale, to whom perhaps our english bible is owed more than to any. During this time he also wrote colossians and philemon. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. David guzik study guide for ephesians 1 a new version of this page can be found here gods ultimate plan. Paul asked these things because they were important to ask for.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Author the apostle paul date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. These small group studies of ephesians contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications.