the epistle of paul the apostle to the

8/9/2019 The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the.

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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE

EPHESIANS

INTRODUCTION

AUTHOR:

Paul .few critics deny this. His ministry at Ephesus is covered in Acts 18:18-21; 19:2-41; 20:17-35.

DATE:

Probably A.D. 60-63. The letter was written while Paul was in Rome (Eph.3:1;4: 1;6:20).Paul probably

arrived in room in the spring of A.D.60 or 61. He was under house arrest for two years (acts 28:30). During

his tow years imprisonment (Either A.D.60-62 or A.D.61-63) he wrote the letters that are usually called

The Prision Epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

TO WHOME WRITTEN:

Uncertain. There are strong reasons why the words to the Ephesians are questioned.

1. The words to the Ephesians are not in the oldest and best manuscript of the Greek New Testament(The Chester Beatty Papyrus, about A.D.200; the great fourth century codices sinaiticus and Vatican

us).The third century writer origin states that the words to the Ephesians was not in the original text

basil and Jerome, of the fourth century, said that the best manuscripts did not have the words in the their

texts (Francis Foulkes. The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, ed. By RVG Tasker. Grand Rapids,

MI:Eerdmans, no date listed,p.17).

2. The letter is the most impersonal of Pauls letters. There is no affection or warm touch in it nopersonal greeting- no personal message. This is strange, for Paul spent at least three years in Ephesus

(Acts 20:17-35)

3. The indication is that Paul and the recipients of the letter did not know one another. The word heardis used instead of the know(Ephesians.1:15;3;2).

4. The letter to the Ephesians and Colossians have much the same message. This points toward paulwriting both letters about the same time. In fact, Paul mentions another letter saying it too was being

circulated among the churches about the same time that Colossians was being circulated (Col.4:16).

5. The evidence points to a wonderful truth! The letter is from paulto all those who are saints andfaithful in Christ jesus . It is written to saints everywhere, to all generations. It is written to the

believers and the churches of today.

PURPOSE: Paul writes Ephesians for at least two reasons.

1. To reveal the purpose of God for the whole universe. God has shown His purpose through hisson, Jesus Christ, and He is working out His purpose through the church ,which is his body on

earth.

2. TO encourage the church to walk in a spirit of oneness and unity: to be ye kind one to another,tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as god for Christs sake hath forgiven you(Ephesians.4:32)

Noted the word together(Ephesians.1:10;2:5,6,22) and the word

one(Ephesians.2:15,16,18;4:4,5,6).


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SPECIAL FEATURES:

1. The city of Ephesus. At its height Ephesus was the most important city along the coast of AsiaMinor. Two hundred and thirty cities dotted the coast line of Asia Minor. Many had ideal harbors,

but Ephesus was the queen among these coast communities. The city had been founded tocommand one of the main highways of Asia Minor. Its attraction was not only its natural harbor,

but also the rich fertile land that covered the inland area.

Ephesus was, of course, a great commercial city. Its natural harbor and strategic location on

one of the main roads of the world made it such. However, in the middle of the first century, the harborhad silted up so badly that trade had declined astronomically from the days of Ephesians glory .There

had been attempts to drag the silt, out, the efforts were half hearted and finally abandoned. The peoples

hearts were just not in the effort. Part of the reason for this attitude was the successful and profitable

trade Ephesus enjoyed from its religious cult. The great temple of Diana, or Artemis, was there. Dianawas the goddess who had a grotesque head and many breasts and focused upon the sensual pleasure of

the flesh. The worshipping pilgrims found their satisfaction in prostitution with a host of the

priestesses who promoted the cult of the goddess. A great trade of silversmiths had developed over theyears, and tourist commercialism boomed year- round. This accounts for the guild of silversmiths

finding the crowds an easy mark for the arousing opposition against Paul (Acts 19:24). As the years

went by, the great harbor silted up more and more, and the Ephesians be pended more and more upon

the trade that came from their religion and superstition, The natural harbor of the commercial traffic of

Ephesus. As a result Ephesus became a dying a city, living on its past reputation as a religious and

philosophical center. The great city of Ephesus had a disease, the disease of sensual unrighteousness,

and the disease did its work: it corrupted the people. The people, sensual and self-centered, lost their

will and willingness to ply a commendable trade. Thus, the disease of Ephesus proved mortal. The

lamp stand of Ephesus crumbled, the light of Ephesus died out (see Rev.2:1-7,esp.5).

2. The church at Ephesus. The Church in Ephesus had a small beginning. When Paul visited Ephesus,

he found only twelve believers in the city. They had been won to the lord by the immature butimpressive preacher Apollos. As a result they had been misinformed on the presence of the Holy

Spirit; they seemed to lack a consciousness of the Spirit in the life of the believer and the awareness

that He had already been sent into the world (Acts 19:1-7).After Pauls instruction to these twelve, he

began to teach in the synagogue. He taught for three months, but the Jews were hardened and refused to

believe the gospel. They murmured against the message. Therefore, Paul moved the church into the

school of a philosopher, Tyrannous. There he preached Christ for two whole years. During this time it

is said that the church was instrumental in sounding forth the world throughout all Asia: So all they

which dwelt in Asia heard the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (Acts 19:10).

The Lord Worked special miracles by Paul in Ephesus and the church witnessed some amazing

things. From all evidence, the spectacular was necessary in order to get through to the people. As

always, God did everything He could to reach a people. These experiences show the great love andmovement of God toward man (see Acts 19:11-20). In viewing these accounts, we must keep the

background of the city in mind. Ephesus was a hot bed of oriental magic and superstition. The people

were an emotional and sensual lot, easily moved to feelings. They were a devoted people, a loving

people, and equally a lovable people (Rev.2:1-7,esp .4).

As Paul preached and God Worked miracles, many believed and the church grew mightily. The

believers gave great evidence of changed lives by living for Christ right in the middle of an immoral


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and pagan society. On one occasion, the church demonstrated its new found faith by building a great

bonfire and setting aflame all of its pagan magical literature.

3. The great Message of Ephesians is Reconciliation. Paul deals with the major problem of man the

problem of division, disunity, and disharmony. He deals with the major divisions and dissensions

throughout the universe.

a. Man is seen divided against God (Eph.2:1f).b. Man is seen divided against man (Eph. 2:11f)

c. Christians are seen out of harmony with Christians (Eph.4:1f).

d. Christians are seen out of harmony with God (Eph.5:1f).

e. Family members are seen divided against Family members (Eph.5:22f).

f. Slaves (employees) are seen divided against masters (employers) (Eph.6:5f)

g. Man is seen out of harmony with cosmic powers (Eph 2:2; 6:10, 11-12; 3:10, 15;cp.1:10, 20-21.see also Ro.8:18 for mans division against nature).

This terrible and terrifying division is said to hound and haunt man and to demand his constant

attention and struggle. Pauls answer is one fold. And it should be noted, his answer is one of the great

revelations of scripture. [God] having made known unto us the mystery of his willthat in the

dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,both whichare in heaven, and which are on earth (Eph.1:9-10).

Christ is the answer to terrifying division, to disunity, and to disharmony. He is the One who

breaks down all barriers; He is the One who reconciles all things.a. He reconciles man to God by the blood of the cross (Eph.2:4-13, esp.13).

b. He reconciles man to man by bringing all men together into one body, His church(Eph.2:13-22; cp 1:22-23).

c.He reconciles Christians to Christians by the power of the Holy Spirit and by givingindividual gifts and functions for each member to perform (Eph.4:1-32).

d. He reconciles believers to God the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:1-21).

e.He reconciles family members to family members by giving the example of Christslove for the church (Eph.5:22-24).

f. He reconciles slaves (employees) to masters (employers) by putting both on an equalfooting before Christ (Eph.5:5-9).

g. He enables man to overcome the cosmic and spiritual powers and the evil forces ofthe universe by the armor of God (Eph.6:10-18).

4. The Great picture of Ephesians is Gods Redemptive purpose. His redemptive purpose readslike a theological picture of four scenes.

a. Scene 1: Gods Election (Eph.1:3-14). Before the earth was ever founded, god chose(the literal word is elected) believers in Christ. He chose all who would trust and

commit themselves to Christ.

b. Scene 2: Gods Reconciliation (Eph.2:1-18). All things are out of harmony; all ispresently out of order. Division, disunity, and disharmony reign now. But the day is

coming when God is to gather all things together, as one, and place them before JesusChrist in His Kingdom- all things that are in heaven and earth (Eph.1:9-10). Christ is

the center and the cord that binds all things together. He is the great reconciler, the

One to whom all things can look for salvation and peace eternally.


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c. Scene 3: Gods body, His Church (Eph.2:19-3:13; cp.22-23). God has a body, a bodyof people that he is supernaturally recreating. He is recreating them to experience the

great truth of reconciliation and peace and to carry the message to all other man.

Christ is Gods instrument of reconciliation, and the church is Christs instrument of

reconciliation.

d. Scene 4: The Church, the Followers of Christ (Eph.4:1-6:20). The followers of Christare to walk worthy of such a glorious life by being reconciled as one. They are to live

together in unity and harmony, and they are to carry the message of reconciliation to

a world swallowed up in division.

5. The Great Similarity to Colossians. There are more than fifty-five verses that are exactly the same,and twenty-five verses that are very similar. This means that of the one hundred and fifty- fiveverses in Ephesians, seventy-five are closely connected with Colossians. Both Ephesians and

Colossians begin with a doctrinal section and end with a practical section, and both were apparently

delivered by the same man, Tychicus (Eph.6:20; cp.col4:7).

Such similarity is to be expected. Paul wrote both while in prison in Rome, probably one right

after the other.

6. Ephesians has been called The Queen of the Epistles. It is a book greatly loved; it is probablyloved more than any other book by most people. With strong wings it soars among the heights of

theological thought and glides upon the winds of the greatest of truths.

It is like delivery of a great sermon that holds a person spellbound. It is like the greatest of

prayers that a person with a deep sense of worship.

OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS

GREETING: THE CALL OF GOD, 1:1-2

1. Gods call to Paul (v.1)

2. Gods call to the church and its believers (v.1-2)

I.THE ETERNAL PLAN OF GOD FOR THE CHRISTAN BELIEVER,

1:3-23

A. The Blessings of God (Part 1),1:3-7

1. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings (V.3)

2. God has chosen us to be holy blameless (V.4)3. God has adopted us as children (V.5-6)

4. God has redeemed us-forgiven our sins (V.7)

B. The Blessings of God (part2), 1:8-14


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1. God has given us wisdom & understanding (V.8)

2. God has revealed the mystery of His will to us (V.9-10)

3. God has given us an inheritance: He has made us the heritage of God (V.11-13)

4. God has sealed us with the Holy spirit (V.13-14)

C. The Knowledge of God, 1:15-18

1. The basis: faith and love (V.15-16)

2. The need: a growing knowledge of God the God of Christ and the Father of Glory (V.17-

18)

3. The result: The knowledge of God (V.18)

D. The power of God: demonstrated in Christs Exaltation, 1:19-23

1. Gods power : A great (v.19)

2. Gods power: The power that raised Him from the dead (v.20)3. Gods power: The power that took him to heaven and set Him at gods right hand (v.20)

4. Gods power; The power that exalted Christ above all creatures-in this world in the next

world (v.21)

5. Gods power ; The power that exalted Him as the supreme hade of the church (v.22-23)

II.THE LIFE OF CHRISATIAN BELIEVER, 2:1-22

A. The Believers Life Before Conversion: Life Without Christ, 2:1-3

1. A life of death (V.1)2. A life of trespasses and sins (v.1-2)

3. A life spent with the disobedient of the world (v.3)

4. A life under Gods wrath (v.3)

B. The Believers Conversion (part I): The Work of Gods Mercy, 2:4-7

1. God has quickened us with Christ (v.4-5)2. God has raised us up with Christ (v.6)

3. God has made us sit in heavenly places-in Christ (v.6)

4. God has one great purpose: to show us the riches of His grace in the ages to come

(v.7)

C. The Believers Conversion (part II): The Work of Gods Grace-Salvation,2:8-10

1. You are saved (v.8-9)2. You are Gods workmanship (v.10)

D. Remember what Life Is Like Since Christ Came :Reconciliation & peace, 2:11-18

1. We were far off and separated from God (v.11-13)

2. Christ brings us near to God (v.13)3. Christ brings us peace (v.14-15)

4. Christ brings us reconciliation (v.16-17)


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5. Christ brings us access to God (v.18)

E. Remember what Life Is Like Since Christ Came :Reconciliation & peace, 2:11-18

1. Picture 1:A new nation (v.19)

2. Picture 2:Gods family (v.19)3. Picture 3:God s building (v.20)

4. Picture 4:A growing organism (v.21)

5. Picture 5:A worldwide temple the universal church (v.21)6. Pichure6:A local temple the local church (v, 22)

III. THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD FOR THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER, 3:1-21

A. A New Body of The Great Mystery of Christ , 3:1-13

1. It gave Paul purpose for existing (v.1-2)

2. It was a mystery : it required a special revelation to become Known (v.3-5)3. It was a threefold revelation (v.6)

4. It affected Paul-----profoundly (v.7-9)5. It affects heavenly beings even now, profoundly so: Causes them to stand in stark

amazement (v.10-12).

6. It stirred a willingness within Paul to suffer for the church (v.13)

B. A Mature person in Christ: The Great prayer for the Church and the Believer, 3:14-21

1. The prayer (v.14-15).

2. Request 1: For strength and power within by Gods spirit (v.16).3. Request 2: For strength Christ to rule and reign within by faith (v.17).

4. Request 3: For love (v.17)

5. Request 4: For understanding a full understanding of spiritual things (v.18).6. Request 5: To know the love of God (v.19).

7. Request 6: For the fullness of God (v.19).

8. Conclusion: the encouragement to pray & trust God for the answer (v.20-21).

IV. THE WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER, 4:1-6:9

A. The Believer is to Walk Worthy of His Calling, 4:1-6

1. The way to walk worthy (v.1-2)

2. The purpose for walking: To keep the unity, the peace (v.3).

3. The seven basic reasons to walk worthy (v.4-6).


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B. The Believer is to Walk by Using His Gifts,4:7-16

1. Every believer is gifted (v.7).2. Every believers gift has cost the greatest possible price (v.8-10)

3. Every believers gift is Christ-centered (v.11).

4. Every believers gift has a threefold purpose (v.12-16)

C . The Believer is to Walk Differently from the Gentiles, 4:17-24

1. The believer is not to walk after the Gentiles, that is, after ungodly men (v.17-19).

2. The believer is to walk after Christ (v.20-24).

D. The Believer is to Walk Putting off the Garments of the old Man, 4:25-32

1. The garment of lying (v.25).

2. The garment of anger (v.26-27).

3. The garment of stealing (v.28).4. The garment of worthless talk (v.29).

5. The garment of being contrary (v.30).6. The garment of unkindness (v.31).

7. The garment of the new man (v.32).

E. The Believer is to Walk Following God, 5:1-7

1. By becoming a follower of God (v.1).

2. By loving as Christ loved (v.2).3. By being clean bodied, that is, morally pure (v.3).

4. By being clean mouthed (v.4).

5. By knowing Gods solemn warning (v.5-6).6. By separating oneself from the unclean (v.7).

F. The Believer is to Walk as a Child of Light, 5:8-14

1. Light, not darkness, is the nature of believers (v.8).

2. Light bears the things of life the fruit of the Spirit (v.9).

3. Light shows what acceptable (v.10) is?4. Light exposes the works of darkness (v.11-12).

5. Light reveals and converts everything it touches (v.13).

6. Light awakens the sleeping (v.14).

G. The Believer is to Walk Carefully and Strictly, 5:15-21

1. By looking around and watching every step (v.15).

2. By redeeming the time (v.16).

3. By understanding the Lords will (v.18).


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4. By rejecting drunkenness (v.18).

5. By being filed with the Spirit (v.18-22).

H. The Believing Wife & Husband are to walk in a Spirit of submission & Love, 5:22-33

1. The Wife is to walk in a spirit of submission (v.22-24).2. The husband is to love his wife (v.25-33).

I. Believing Children & Parents are to Walk Under Gods Authority, 6:1-4

1. Believing children are to obey their parents (v.1-3).

2. Believing parents are not to provoke their children but to nurture them in the Lord(v.4).

J. Believing Slaves & Master (Employees-Employers) are to Walk Under Gods Authority,

6:5-9

1. The workman: Must obey (v.5-8).2. The Employer: Must obey (.9).

V. THE WARFARE OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER, 6:10-24

A. The Armor of the Christian Soldier, 6:10-24

1. The soldiers charge (10-11).2. The soldiers enemy: The devil and his strategies (v.11).

3. The soldiers warfare: Not human, but spiritual (v.12).

4. The soldiers duty: To take the whole armor of God (v.13)5. The soldiers armor (v.14-17).

6. The supernatural provision; prayer praying always (v.18-20).

B. The Examples of Faithful Christian Soldiers, 6:21-24

1. There was the Christian soldier Tychicus (v.21-22).

2. There was the Christian soldier Paul (v.23-24).

THANKS TO THE TEACHERS OUTLINE STUDY BIBLE


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the epistle of paul the apostle to the

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