It can be used negatively for evil, or positively denoting a realm of. Ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. The four main gospel truths are emphasized over and over god, man, christ, response. In the book of ephesians it identifies the author as apostle paul. Christ needs to be the center of the church, the church needs to be built on the rock. The themes of ephesians the worship of god because of redemption the work of god in redemption the reconciliation of god through. People of all nations are united to christ and to one another in the church, through the working of the trinity. All of the great themes of paul started in galatians, developed in romans, and are now expressed in ephesians in a wonderful summary fashion. Apr 17, 2009 the book of ephesians reflects the marriage of life and doctrine in that it contains deep theological truth about gods nature and work in the first three chapters. Aug 04, 20 theme verse of ephesians therefore i, the prisoner of the lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. While this is certainly a major theme in pauls book, it seems to ignore what i would argue is the major underlying purpose of ephesians which is our position in christ and the life that flows from it. Outline of ephesians an outline of ephesians intended to enhance and assist your study of gods holy word his letter to you.
Most bible surveys and handbooks simplify the message of ephesians as exhortations to the body of christ, the church. 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. Major themes for the book of ephesians biblical foundations for. Introduction to ephesians ministry of aquila and priscilla.
For example, the church is a living organism not simply an organisation ephesians 2. The aim of this epistle is to confirm and to equip a maturing church. Jun 28, 2004 ephesians, then, is similar to romans and, at the same time, dissimilar. Paul spent two years under house arrest in rome around 59 to 61 a. Yes, in some ways we can say that all humans are children of god. 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. Major themes in the book of ephesians oak grove baptist church. The key theme of ephesians is the mystery of the church macarthur, 2005, p. The book of ephesians can be roughly broken into two halves. The purpose and plan of ephesians preaching source. Aug 23, 2012 a concise statement of the theme of pauls letter to the ephesians might be. Real life and righteousness are one in the same because the opposite of righteousness is carnality and carnality is death. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our.
Work hard so that you can share with those in need. 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. God predestined his people to redemption and holiness in christ 1. Before the worlds foundation, god himself foreknew and predestined for salvation a people from every tribe and tongue and people group. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey.
The root problem in the world is not racism, oppression, or. The book of ephesians hadavar messianic ministrieshadavar. Paul was addressing problems in the church of corinth and showing how the reason for problems in the church was that jesus was not lord in the church there. The phrases in christ jesus and in himis used all throughout this book. Another theme which does justice to the content of the epistle and one that i. May 02, 2020 enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god.
Ephesians complete bible book chapters and summary new. Key verses and themes in galatians, ephesians, and. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Chapters in chapter 1 the first occurrence of the word ekklesia in ephesians defines the word from the very outset as the body of christ, the fullness of him who fills all in all vv. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. In the book of ephesians, paul steps us through the doctrinal understanding of our identity in christ and how that identity should shape our lives. Frank charles thompson, argues that the main theme of ephesians is in response to the newly converted jews who often separated themselves from their gentile.
One thing is certain ephesus was a city in darkness blinded by idolatry and material wealth. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. 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.
Ephesians reveals that the gospel of jesus christ is the only way to see true transformation in the world. Render service with enthusiasm, as to the lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the lord. The greek verb peripateo, rendered walk in the english bible, is found 96 times in the new testament. I do not know who first made this statement or where i first heard it, but i use this axiom as a rallying cry of sorts in my preaching classes. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. Gods glory, the mystery, unity of the body, redemption, calling of the church, the heavenlies. He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no longer our own but all things are gods. 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. 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.
The book of ephesians introduction author date themes and. Paul intended all those that long for christ to receive this writing. May 21, 2016 this theme dominates the book, occurring in nearly every chapter of the book. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome. The book of ephesians survey introduces a list of themes and describes six of them. Christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. Maintain the unity practically which christ has effected positionally by his death. The book of ephesians exploring the treasure house of. Main theme and purpose of ephesians pauls letter to the ephesians is filled with encouragement and instruction, both on our priority in life god and his glory, as well as on unity in christ and how that unity calls us to act toward others. Father, son, and spirit are seen in pauls epistle to the ephesians as operating from before the foundation of the world for the redemption of the church. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. This book has been called the crowning jewel, or capstone, of pauls theology.
Key verses and themes in galatians, ephesians, and philippians. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Ephesian believers found themselves trying to live holy lives surrounded by a seductive secular culture. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. The central organizing theological idea in ephesians is that through christs atoning work god has mightily brought about the churcha new. Ephesians major themes introduction to the book of.
In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Therefore the abundant life christ gives us is a life of righteousness because he has given us his life his life is a righteous life. With its exalted view of the church in gods plan of redemption, it is common to suggest the theme as the church, the fullness of christ. 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. 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.
Paul uses several word pictures to describe the church. God has shown these to the ephesians, and paul calls the readers to be. Introduction from the niv study bible go to ephesians author, date, and place of writing. Most scholars believe the apostle paul wrote the book of ephesians. This eternal life of righteousness is what christ gives to all who ask this is the life that god now has predestined us to grow into as we grow out from the grace that is in christ. As god used romans to instigate the reformation, he will use ephesians to reunite splintered churches and christendom. Its style of writing is very much like the other books of the new testament he wrote. Key themes all people are by nature spiritually dead. Good homiletics is built on even better hermeneutics. Inside the church, jewish and gentile believers fought with each other over their place in gods kingdom. Then, on the road to damascus, jesus appeared and revealed the truth, and he became a believer, ultimately changing his name to paul. The book of ephesians is also rich with minor theological themes and truths. Pauls doctrine of the church shines in ephesians unlike any other epistle.
Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. Gods glory, the mystery, unity of the body, redemption, calling of the. Enclosed in the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into. The apostle paul identifies himself twice in this book as its author 1.
The word is composed of two roots, peri around, and pateo walk. A grand epistle like ephesians almost defies coming up with one main theme. Introduction to the book of ephesians book of ephesians survey. Figuratively, it denotes the sphere of ones existencehis manner of life. When i was done preaching through the entire book, i. Aug 08, 2017 the epistle to the ephesians was written between the years 60 a. According to new testament scholar daniel wallace, the theme may be stated pragmatically as christians, get along with each other. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. However, we find that in acts chapter 19 several years prior paul had already spent a few years establishing a church there and ministering unto them the word of god. Life on doctrine a study in the book of ephesians power. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at.
Except for the book of romans, the book of ephesians is the most carefully written presentation. And the life i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the son of god, who loved me and gave himself for me. Pattern for christian living, ray summers 18 ray summers, ephesians. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor. I genuinely believe you cannot rightly preach what you have not first accurately understood. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison.
Furthermore, in the final three chapters it unblushingly calls us to life that is in accord with this teaching. This letter is one of pauls four imprisonment letters. This class will do an in depth study of the book of ephesians. D, during the period of his house arrest in rome recounted in acts 28. Major themes pauls second missonary journey to ephesus map chronology chart of pauline letters ephesians 1 ephesians 1. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Epistle to the ephesians read bible book, study verses. Jun 28, 2009 the book of ephesians is charged with weighty doctrines that reveal the glory of the triune god. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. Themes of ephesians studies in the word thoughtshades. His typically lucid style and clarity of thought present a. Feb 10, 2019 themes in the book of ephesians christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. His typically lucid style and clarity of thought present a forceful argument for this position. This is certainly a fitting theme statement for our own day.
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