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. 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. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Additional additional background information from the new bible dictionary, second edition, tyndale house publishers, wheaton, il, pages 336. Written in 6162, when paul was a prisoner in rome cf. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. A study guide for the book of ephesians answers chapter one. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of ephesians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork.
Intro to colossians biblica the international bible society. 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 book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. Some have suggested the epistle is specifically addressed to jewish christians who want to. There are 41 commands in ephesians, 1 of which is found in chapters. John macarthur takes readers on a journey through biblical texts to discover what lies beneath the surface, focusing on meaning and context, and then reflecting on the explored passage or concept. This background helps shed light on verses like ephesians 6. The traditional idea, that god deals in one manner with the gentile christians and in another with the jewish christians, and that the races are identifiable in christ, has created havoc in the interpretation of the scripturesparticularly the writings. However, there is clearly a message for christians of every age. Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary the zondervan encyclopedia of the bible 3. I can imagine the apostle paul today quietly hidden away in. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2.
Defection by galatian christians from the gospel back to the old law. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world. Its origin is shrouded in antiquity, but it was a prominent settlement in the eighth century b. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Ephesians and colossians were probably composed at the same time in rome. For other books, devotionals and bible studies by anne graham lotz. 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. Ephesians background information fbc seguin students. Whether you are just beginning your new life with christ, or have been a christian for many years, this study guide is for you. Specific instructions for christian living ephesians 4.
Constable historical background the city of colosse lay in the beautiful lycus valley about 100 miles east of ephesus. Audience paul wrote to the network of house churches in western asia minor, in and near ephesus. Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. For the next several fridays we will be going through this book one chapter at a time. Although caesarea and ephesus have been suggested as possible locations of authorship, the bulk of. Ephesians commentary free bible study notes, commentary, and.
Ephesians preaching order john calvin considered ephesians his favorite letter and he preached a series of fortyeight sermons on the book from may 1558 to march 1559. Click download or read online button to get ephesians an introduction and study guide book now. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. Ephesus forms an appropriate background to the book of ephesians because of this citys fascination with magic and the occult acts 19. Recall the opening scenes in the sound of music movie.
This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. A study of pauls epistle to the ephesians developed by matt hennecke. Ephesians an introduction and study guide download ebook. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus.
A study guide blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in christ. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will. 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. Ephesus enters history in the mid7th century bc, when it was attacked by the cimmerians. Read the short background information for ephesians below. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in christ. To the saints who live in ephesus, the faithful in christ.
Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp. What where the circustances paul wrote this epistle from prison, as he did ephesians, philippians, and philemon. A reference book that is an essential in any study that involves the apostle paul, whether his. Keep a notebook handy with pencil to jot down questions, ideas and applications as you study ephesians. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. This class is live and hosted through an online conferencing service which allows the students to see the instructor, view his computer screen and interact through an online forum in realtime.
The book of ephesians along with philippians and colossians, was written by the apostle paul while in prison in rome. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. The expositors bible commentary calls ephesians the. Youll find a great overview at the beginning of this study. Ephesus was the third largest city in the roman empire population 250,000 in what is today the country of turkey. Introduction to ephesians bible exposition commentary. White on bible study chapter 6 of the book of hebrews steadfastness in the faith the covenant oath additional notes. How to use this book welcome to the faith foundations study guide on ephesians.
When he does, record the verse number, what it is he seems to be saying to you and your response to him in this final step. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians 3. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ.
Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. The bible, the old testament and new testament, is addressed to gods people. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. The concept that the elect jews and gentiles compose the one family of god, the one holy nation, is a central theme of the book of ephesians. In the new testament those dividing lines are being removed as christ. It follows that the student must read any commentary with. In this room he writes emails, blogs, and ebooks teaching and proclaiming to. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Ephesians niv paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. The book of ephesians enables us to view gods creation from an alpine altitude. Ephesians and colossians have a number of parallels. As you read this study, hopefully with your bible in hand, may these four ts be in your mind and heart.
The book of ephesians bible study and ministry resources. 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. Pauls doctrine of the church shines in ephesians unlike any other epistle. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, paul ministered to the church at ephesus acts 18. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. The general theology of ephesians is direct, unambiguous, and presents no ideas or interpretations whose meanings are seriously contended. White on bible study chapter 6 of the book of hebrews steadfastness in the faiththe covenant oath additional notes. When you share the background information, youll give all group members, regardless of their level of maturity, a common place to start. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said. Intro to colossians biblica the international bible. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. There is not one exhortation in the first three chapters. Tenney the city of ephesus was one of the oldest of the settlements on the west coast of asia minor and was the leading city of the roman province of asia. He also sent along the letter to the colossian church. Aug 23, 2012 date the letter to the ephesians was written during pauls roman imprisonment between 60 and 62 ad. Ephesians small group series lesson 1 introduction to. Some liberal critics have attempted to raise doubts, yet the authorship of the book is solidly established both by the clear statement in the book itself and by the records of the early uninspired christian writers.
Early in the history of grace church, the history of john macarthur at grace church at least, it was obvious to me that god had something very special in mind for this church. The epistle to the ephesians table of contents introduction 3 chapter one 7 chapter two 11 chapter three 14 chapter four 18 chapter five 22 chapter six 27 this study guide was developed in preparation for teaching adult bible classes. Read ephesians prayerfully, objectively, thoughtfully, and attentively as you listen for god to speak. This is a free, ongoing, online bible study open to all who would like to attended and participate. When we study this book, it is as though we have climbed a high mountain peak, because the book gives us that kind of perspective on what god has created. 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.
Brackets are used in this commentary in the bible text to. Commentary on galatians and ephesians bible study guide. Outline adapted from the bible exposition commentary, vol. Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ. In acts 19 we read about pauls trip to ephesus and how the city was full. The context of ephesians 1, however, says that the choosing and. It is designed to help you discover, through personal study and group discussion, the incredible riches of gods word, and. It had been an important town during the greek and persian war of the fifth century b.
Chapter 3 of the book of hebrews christ and moses chapter 4 of the book of hebrews the sabbath additional notes the rest of god chapter 5 of the book of hebrews christs qualifications as high priest additional notes mrs. Commentary on galatians and ephesians by john calvin. Therefore, an immediate meaning in the first two centuries a. 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. Ephesians 1 background information with maps and images. Introduction from the niv study bible go to ephesians. Geographical background the city was situated on the western coast of asia minor at the mouth of the cayster river, one of the four major eastwest valleys that ended in the aegean sea. Pdf bible study the book of ephesians john ndhlovu academia. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ephesians. He may not speak to you through every verse, but he will speak. Ephesians 3 new international version niv gods marvelous plan for the gentiles.
Feb 16, 2018 its time for another book study on fridays. New book study background to the book of ephesians. The end result is that the gospel spread from ephesus throughout asia minor ac 19. 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. This helps explain pauls emphasis on the power of god over all heavenly authorities and on christs triumphant ascension as head over the church and over all things in this age and the next. Bible study basics ephesians engage everyone in your group research the historical context or commentaries for passages that will be studied. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf.
Two significant prayers of paul are found in this book eph 1. The book of ephesians page 3 what we possess in christ our possessions the believers blessed life ephesians 1 key verse. Barclay really hits his stride in this volume, which doesnt seem out of date and provides some useful background though carson thinks he may overemphasize the parallels between hebrews and hellenistic judaism as exemplified by philo. 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. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the. Ephesians small group series lesson 1 introduction to ephesians. It is designed to help you discover, through personal study and group discussion, the incredible riches of. However, this was probably a circular letter, intended for other churches. The book of ephesians is charged with weighty doctrines that reveal the glory of the triune god. The historicalbackground method the historicalbackground method recognizes the dire circumstances of first century readers. This time ive selected the amazing book of ephesians. The book of joshua describes the conquest and possession of the land of canaan and may be divided into three simple divisions. There are, however, some texts that require careful thought to rightly interpret, namely.
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