Visit my outline article on ephesians or read a short summary of each chapter. What stands out about ephesians is the awe with which it contemplates the mystery of the church. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries.
This is assumed from the absence of the word ephesians ephesians 1. The first half of the letter focuses on the ephesians calling. 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. 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. 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. Introduction to the book of ephesians juli camarin february 24, 2015 introduction. The letter to the ephesians is one of the most majestic and inspiring statements in the new testament of the good news of what god has done through jesus. In the book of ephesians, we learn how the gospel creates a new multiethnic, covenant family of god, and affects our story and how we live every day as a body of new humanity unified in love. Ephesians 1910 9 having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earthin him. There is no reference to ephesus, or to any individuals, despite acts recording that. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our.
Teaching series from ephesians xenos christian fellowship. Paul gives thanks and prays for the ephesians ephesians 1. However, the letter to the philippians was to be delivered by epaphroditus, who had come to paul in rome with financial help from the church at philippi philippians 2. Summarising the epistle to the ephesians the bible brief. Praise be to the god and father of our lord jesus christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in christ. Listen to lectures in this teaching series a tour of ephesus gifts from the father. As i was doing this, i found that ephesians and revelation were the two easiest books in the bible to outline. In this first study, we do a big picture overview of the book of ephesians and give a simple outline of its contents. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. Ive written a onesentence overview of every book of the bible. Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the book of ephesians.
Acts 19, but may have been intended as a circular letter to be read by neighboring churches. Introduction to the book of ephesians brief summary. Neither mark dever nor john piper has systematically taught through the entire book of ephesians. 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. Pauls letter to the ephesians is one of the most beloved and quoted books in the bible. Dever did preach an overview sermon on the book where he identified the message of ephesians to be grace. The end result is that the gospel spread from ephesus throughout asia minor ac 19. If this is so, then the book was written to the churches in that reason. All 66 books of the bible in easy, onesentence summaries. To help folk learn what the bible is all about, i wrote a book called briefing the bible in which i attempted to give a helpful outline of every book in the bible.
Sproul examines these important topics and demonstrates why they are essential to life before the face of god. Overview of the book of ephesians third millennium ministries. Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. Sproul examines these important topics and demonstrates why they. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in jesus christ. 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. This is a lot to take in, so if you want to start with baby steps, check out this list of the shortest books of the bible. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article. In this series we will explore the depths of the great mystery that has now been revealed. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly scripture. Ephesians summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of ephesians for bible study or sunday school lessons. The fundamental principles of grace and mans responsibility to abide by gods laws are thoroughly revealed in the old testament. Summary of the book of ephesians summary of hebrews.
In ephesians, paul shows how the good news should create ethnically. 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. Prayer for ephesians strength, praise to god ephesians. Paul has one main desire in ephesians for you to know jesus christ and your. Themes in the book of ephesians christ has reconciled the whole of creation to himself and to god the father. Bible teaching online in audio, video, notes from the pauls epistle to the ephesians by galyn wiemers of generation word. Ephesus was the third largest city in the roman empire population 250,000 in what is today. Ppt ephesians powerpoint presentation free to download. Ephesians with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Preaching ephesians the letter to the ephesians is one of the most encouraging, instructive and inspiring books in the bible. Paul wrote the letter to the ephesians sometime in ad 6061, around the same time he wrote colossians and philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand. Nov 10, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
It is therefore critical to understand the nature and calling of the church that we might be effective members of the one body that is called to bear witness to gods grace in this world. If you want more, ive linked to quick, 3minute guides to every book of the bible, too. Half of the teaching in this epistle relates to our standing in. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. Every chapter of the bible in 140 characters or less. In the next three chapters, he gives the consequent obligations and requirements of being his child, in order to live out salvation in accordance with the fathers. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, once the most popular commentary, is favored by christians of many denominations. He does want the blessings and favor of god to fall upon these people. Paul sent the other three prison epistlesephesians, colossians, and philemonby the hand of tychicus, as their destinations were near one another.
God has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to prepare gods people for works of service so the body of christ may be. Book introduction the apostle paul, having reminded his readers of the glory and promise of god, our need for his grace and provision, our new standing before god, as both individuals and as a family of believers, the magnificence of god, a healthy perspective of suffering in the life of a believer, the love, power and provision of god, and his calling to a life of holiness, now described with. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. If romans is the purest expression of the gospel as luther said, then ephesians is the most sublime and majestic expression of the gospel. Ephesians executable outline study resources blue letter bible. It was the capital of proconsular asia, being about a mile from the sea coast, and was the great religious, commercial and political center of asia. Eight of these book are letters to local churches like the one in ephesus. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and. In any case, we can be sure that paul was clarifying the teaching of christ, the church, salvation and sanctification for these saints. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives.
The book of ephesians gives practical, encouraging advice on living a life that honors god, which is why its still relevant in a conflictridden world. Paul doesnt specify a specific heresy but does seem to want them to be identified with christ and one in a sense of purpose. An indepth versebyverse bible study series of pauls letter to the ephesians. Generation word bible teaching ministry enjoy fast paced verse by verse teaching of scripture with exegetical insight, historical information and relevant. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides a freeflowing commentary on the entire text of each biblical book, along with background material. Paul uses several word pictures to describe the church. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Generation word bible teaching ministry enjoy fast paced verse by verse teaching of scripture with exegetical insight, historical information and relevant application for your spiritual growth. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul and tychicus. There is a peculiar and sustained loftiness in its teaching which has deeply impressed the greatest minds and has earned for it the title of the epistle of the ascension. An outline of ephesians intended to enhance and assist your study of gods holy word his letter to you. 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.
Paul instructs the church that christianity is for all men, jews, gentiles, male female, bond, free, all are united in christ. People of all nations are united to christ and to one another in the church, through the working of the trinity. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. Ephesians overview dummelows commentary on the bible. 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.
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. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly scripture encouragement to share with family and friends. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. Outline of the book of ephesians opening salutation ephesians 1. 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. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. Paul starts of this letter by greeting the church at ephesus, who unlike the church at corinth, are predominantly gentiles and get along very well, but have need of further teaching in.
Although in many lessons the writer or teacher decides on a lesson aim the main teaching he wants the students to get and application how he wants the students to apply the scripture to. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. I summarised the bible on twitter between aug 2010 and nov 20 one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day. Verse by verse teaching through the book of ephesians. Early in the history of grace church, the history of john macarthur. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical scholars and lay people. Theyre listed in the order they show up in the protestant bible. Overview and outline of ephesians bible study deeper. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat the latter part as secondary or of less value see the right diagram where a wall separates.
Ephesians according to tradition, ephesians was written by paul when he was a prisoner in rome, around ad 62. Like the letter to the romans, ephesians provides a unique insight into pauls theology, for it was written when paul had the luxury of not addressing a critical, local controversy. The passages which describe gods great plan of salvation reach to the highest places in heaven, and the passages which instruct us on how we are to live godly lives here on earth address in great detail our lives here on earth. Paul may have written it about the same time as colossians, c. Half of the teaching in this epistle relates to our standing in christ, and the remainder of it affects our condition. I asked and you voted, so welcome to the study of ephesians. Ephesians small group series lesson 1 introduction to. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. Paul had spent nearly three years in ephesus acts 19. Ephesians, on the other hand, is not a problemcentered epistle.
Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The key personalities of ephesians are the apostle paul. Before we can discuss the text, we must first confront a common misconception about the book of ephesians and the christian life itself. Book of philippians overview insight for living ministries. Ephesians chapter 4 in the first three chapters of ephesians, paul has set forth the believers position with all the blessings, honors, and privileges of being a child of god. True peace, just like true grace, comes from the father and the lord jesus christ. Ephesians our blessings in christ importance this epistle was evidently addressed to the church in ephesus cf. This letter, in many ways, is the crowning glory of the new testament. When christ redeemed us from sin and death, he incorporated all believers into his body. Those that like to get into studying the bible and its heavy doctrines prefer to study the first part of pauls letters and often treat the latter part as secondary or of less value see the right diagram where a wall separates the two sections. The book of ephesians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. Ephesians verse by verse teaching in the book of ephesians. A close look at ephesians for youth versebyverse inductive bible study.
Carver described the book of ephesians as the greatest piece of. After a while, we started getting unsettling reports on what they were teaching. The apostle pauls epistle to the ephesians packs a great deal of teaching and christian living principles into six chapters. The epistle to the ephesians is written to one of the most welltaught churches that ever existed. Ephesians overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of god not by works, so that no one can boast. Just as grace was the key word in galatians, it is prominent in all of pauls letters. Ephesians lessons for youth every child ministries. A disturbance created by some of the local idol makers finally forced. All too often those who teach from this book bypass all the foundational instruction and go directly to the closing chapter. However, ephesians is generally believed not to be by paul it is a deuteropauline epistle. In lesson one, we look at an overview and outline of the book of ephesians. All too often those who teach from this book bypass all.