Ephesians Images and
NotesThe Book of Ephesians
Ephesians 2:2-3 - Wherein in time past ye walked according
to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: 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; and were by nature the children of
wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 6:11-17 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of Paul the Apostle by Rembrandt - 1657
Introduction to The
Book of Ephesians
Brief Summary. Paul instructs the church that
Christianity is for all men, Jews, gentiles, male female, bond,
free, all are united in Christ. All men can enter, but it is
only by grace, through faith in Christ, and this is God's free
gift. The Christian can never revert back to the law of Moses,
and to overcome the powers of darkness the believers must unite
in Christ.
Summary of The Book of Ephesians
Purpose. While Paul was in prison he had been thinking
about his work as an apostle. He realized that Christ came to
unite Himself with man, and unity was the core purpose of the
book of Ephesians. The Church of Jesus Christ is now the
spiritual body of believers who represent Christ on earth. The
great truth of Christianity is that God is the uniting the world
to Himself through the believers. The idea of unity can be seen
clearly in the first chapter of Ephesians ( Ephesians 1:3-10),
and this principle of unity is seen throughout the rest of the
entire book. God's one eternal purpose is to unite one body of
believers through Christ, "the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who filleth
all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23). The Christian is saved by
grace, through faith, and the very faith is a gift of God,
therefore no one can boast. Christianity is is about God uniting
Himself with man, through Jesus Christ, and men being united in
Jesus Christ, and this great opportunity is God's gift.
Audience. The book is address by Paul to the church at
Ephesus. Most early writers spoke of the epistle as having been
addressed to the Ephesians.
Authorship. Paul names himself as the author of the
epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:1 and 3:1). Several of the
early church writers site the book of Ephesians, for example Irenaeus
and Clement of Alexandria both state that Paul was its author.
The style of writing is clearly Paul's, he begins with his
customary personal greetings and words of thanks, and addresses
issues of doctrine, as with the rest of his letters.
Date. Most scholars agree that Paul wrote his letter to
the Ephesians towards the end of his first imprisonment in Rome
(Ephesians 3:1; 4:1), which would have been around 61 AD. The
letter was hand delivered by Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21) just as
the letter to the Colossians had been (Colossians 4:7-9).
Audience. The book is address by Paul to the church at
Ephesus. Most early writers spoke of the epistle as having been
addressed to the Ephesians.
Outline of the Book of Ephesians
The Believers Position United to God - Chapters 1-3
The Believers Privileges United to One Another - Chapters 4-5
The Believers Protection United Against the Evil One- Chapter 6
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
Ephesians Maps and Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the
Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus,
in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which
prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and
the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture
throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the
rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first
missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and
his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the
church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary
Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his
second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in
Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for
dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him
over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister
in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea,
Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to
Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his
third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he
returned to the cities he had first visited on his first
missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in
Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of
his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19).
(Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the
"Nations" within the ancient world during the first century
A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas
of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)
