the Epistle To The Ephesians
Jump to: Smith'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:
The Epistle to the Ephesians, traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, is a profound letter in the New Testament that addresses the nature of the Church, the body of Christ, and the believer's position in Christ. It is considered one of the "Prison Epistles," written during Paul's imprisonment in Rome around AD 60-62. The letter is addressed to the saints in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor, though some early manuscripts omit the specific mention of Ephesus, suggesting it may have been intended as a circular letter for multiple congregations.

Authorship and Date:
The Apostle Paul is widely recognized as the author of Ephesians, as stated in the opening verse: "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 1:1). The epistle's style, vocabulary, and theological depth align with Paul's other writings, reinforcing his authorship. Written during his first Roman imprisonment, the letter reflects Paul's mature theological insights and pastoral concern for the Church.

Purpose and Themes:
Ephesians is a theological masterpiece that explores the mystery of the Church as the body of Christ and the unity of all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, in Him. Key themes include:

1. The Believer's Position in Christ: Paul emphasizes the spiritual blessings and identity of believers in Christ, highlighting their election, adoption, redemption, and inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-14).

2. Unity in the Body of Christ: The epistle underscores the unity of the Church, breaking down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, creating "one new man" in Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16).

3. The Mystery of the Gospel: Paul reveals the mystery hidden for ages, now made known through the Church, that Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ (Ephesians 3:6).

4. Christian Conduct and Ethics: Ephesians provides practical instructions for living a life worthy of the calling, emphasizing love, holiness, and submission in various relationships (Ephesians 4:1-6:9).

5. Spiritual Warfare: The letter concludes with an exhortation to stand firm against spiritual forces of evil, putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Structure:
The epistle is structured into two main sections:

1. Doctrinal (Chapters 1-3): Paul expounds on the spiritual blessings in Christ, the mystery of the Church, and the believer's position in the heavenly realms.

2. Practical (Chapters 4-6): The focus shifts to the ethical implications of the believer's new identity, including unity, purity, and spiritual warfare.

Key Passages:

· Spiritual Blessings in Christ: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:3).

· Unity of the Spirit: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called" (Ephesians 4:3-4).

· Armor of God: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes" (Ephesians 6:11).

Historical and Cultural Context:
Ephesus was a prominent city in the Roman province of Asia, known for its temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The city was a hub of commerce, culture, and pagan worship, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for the early Christian community. Paul's ministry in Ephesus, as recorded in Acts 19, laid the foundation for the church to which this epistle was addressed.

Theological Significance:
Ephesians is pivotal in understanding the Church's nature and mission. It presents a cosmic view of Christ's redemptive work, emphasizing the Church's role in God's eternal purpose. The letter's teachings on unity, spiritual maturity, and the believer's identity in Christ continue to resonate with Christians today, offering timeless guidance for living out the faith in a diverse and often challenging world.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
the Epistle To The Ephesians

was written by the apostle St. Paul during his first captivity at Rome, (Acts 28:16) apparently immediately after he had written the Epistle to the Colossians [COLOSSIANS, THE EPISTLE TO THE, EPISTLE TO], and during that period (perhaps the early part of A.D. 62) when his imprisonment had not assumed the severer character which seems to have marked its close. This epistle was addressed to the Christian church at Ephesus. [EPHESUS] Its contents may be divided into two portions, the first mainly doctrinal , ch. 1-3, the second hortatory and practical .

Library

The Epistle to the Ephesians
... The Epistle to the Ephesians. CONTENTS The Epistle to the Ephesians
is naturally divided into two parts: I. The Doctrinal ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistle to the ephesians.htm

The Epistle to the Ephesians.
... CHAPTER XII. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Section 95. The Epistle to the Ephesians. Contents. ...
This strikes the key-note of the Epistle to the Ephesians. ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 95 the epistle to.htm

From the Epistle to the Ephesians.
... A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of
Infants Chapter 46."From the Epistle to the Ephesians. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 46 from the epistle to.htm

The Epistle to the Colossians
... 2. On its material side it exhibits great affinity with the Epistle to the
Ephesians. Hence the contention of the critics that the ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistle to the colossians.htm

But Let us Come to These Two Commentaries which He Alone Excepts ...
... on Ecclesiastes. Let us for a moment look into the one which comes forward
first, the Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians. ...
/.../23 but let us come.htm

The Duties of the Christian Flock.
... [1103] Comp. Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians, chap. ii. ... [1107] Literally, "worthy
of God.". [1108] Comp. Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians, chap. ii. ...
/.../chapter vi the duties of the.htm

The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians. <. The Epistle of Ignatius
to the Ephesians Ignatius. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ignatius/the epistle of ignatius to the ephesians/

The Third Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
The Third Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians. <. The Third Epistle of Ignatius
to the Ephesians Ignatius. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
/.../ignatius/the third epistle of ignatius to the ephesians /

The Second Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
The Second Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians. <. The Second Epistle of
Ignatius to the Ephesians Ignatius. Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
/.../ignatius/the second epistle of ignatius to the ephesians /

Colossians i. 26-28
... [776] As he doth also in the Epistle to the Ephesians, saying, neither Angels, nor
principalities, nor any other created power, but only the Son of God knew. ...
/.../homily v colossians i 26-28.htm

Resources
The: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

The

The After Life

The Age of Accountability

The Age of Earth

The Alabaster Box

the Amorites Amorite

The Angel of Death

The Angel of Light

The Anointing

The Antichrist

The Apocalypse

The Apostasy

The Appearance of Evil

The Archite

The Ark of Covenant

The Arkite

The Armor of God

The Ashurites

The Babylonish Captivity

The Bachrites

The Baharumite

the Baptize John

The Barhumite

The Battle is the Lords

The Beatitudes

The Beginning

The Belaites

The Beriites

The Bermuda Triangle

The Berothite

The Bible

The Big Bang Theory

The Birth of Christ

The Blood Covenant

The Blood of Jesus

The Body

The Body of Christ

The Body of the Church

The Book Of

the Book Of Daniel

the Book Of Enoch

the Book Of Esther

the Book Of Jeremiah

the Book Of Judith

the Book Of Micah

the Book Of Nehemiah

the Book Of Numbers

the Book Of Proverb

the Book Of Psalms

The Book of the Secrets Of

the Book Of Zechariah

The Bride of Christ

the Brook Besor

the Brook Cherith

the Brook of The Willows

The Canaanite

The Canaanites

The Canon of Scripture

The Chemarim

The Christian Family

The Christmas Tree

The Church

The City Underwater

the Cliff Of Ziz

The College

The Color Blue

The Color Purple

The Color Yellow

The Conscience

The Consequences of Sin

The Cost of Discipleship

The Cost to Follow Jesus

The Cross

The Daniel Fast

The Danites

the Day Of Atonement

The Day of Judgement

The Day of Pentecost

The Earth Orbiting the Sun

The Elonites

The End of Days

The Enemy

The Enslavement

The Environment

The Epicureans

the Epistle Of James

the Epistle of Paul To Philemon

the Epistle To The Colossians

the Epistle To The Ephesians

the Epistle To The Galatians

The Eranites

The Eshkalonites

The Eshtaulites

The Ethiopian Eunuch

The Exodus

The Eznite

The Ezrahite

The Fall

The Family

the Feast Of Tabernacles

the First Epistle General Of John

The First Resurrection

The Five Senses

The Fivefold Ministry

The Flesh

The Four Seasons

The Fruit of the Spirit

The Fullers Field

The Future

The Gadites

the Garden Of Uzza

The Garmite

The Gazathites

The Gazites

The Gederathite

The Gederite

the General Epistle Of James

The Gershonites

The Gibeonites

The Giblites

The Gileadites

The Gilonite

The Girgasite

The Gizonites

The Government

The Great Commission

the Great Synagogue

The Great Tribulation

The Greek Language

The Gunites

The Hagerite

The Haggites

The Hamathite

The Hamulites

The Harodite

The Hebrew Monarchy

The Hebronites

The Hepherites

The Hermonites

the Hill Gareb

the Hill Hachilah

The Holocaust

The Holy Land

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Trinity

The Homeless

the House Of Millo

The Huphamites

The Ice Age

the Jews of The Dispersion

The Jimnites

The Kenite

The Kingdom or Church of Christ

the Land Of Benjamin

the Land Of Canaan

the Land Of Shalim

the Land Of Shalisha

the Land Of Shual

The Last Supper

The Law of Moses

The Lord

the Lord Of Sabaoth

the Lords Brother Judas

The Lords Day

The Machirites

The Mahavite

the Man of God Moses

The Manassites

The Maonites

The Mecherathite

The Median

The Meholathite

The Mehunims

The Meronothithe

The Mesobaite

The Millennium

The Mishraites

The Mithnite

The Moabite Stone

The Moon

The Morasthite

The Naamites

The Nehelamite

The New Jerusalem

The Number 10

The Number 12

The Number 30

The Number 5

The Number 7

The Number One

The Occult

The Ocean

The Pelonite

The Pentateuch

The Perizzite

The Pharzites

The Phoenix

The Plague

the Plain Of Tabor

The Planets

the Pool Of Siloah

The Potters Field

The Power of Prayer

The Praltite

The Priesthood

The Prodigal Son

The Prophet Isaiah

The Puhites

The Punites

The Quicksands

The Ramathite

The Rapture

The Red Heifer

The Resurrection

The Revelation

the Rock Etam

the Rock Oreb

The Rosary

The Rose of Sharon

the Salt Sea

The Sardites

the Sea Of Tiberias

the Second and Third Epistles Of John

the Second Book Of Esdras

The Shaalbonite

The Shearinghouse

The Shechemites

The Sheepgate

The Sheepmarket

The Shelanites

The Shemidaites

The Shillemites

The Shilonite

The Shilonites

The Shimites

The Shimronites

The Shuhamites

The Shulamite

The Shumathites

The Shunammite

The Shunites

The Shuphamites

The Shuthalhites

The Syrtis

The Tabernacle

The Tachmonite

The Tahanites

The Tarpelites

The Tekoite

The Temptation

the Ten Plagues

the Three Taverns

The Thresholds

The Timnite

The Tirathites

The Tishbite

The Tizite

The Tolaites

The Transfiguration

the Tribe Of Benjamin

the Tribe Of Gad

The Twelve Apostles

the Two Thieves

The Uzzielites

the Valley Eshcol

the Valley Of Charashim

the Valley Of Elah

the Valley Of Rephaim

the Valley Of Zared

The Vulgate

the Waters Of Shiloah

the Wife Of Pharaoh

The Wisdom of Solomon

the Wood Of Ephraim

The World Ending

The Worship

The Year 2012

The Year of Jubilee

The Zareathites

The Zarhites

The Zebulunites

The Zemarite

The Ziphim

The Zodiac

The Zorathites

The Zorites

The Zuzim

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

the Epistle To The Colossians
Top of Page
Top of Page