What timeless truths can we glean from this special book. However, this was probably a circular letter, intended for other churches in addition to the one in ephesus see notes on 1. A mere mention of some of the basic problems will suffice as a background against which to note the purpose and plan of the letter. Johnson, in an article appearing in the interpreters dictionary of the bible. A study of the epistle to the ephesians berean bible society. The general consensus is that these epistles were written during pauls imprisonment at rome cf. The author, if he was not paul himself has carried the apostles thinking to its logical.
The letter was hand delivered by tychicus ephesians 6. Thanks to the understanding gained from this study, ephesians in my study bible is almost all hi lighted. Patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Ephesus was a big, prosperous harbor city in asia minor. The church has long accepted that paul was the author of the letter to the ephesians. This summary of the book of 1 peter provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 peter. 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. Biblical scholars are divided over the authorship of ephesians and colossians. A brief outline enables us to understand the whole book. 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. Mcneiles an introduction to the study of the new testament is a. Revelation is certainly different from other books of the new testament. Some liberal critics have attempted to raise doubts, yet the authorship of the book is solidly established both by the clear statement in the book itself and by the records of the early uninspired christian writers.
The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. As is typical with pauline authorship, his allusions to the old testament are. Introduction 3 chapter one 7 chapter two 11 chapter three 14 chapter four 18 chapter five 22 chapter six 27. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and the surrounding region c. The jerusalem bible notes that some critics think the words who are.
Belief in jesus results in faith, hope, and love 1. Faith foundations study guides bible studies the gospel of. Authorship of ephesians at least three different scenarios are possible, and all three have attracted considerable support from interpreters in the modern era. This webpage provides a book of ephesians outline as provided by the wycliffe bible commentary. 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. 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. The book of ephesians overview of the book of ephesians the book of ephesians is a masterpiece of revelation that bridges the principles of grace and obedience into one solid irremovable form.
The letter does not seek to correct errors as does his letters to corinth or galatia nor is it a teaching epistle. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ephesians. Another has called it the alps of the new testament. Book of ephesians outline the book of ephesians outline as shown below from the wycliffe bible commentary. Unlike other books like romans or 1 and 2 corinthians which are undisputedly pauline, it has been debated whether ephesians and colossians along with 2 thes. The fundamental principles of grace and mans responsibility to abide by gods laws are thoroughly revealed in the old testament. Throughout this rich book, we will learn about the churchs inherited stewardship, multiethnic identity, distinct lifestyle, and spiritual opposition. 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. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia asia minor, modern turkey. I dont think opponents to pauline authorship come close to putting ephesians with the apocryphal books, so i cant deny its pauline authorship. The book of ephesians grace given and grace applied an. A more extensive outline after this one helps understand how the many parts form the whole.
A rather workable outline employed by summers is built upon the word redemption. The author of the book of ephesus was the apostle paul. These studies will guide you through this lifechanging book of the bible and give you practical application to help you grow in your faith, gain greater intimacy with jesus, experience the victorious christian life, and help you build your life around jesus christ. Many liberal american and european scholars have abandoned the pauline authorship of ephesians, although outstanding english and american scholars alike advocate its. It is organized in an unusual twopart structure and has even been placed in various positions in the arrangement of books in the hebrew bible. As i was doing this, i found that ephesians and revelation were the two easiest books in the bible to outline. In a detailed study published in 2002, harold hoehner surveys the positions on the authorship of ephesians scholars since 1792 279 authors, 390 works and then summarizes the results in three tables. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and. Epistle to the ephesians read the bible online bible study tools. Karl barth on the authorship of ephesians and colossians. Through pauls letter to the church at ephesus, we find greater revelation of who the lord jesus is, what he has given to. The purpose and plan of ephesians preaching source.
Broken down in a way to gleam the main topics and themes of this book. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. In any case, we can be sure that paul was clarifying the teaching of christ, the. The book is address by paul to the church at ephesus. Nov 18, 2015 what is the purpose of the book of ephesians. An introduction to daniel detailed outline and introduction. Call gods people to live in light of our heavenly calling in christ jesus. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, paul. Book of ephesians outline free online bible study lessons. Welcome to our study of ephesians, a book that highlights the high calling and conduct of the church, the corporate body of jesus christ.
For a small book, ephesians really makes a huge impact. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. Adoption, redemption, and empowerment of the saints. We will not be extensive here, but reading and meditation on acts 1920 and revelation 2. Ephesians, a study guide from the executable outlines series by mark a. Tom constables expository notes on ephesians this is also available in the net. May 12, 2017 categories bible, new testament tags bible study ephesians, bible study on ephesians, book of ephesians outline, book of ephesians summary, commentary on ephesians, ephesians 1 summary, ephesians bible study, ephesians chapter 1 summary, ephesians outline, ephesians study guide, epistle to the ephesians, letter to the ephesians, outline of. A study guide for the book of ephesians answers chapter one. Here is a short and succinct outline of the book of ephesians. A common proposal is that paul wrote the letter to the colossians to deal with. Ephesians executable outline study resources blue letter bible. Three major questions that relate to the study of the book ephesians in the bible are. So, together with a bible to look up crossreferences, you have everything you need for your journey of discovery in ephesians. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a.
The book of ephesians survey and outline introduces, through with maps, outlines. It was written in two languages hebrew and aramaic and narrated in two different voices first person and third person. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ephesians. To the saints who live in ephesus, the faithful in christ. Copeland hundreds of free sermon outlines and bible study materials available for online browsing and downloading. His authorship of this book is supported by the testimony of justin martyr 165 a. The letter to the ephesian church is regarded as one of the masterworks of the nt, but it is also one of those books that the critics like to say wasnt authored by paul. Seminary, and is currently professor of new testament studies at his alma mater. The central organizing theological idea in ephesians is that through christs atoning work god has mightily brought about the churcha new humanity, i. The author except for the pastorals, ephesians has the worst. The author except for the pastorals, ephesians has the worst credentials for authenticity, in critical circles, among all of pauls epistles. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. Ephesians is one of pauls four prison epistles eph 3. Answering bible contradictions, misunderstandings, and misinterpretations.
This study guide was developed in preparation for teaching adult bible classes. The argument against ephesians authenticity, however, rests exclusively on internal evidence, for as even kummel admits, without question ephesians was extraordinarily well attested in the early church. Ephesians, expository sermons from the executable outlines series by mark a. Bible study lesson sheets these are lessons designed for either a class or personal study. Jesus as the allsufficient savior is the object of the believers faith chapters 12. The book of ephesians outline as shown below from the wycliffe bible commentary.
As robert deffinbaugh notes, the church in ephesus was one of the. Nov 27, 2009 to deny pauline authorship of a book in the bible is to challenge its authority as scripture. Understanding the book of ephesians and bible study guide. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. No other book in the bible is rife with such controversy. The author except for the pastorals, ephesians has the. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical. An introduction to the book of ephesians an argument of the book of ephesians selected bibliography on the book of ephesians.
A study of the epistle to the ephesians lesson one note first the following verses in this epistle. The deeper christian bible study series in ephesians is an indepth versebyverse study of pauls letter to the ephesians. The book of ephesians grace given and grace applied an introduction and outline authorship. Colossians bible study, detailed outline, by james moriello, firm foundation christian church, woonsocket, ri, 2019 3 church leaders, and seeking to create a culture conducive to spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and understanding ii. This book is divided into 12 lessons, each of which contains the full niv text of the scripture passage, several study and discussion questions, and a versebyverse commentary. If we are going to properly understand the book of ephesians, we need to understand its immediate context. The bible, the old testament and new testament, is addressed to gods people. 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. A salutation, and an account of saving blessings, as prepared in gods eternal election, as purchased by christs blood. 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. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings and the verbal similarity of many parts to colossians, among other reasons, as grounds for doubting authorship by the apostle paul.
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