The theme of the book of ephesians is found at chapter 1. We will study chapters 1 through 3, thus completing the exposition of this book begun several years ago with chapters 4 through 6 messages which are already available in print. A workbook suitable for bible classes, family studies, or. It has been said to contain the profoundest truth revealed to men, and the church at ephesus was, perhaps, better prepared than any other to be the custodian of such truth, since pauls long stay there had so well. Perhaps one of the most repeated themes of praise in the whole bible are the words. The book of ephesians the book of ephesians seems to encompass everything that the christian is, what he will experience, and how he is to overcome against the ancient foe, the devil. Includes jews which is what wed expect but also gentiles. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. Arnolds book is one of the most influential dissertations written on ephesians in recent pauline. What was a judge, and what were the conditions in israel during the period of the judges. 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. I hope that, as we begin this doctrinal portion of ephesians, your heart. It was during this time that paul sat in rome undergoing his first roman imprisonment ephesians 3.
The bible, the old testament and new testament, is addressed to gods people. You may remember him from such new testament letters as romans and 1 corinthians. Has both a physical angle and spiritual angle to it. We can take comfort in the knowledge that god will one day call all those who exercise authority to account. Enjoy the book of ephesians and start living in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1 niv bible paul, an apostle of christ jesus by. The book of eli casts bible as a major theme baptist standard. If the people of your city, of your school, of your family are going to hear the gospel, its going to be from your mouth.
Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and to god. Themes in the book of ephesians christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. The book of ephesians records not only what god has done chapters but also what he is doing now. The other prison letters are philippians, colossians which contain 78 of the 155 verses found in ephesians with only slight variation, and philemon. We therefore welcome all the more warmly the following contribution to the debate which is based on a paper given to the tsf group in oxford. 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. The uniqueness of ephesians among the epistles introduction. Ephesians presents many significant themes which bring major contributions of thought. Focused in purpose, he puts on the armor of god ephesians. 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. The church has been brought from death to life in christ.
Mar 22, 2020 eli goes through ephesians showing how spiritual warfare is a main theme throughout the book. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. The strophic structure of the eulogy of ephesians 1. Paul uses several word pictures to describe the church. An outline of ephesians intended to enhance and assist your study of gods holy word his letter to you. Zondervan, 1992, 30911 2 a problem with the view that each church filled in its name in 1.
In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of. The book of ephesians is one of pauls prison letters, written during his time under house arrest in rome acts 28. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in. D download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Ephesians and colossians summary the epistle to the ephesians. And well take time this evening, were going to look at the introduction of this little epistle and the salutation that we find in verses 1 and 2, were only going to look at these two verses because its. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. Another major theme in ephesians is the keeping of christs body that is, the church pure and holy. Paul begins his epistle to the ephesians by summarizing the key. However, when we obey in circumstances where submission is appropriately required, we render service to god. The book of samuel, or 1 samuel and 2 samuel, form part of the narrative history of israel in the neviim or prophets section of the hebrew bibleold testament, called the deuteronomistic history, a series of books joshua, judges, samuel and kings that constitute a theological history of the israelites and aim to explain gods law for israel under the guidance of the prophets. The main theme of ephesians is the church, which is the body of christ. The kingdom foreshadows the coming millennial kingdom in some respects. Christ has united people from all nations to himself and to one another in his church. Ephesians 1, new king james version nkjv the bible app. Paul the author of this letter, realizing that the ephesians were starting to forsake their first love, wrote this epistle to encourage them to love both god and their fellow saints.
It often takes several readings which is also a good thing to do to craft an outline of the book, titling the main sections with something that makes sense to you. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. The men in judges seem to be ordinary and average, while here the characters are outstanding and above the average. 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. The book of ephesians week six workbook eeonline biblestudy. He describes the central meaning of his book as teaching that one should always do more for others than for oneself. The book of ephesians is almost certainly one of four epistles that. The book of eli has an incredible biblical message, which tells the story of elis unwavering faith as he honors god with his life and follows gods will no matter how hard the journey may be. 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. Ephesians 16 nkjv greeting paul, an apostle of jesus.
The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle. They are hannah, eli, samuel, saul, jonathan, and david. The book of ephesians free online bible study lessons. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. A grand epistle like ephesians almost defies coming up with one main theme. First samuel is a transitional book from the era of the judges to the kingdom.
Gods teaching for us in this letter will give us the doctrine we need to build our. This includes the source of these blessings, the means by which they are attained, the reason why they are given, and their final result. A workbook suitable for bible classes, family studies, or personal bible study available in print at. All 66 books of the bible in easy, onesentence summaries. The call of christ is a call to action, and ephesians lays out gods desire for your spiritual walk like no other book of the bible. Once you know the main purpose of the book, it is extremely helpful to outline the book. This time, pauls writing to the church in ephesus and, boy, does he have a lot to say. In chapters, paul begins with the joyful truth that every believer has been chosen. The themes of ephesians theology lectures in 200 words. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. The others are philippians, colossians, and philemon. Major themes in the book of ephesians our blessings in christ ephesians 1. 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.
There are certain profound global lessons for us in the setting up of the kingdom. Upon completion of the study, it is recommended that you discuss your answers and insights with other bible students who also completed the workbook. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. 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. To the saints who live in ephesus, the faithful in christ. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. Style and genre in ephesians q m t qdonovan the authorship of ephesians is an increasingly open question in current discussion. The other prison letters are philippians, colossians which contain 78 of the 155 verses found in ephesians with only slight variation, and. We see elis faith remain steadfast as he faces many trials and tribulations, including.
Carnegie, and a lack of basic necessities, such as fresh water, food, and decent shelter. 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. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. Eli, on the other hand, saw the book as the key to the restoration of society. Read and study ephesians, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary hi, sign out. 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. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. Elis sons hophni and phinehas were worthless men 1 sam. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. Skim the book of 1 samuel, state the theme of the book, and list its main characters.
The equipping of gods people to do what god has appointed them. The spiritual wealth of the believer kindle edition by jakes, t. There is no more majestic theme, no more noble pursuit than the glory of god. The bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic action film starring denzel washington that. As we stand in the midst of the birth of jacobs well, i can think of no better place to build our lives together than in the book of ephesians. So he acts as one would hope a man of god would act. Greetingpaul, an apostle of jesus christ by the will of god,to the saints who are in ephesus, and faithful in christ jesus. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing.
Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the roman empire and the capital city of asia. The old priest, eli, somehow failed to discipline his priestly sons and they later. Greear digs into the text of ephesians versebyverse and challenges believers to live out the gospel. 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. Understanding the book of ephesians and bible study guide. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. A study guide for the book of ephesians answers chapter one. This is certainly a central focus in christs teaching, however, it is secondary to the central message of the bible. Eli goes through ephesians showing how spiritual warfare is a main theme throughout the book. The book covers a period of 115 years from the birth of samuel through the turbulent times of saul to the beginning of david, the king who god chose.
May 12, 2017 the main theme of ephesians is the church, which is the body of christ. This book begins the 500 year period of the kings of israel approximately between 1050 and 586bc. 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. The book of eli has an incredible biblical message, which tells the story of elis. Ephesians commentary free bible study notes, commentary, and. A general account of the blessings that the gospel reveals. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is. Any slave master has the capacity to be cruel and even abusive 1 peter 2. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to bible. Eli, the father of hophni and phinehas, is a prime and. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison.
These names of god, related with his son, are the basic principle of the letter we. Carson, douglas moo, and leon morris, an introduction to the new testament grand rapids. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. Ephesians, even though paul spent three years there, and because 1. Ephesians 1 6 new king james version nkjv greeting. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ.
People of all nations are united to christ and to one another in the church, through the working of the trinity. There is a striking contrast between the characters in the book of judges and those in the two books of samuel. Aug 04, 20 the call of christ is a call to action, and ephesians lays out gods desire for your spiritual walk like no other book of the bible. To help you with this, i have divided this book into fortyone sec tions. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. Ephesians with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. We turn now to the epistle of paul to the ephesians, one of the greatest letters of the new testament. Ephesians 1 new english translation net bible salutation. 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. Encounter ephesians, and get swept up into the story of jesus.
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