Importance of the book of ephesians

This instructional letter is packed with practical advice, all given in an encouraging tone. Before we can discuss the text, we must first confront a common misconception about the book of ephesians and the christian life itself. Instead, paul simply wanted to strengthen and encourage the churches in the area. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. May 28, 2017 importance of putting on full armor of god daily according to book of ephesians by lovely lao email protected may 28, 2017 07. It contains extensive references, in some cases direct quotes, from pauls other letters. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. 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. Free sermon book of ephesians martyn lloydjones trust. Sproul provides enough altitude to see the majestic theology of ephesians and enough detail to see the practicality of its terrain. 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. Most books attribute the authorship to that of the apostle paul.

In addition to the church and love, ephesians emphasizes gods action in planning, decreeing, and providing salvation, the importance of the christians growth in knowledge, the importance of living out ones faith consistently, and spiritual warfare. To begin with, the epistle to the ephesians may be improperly titled, which creates a difficulty in its opening verses. Let us consider, then, the characteristics of the book of ephesians. Walking together in the tragic gap ephesians is a different book. He claims that the epistles significance comes from its citys relationship between jews and gentiles, its cultural im. Harold hoehner begins his massive volume on ephesians with a long account of the thoughts and comments about the importance of ephesians to leaders throughout history. 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. Ephesians 16 nkjv greeting paul, an apostle of jesus. As we begin our study of the book of ephesians, i would like to draw attention to some of its characteristics, and then to attempt to identify its unique identity and contribution to the revelation of the scriptures. Its structure is different from pauls other letters.

The book of ephesians is familiar and favored territory in most believers bibles. Also, since ephesians lacks the personal references found in many of pauls letters, many believe it was written to be circulated to various congregations in the area. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. The recipients of ephesians were the resident of ephesus which was the capital of the roman province of asia minor. Martyn lloydjones 18991981 was a welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the reformed tradition. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat. The book of ephesians teaches you who you are in christ, how to live as his follower, and how to gain victory in the spiritual battles you face.

Paul had spent years ministering among the ephesians. There is also the importance of the marital relationship and that of the entire family but that is not said to be one of the primary purposes ephesians 5. From chapter 1 to 6, in that order, you will read about. 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. Life on doctrine a study in the book of ephesians power. Understanding the book of ephesians and bible study guide.

Colossians aims at presenting the head of the church christ, ephesians focuses on the body of christ the church. The central organizing theological idea in ephesians is that through christs atoning work god has mightily brought about the churcha new humanity, i. The importance of the book of ephesians and the books. The book of ephesians is said to have been written by paul but the ultimate answer is that it was inspired by god. It is hard to overestimate the importance of the book of ephesians on this history of christs people.

Analysis of the book ephesians essay 2524 words 11 pages. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. 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. Ephesians is comprised of six chapters and is considered a deuteropauline epistle meaning that it is considered dispute. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we.

Historical background in the beginning of the book of ephesians, paul specifically states that he is the author of the letter to ephesians, though the authenticity of pauls authorship has been questioned. His principal ministry was at westminster chapel, in central london, from 19391968, where he delivered multiyear expositions on books of the bible such as romans, ephesians and the gospel of john. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. 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. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new testament. Perhaps the greatest of all points paul makes in this book is the fact that it is by grace you have been. The book of ephesians is a letter written to the christians at ephesus. May 12, 2017 the epistle to the ephesians, additionally called the letter to the ephesians and frequently abbreviated to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new testament. Stay encouraged and united with christ with these popular bible verses from the tenth book of the new testament, ephesians. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is, written in pauls name by a later author strongly influenced by pauls thought, probably by a loyal. Luke records in acts that paul spent two years in ephesus see acts 19. 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. Each paragraph calls us to renewed thinking that leads to faithful godly lives.

Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. But whereas colossians focuses on christ of the church, ephesians focuses on the church of christ. Each chapter includes the scripture reference being taught along with commentary emphasizing the. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. These important questions are answered in the book of ephesians. It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of ephesus in asia minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is christ, the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making gods plan of salvation known throughout the universe eph 3. The importance and style of prayer needed for the welfare of the church. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Nov 18, 2015 the book of ephesians is an incredible book, rich in the doctrines of god that gives the reader hope, assurance, and the protection theyll need and well need it because the enemy is out. Practical insights for everyday christian living provides a comprehensive biblical commentary from renowned bible teacher joyce meyer. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the. Yet grasping the full spectrum of this epistle can be daunting.

Ephesians also contains two of the most memorable passages in the new testament. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is, written in pauls name by a later author strongly. In fact, about a third of colossians appears in ephesians in some form. In other words, ephesians is thought to perhaps not been written by the apostle paul.

Its origin has customarily been credited to paul the apostle however, beginning in 1792, this has been tested as deuteropauline, that is, composed in pauls name by a later creator. References to the church are not to individual congregations or. 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. Importance of putting on full armor of god daily according to. The book has similarities to colossians, suggesting it was written about the same time. Ephesians colossians philippians philemon paul remained in ephesus for nearly three years on his 3rd missionary journey. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. The book of colossians is very similar to that of ephesians, in fact both books have passages with similar themes and phrases. The intention of the letter to ephesus is to help them understand gods purpose for their lives, unity of the church, and the spiritual realm of the christian life. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. T he book of ephesians is 6 chapters of solid christian teachings. There may be two purposes for paul having written the book of ephesians.