The book of Ephesians

All the riches of the church in Christ

Author: The apostle Paul (1:1), then a prisoner (3:1; 4:1)
Written: About AD 60-62
Time covered: Written during a captivity of Paul, according to tradition in Rome (Acts 28:30), and carried by Tychicus at the same time as the letter to the Colossians (6:21-22; Col 4:7-8)
Key word: In Christ

Paul blesses God who, in Christ, chose, adopted, redeemed and sealed with the Holy Spirit those who believe, and he prays that they will grasp the greatness of this power. Dead in their sins, they have been saved by grace, through faith. Christ broke down the wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles to form one new man, a holy temple: this is the mystery entrusted to Paul. After a prayer that they may know the love of Christ, Paul calls them to keep the unity of the Spirit, to grow through Christ’s gifts, to put on the new man and to walk in love and light. He regulates household relationships and ends with the armor of God.

Main theme

God has blessed believers with every spiritual blessing in Christ and has made Jews and Gentiles one body, the church; this new people is called to walk worthy of its calling and to stand firm in the spiritual battle.

Outline

Ephesians 1-3 — Our position in Christ
Spiritual blessings, salvation by grace, the unity of Jews and Gentiles and the mystery revealed to Paul.
Ephesians 4-5 — Our walk in the world
Unity and gifts in the body, the new man, imitating God, walking in the light, the Christian couple.
Ephesians 6 — Our spiritual battle
Family and work relationships, the armor of God, persevering prayer and the sending of Tychicus.

Key points

In Christ, God chose us, adopted us, redeemed us and sealed us with the Holy Spirit, to the praise of his glory (1:3-14).
Salvation comes entirely by grace, through faith, and not by works, yet it produces good works (2:8-10).
By the cross, Christ broke down the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles and made of the two one new man (2:14-16).
The mystery revealed to Paul: the Gentiles are fellowheirs and members of the same body in Christ (3:6).
The love of Christ passes knowledge in its breadth, length, depth and height (3:18-19).
Christ gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints and build up the body (4:11-12).
The husband loves his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it (5:25).
The believer stands firm in the spiritual battle clothed in the whole armor of God (6:10-17).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Ephesians 1:3 — The summary of the first half: every spiritual blessing is already ours in Christ.

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 2:8–10 — The clearest statement of salvation by grace, through faith, for good works prepared by God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20–21 — The doxology that celebrates a God able to go beyond all our prayers.

Jesus in Ephesians

Ephesians presents Christ as the one in whom God gathers together all things in heaven and on earth (1:10), risen and raised above all dominion to be head of the church, his body (1:20-23). He is our peace, who made Jews and Gentiles one new man (2:14-15), the chief corner stone of God’s temple (2:20), and the Bridegroom who gave himself for his church to make her holy and without blemish (5:25-27).

Did you know?

In the Greek text, the great praise of 1:3-14 forms a single sentence, which English translations often have to break up.
The words about Tychicus’s mission are almost identical in Ephesians and Colossians: “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts” (6:22; Col 4:8).
The Greek expression for “in the heavenly places” occurs five times in the letter and nowhere else in Paul’s writings (1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12; the KJV renders the last one “in high places”).

Quiz on Ephesians

According to Paul, through what are we saved by grace?

In the armor of God, what is “the sword of the Spirit”?

How are husbands to love their wives?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.