Ephesians also contains two of the most memorable passages in the new testament. The more the church grows in her understanding of gods great purpose for her, the more she will live it out and display his glory. It takes the form of a letter aimed at addressing the christian congregation. Yet grasping the full spectrum of this epistle can be daunting. It was written around 60ad during pauls house arrest in rome. The reoccurring theme in ephesians is gods purpose and plan in offering redemption to his people and the manifestation of that purpose in the life of the believer. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in christ. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god.
The letter is a reminder to the churches in asia to live out their faith in the light of the redemption unveiled by god. Right at the beginning, as paul is talking all about the identity of believers, he repeatedly mentions the goal of life. The climax of gods purpose, when the times will have reached their fulfillment, is to bring all things in the universe together under christ. Pauls epistle to the ephesians is possibly best known for its description of the christians armour. Sproul looks at the main issues raised in ephesians. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. The church of jesus christ is now the spiritual body of believers who represent christ on earth. There are 41 commands in ephesians, 1 of which is found in chapters.
Understanding gods purpose for the church related media many of the problems plaguing the church today, such as apathy, conflict, spiritual pride, and spiritual abuse, stem from a poor understanding of who the church is in christ and gods purpose for her. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. The hidden teachings of the book of ephesians youtube. 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. For example, in chapters paul depicts the birth and purpose of the church while in the later section, we get a picture of what the church is to look and function like. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. Bible dictionary project book the book of ephesians is an epistle written by paul to the church in ephesus. Lets study the letter of ephesians together with the bible teachers guide. A delineation of the plan is impossible apart from an understanding of the purpose. What is the major purpose for the book of galatians.
The purpose of being saved is that we may begin to reveal the righteous nature of god in our personality. Furthermore, a study in ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can. Summary of the book of ephesians story of the bible. Warnings of the last days from god christian short film the days of noah have come duration. The book of ephesians is a letter from paul to christians at ephesus. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. An introduction to the book of ephesians related media. Thank god for greg brown allowing the holy spirit guide the pen in the purpose to create a bible study class in the format in writings of ephesians. Free sermon book of ephesians martyn lloydjones trust. Most bible surveys and handbooks simplify the message of ephesians as exhortations to the body of christ, the church. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of asia minor.
Furthermore, a study in ephesians will help to fortify and to establish the believer so he can fulfill the purpose and calling god has given. Martyn lloydjones 18991981 was a welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the reformed tradition. 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 book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. The book of ephesians is familiar and favored territory in most believers bibles. The book of ephesians was a letter written by paul to the christian congregation in ephesis, but it is appropriate for us because it gives instruction on many aspects of christian life. Prayer that those who receive it may be able to apprehend its lessons 1419. 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. While paul was in prison he had been thinking about his work as an apostle. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. Ephesians sets forth what no other book of the new testament describes so completely the nature of the body of christ, which is the true church. The purpose of this paper is to give a brief overview the new testament book, ephesians. 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.
Little did the world know that the question has already been answered in the book of ephesians. Most books attribute the authorship to that of the apostle paul. Looking at the first ten verses of ephesians chapter one, cite three verses that explain the purpose or reason for gods plan for our salvation. 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. Call gods people to live in light of our heavenly calling in christ jesus. 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. Paul of the central truth, or mystery, of the universality of the gospel 1. He realized that christ came to unite himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the book of ephesians. It is crucially important that christians realize this, so in 1. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. The book of ephesians is a letter written to the christians at ephesus. While this is certainly a major theme in pauls book, it seems to ignore what i would argue is the major underlying purpose of ephesians which is our position in christ and the life that flows from it. This letter, in many ways, is the crowning glory of the new testament.
The church for gods wisdom according to his eternal purpose. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of gods eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals god has for the church. Sproul provides enough altitude to see the majestic theology of ephesians and enough detail to see the practicality of its terrain. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. However, the separation of these two basic interests and the resolving of the inherent difficulties int. Unlike several of the other letters paul wrote, ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy.
The purpose and plan of ephesians preaching source. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to god. The word of god is so powerful and we need it on a daily basis. This book of ephesians is an anointed insights into gods truth available to the readers through the pen of greg brown. Call gods people to live in light of our heavenly calling in christ. It is a section of scripture that has lastingly influenced many believers throughout church history. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true.
Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. The book of ephesians is an epistle written by paul bartleby. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. Ephesians seeks to shape believers by reminding them how wonderful gods work in christ is, how significant their unity with christ is, and what living for christ looks like. I invite you to join me on this journey from the book of ephesians to discover gods eternal purpose, his plan for your life, and learn how to practically live out an abundant and fruitful christian life. Bible biblestudytools video what is the purpose of the book of ephesians. 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. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a.
The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. A brief outline enables us to understand the whole book. Some of his epistles letters were written to individuals timothy and titus, and the rest to churches. A more extensive outline after this one helps understand how the many parts form the whole. This instructional letter is packed with practical advice, all given in an encouraging tone. This letter is one of pauls four imprisonment letters. This book is also available for purchase here on amazon. The intention of the letter to ephesus is to help them understand gods purpose for their lives, unity of the church. She is the bride of christ and a soldier fighting demonic forces. Our purpose, when making motivational videos, is to make quality and inspirational. 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.
In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. These important questions are answered in the book of ephesians. Paul wrote the letter, along with several other epistles, while incarcerated in a roman prison. Overview of the book of ephesians the letter opens with a sequence of statements about gods blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to gods wisdom, forethought and purpose. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city. The apostle paul wrote at least books of the new testament many theologians believe he also wrote the book of hebrews. The purpose and plan of the ephesian letter are inextricably interwoven.
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