Bible Study: Introduction to Ephesians

I. Synopsis

I.A. Author: Apostle Paul

Date Written: AD 60-64

Timing: Written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome

I.B. Ephesus -- the city

-- principal city of Asia Minor, located along the coast

-- Ephesus was located in what is now Turkey, along the western coast

-- Ephesus does not exist any longer -- only ruins exist

-- Ephesus was a vacation place for Roman emporers and was second in importance only to Rome

-- 4^th largest city in Mediterranean world (population 250,000)

-- founded in 2000 b.c. by the Hittites

-- was an Oriental City -- eastern culture -- until 1000 b.c.

-- When Greeks came to Ephesus in 334 B.C., got mix of eastern and western cultures

-- in 281 B.C. the city was refounded under the old name of Ephesus and became one of the most important commercial ports in the Mediteranean

-- Rome took over about 129 B.C.

-- Ephesus was located on a harbor -- the Apostle Paul sailed right up to the gates of Ephesus

-- the harbor is now filled up and silted in -- the ruins of Ephesus are about 6 miles from the ocean now

-- Ephesus was home of religion that worshipped Diana (also called Artemis)

-- Temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

-- largest Greek temple ever constructed -- four times larger than the Parthenon

-- temple was built over a marsh on an artificial foundation of skins and charcoal -- did this so it would not be affected by earthquakes

-- temple had 127 columns -- contained great works of art

-- inside temple was idol of Diana -- goddess of fertility

-- flourishing trade was carried on in manufacture of silver shrines or models of the temple -- visitors to temple would buy the silver shrines as a memento of their visit

-- became a very important center of trade and commerce -- most important trading center in Asia -- leading political and intellectual center with major schools of philosophy

-- had an open theater capable of containing 50,000 spectators -- at the time it was the largest in the world

I.C. Paul's Visits to Ephesus

-- Paul visited Ephesus twice:

1) Acts 18:18-21 -- During Paul's second missionary trip -- AD 53

2) Acts 19:1-10 -- During Paul's third missionary trip

-- During Paul's second visit to Ephesus, he spent three months in synagogue preaching to Jews -- after they rejected him, he spent 2 years teaching in the school of Tyrannus

-- Apollos had ministered in Ephesus between Paul's visits

-- at the time, Apollos didn't know full gospel -- only knew the gospel preached by John the Baptist -- a baptism of repentance of sins

-- People of Ephesus heard more Bible teaching from Paul than any other people -- this was the reason why he was able to provide deeper teachings to them than to any other churches he wrote letters to

-- 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

-- Paul's preaching resulted in a great uprising -- Acts 19:23- 20:1

-- last visit with Ephesian elders -- Acts 20:17-38

-- Paul sent Timothy to be the pastor at Ephesus after he left -- 1 Tim 1:3

-- a few years later, Paul was sent to prison in Rome where he wrote this epistle -- the epistle was carried back to Ephesus by Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21)

-- After the Apostle John had returned from exile to Patmos, he went to Ephesus where he served as their pastor for several years. Tradition says John still cared for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and that she was with him in Ephesus (John 19:26-27). There is a tomb in Ephesus that is supposedly the tomb of Mary.

I.D. Outline of Book of Ephesians

-- Main focus on book is on unity in the body of Christ

-- six chapters:

1) first three chapters are about heavenly calling of church and are doctrinal

2) last three chapters are about earthly conduct of church -- practical application

-- Chapter 1: Church is a body

-- Chapter 2: Church is a temple

-- Chapter 3: Church is a mystery

-- Chapter 4: Church is a new man

-- Chapter 5: Church will be a bride

-- Chapter 6: Church is a soldier

-- Characteristics of the Ephesian Church

- Rev 2:1-7: praised for its strength and faithfulness. At the time Ephesians was written, the church was the ideal Christian community.