INTRODUCTION
TO EPHESIANS
Dr. Eric Reese
EPHESIANS
This book has been called the "crowning jewel," or
capstone, of Paul's theology. All of the great themes of
Paul started in Galatians, developed in Romans, and are
now expressed in Ephesians in a wonderful summary
fashion.
As you know Apostle wrote Galatians early around AD 48
-49
He developed the doctrinal truths into the book of Romans
AUTHOR
A. Paul
1. Expressly stated in Eph. 1:1, 3:1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus [a]by the will of
God, To the [b]saints who are [c]at Ephesus
and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2. Reference to imprisonment (probably in Rome) in
Eph. 3:1;
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ
Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles
Later on real problems came to
the early church.
So the Apostle Paul wrote a letter
to be sent to all the churches to
prepare them for the false
teaching by explain the truth.
Which letter would that be? It’s
the Book of Ephesians a cyclical
letter
BACKGROUND
From the book of Acts we know the greatest revival
that Apostle Paul was part of was in the city of
Ephesus
He stayed longer in Ephesus than any other city.
Apostle stayed in Corinth for 18 months what a
mess that city was.
But Paul remain in Ephesus for 24 months longer
than any other city.
EPHESIANS
The Bible say God open the door to the Gospel that
no one could close.
This was some type of Revival people were leaving
paganism, cults turning to God.
To give you an example of how real the revival was
those living in a cult brought the magic books
and burned them publicly.
To show their complete BREAK with the Past!
EPHESIANS
Epaphras (Col. 1:7; 4:12; Philemon 23) was converted
during Paul's Ephesians campaign (Acts 19)
Doing this time a man by the name of Epaphras was
saved.
Epaphras was a layman he had never seen Jesus he
was not from Palestine.
He heard the Apostle Paul preach and got saved. He
was so moved he wanted to take the life changing life
freeing message back to his home area, the Lycus
River Valley.
EPHESIANS
This layman was so excited about the message that
he started three churches.(Hierapolis, Laodicea
and Colossae)
Things were going well until false teachers came
around.
These false teacher were called “Gnosis” Greek
word knowledge.
WHAT IS GNOSTICISM?
It comes from the word “gnosis” meaning to know.
Gnosticism was a philosophical system built on Greek
philosophy.
Gnosticism was built on Greek philosophy that taught
matter was evil and the Spirit was good.
Christian Gnostics said since matter was evil, God could
not really incarnate in a human body
The Gnostics supposedly had knowledge of God that was
exclusive.
WHAT IS GNOSTICISM?
a series of aeons (angelic levels)
existed between the good high
God and a lesser god who formed
matter
salvation was based on knowledge
of secret passwords which helped
people progress through
the aeons (angelic levels)
WHAT IS GNOSTICISM?
They considered themselves superior to the
average Christian.
Ethical behavior among the Gnostics were on two
ends of the spectrum. Some tried to separate
themselves from all earthly evil in order to avoid
contamination, other Gnostics were libertarians.
The exclusive spiritual knowledge meant their
having the freedom to participate in all sorts of
indulgences. Since they had received divine
knowledge and were enlightened, it didn't matter
how they lived in the body, because the flesh was
evil.
EPHESIANS
This group of people tried to take the Gospel and
make it relevant to the Greek Culture
They did this by using the words but changing the
meaning.
Epaphras sought Paul for advice on how to combat
the merging of world-views by the heretics. Paul
was in prison at Rome (early 60's)
False teachers came and began to merge the gospel
with Greek ontology
EPHESIANS
Just imagine that Paul was in prison Epaphras giving him
a report of what was happening to the churches. These
particular churches Paul have never meet them nor the
believers.
Apostle Paul got so upset he wrote a hard-hitting letter in
short, emotional sentences, directed at the false teachers.
The central theme was the cosmic lordship of Jesus. This
is known as Paul's letter to the Colossians.
Soon after writing Colossians, with time on his hands in
prison, he developed these same themes. Ephesians is
characterized by long sentences and developed
theological concepts
BOOK OF EPHESIANS A CYCLICAL
LETTER
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wrote to all the churches
Has not greetings and no good
byes
It was written to churches who
had not yet encounter this
problem
To prepare the churches for
what was coming.
EPHESIANS
The power of the Holy Spirit brought about conversion
of a Roman Catholic Monk named Martin Luther as
he was studying the Psalms and recognized a passage
from Romans realized how one is saved.
What was the truth he saw?
“ Justification by Grace through Faith” It became the
capstone phrase for the Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther Old Testament Professor help started
the Protestant Reformation.
EPHESIANS
Ephesians is a book about unity.
This book is about truth.
This book is about the Gospel.
It is my prayer that as we study this book that we
seek unity with our brothers and sister in Christ.
I am proud to be a member of PIB Recreio but I am
most proud to be part of his kingdom.
EPHESIANS
This book has life changing principals but just like
the teaching of Jesus it’s the heart of the hearer
who hold the keys to the truth.
John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the
truth will make you free.”
Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the truth
and turn it into a life style no preacher can do
that only God.
EPHESIANS 1:1-2
Paul, an apostle of Christ
Jesus [a]by the will of God,
To the [b]saints who
are [c]at Ephesus and who
are faithful in Christ Jesus:
1
2 Grace
to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
EPHESIANS
Now the word Paul is interesting because for most
of the book of Acts he is not known Paul he is
known as Saul of Tarsus.
Where did Paul come from? In the middle of book of
Acts Barnabas and Saul turns into Paul and
Barnabas.
Something radical has happen but we are not told
what.
The word Paul means little some believed the
scatter Jews outside of Palestine would give their
kids a Jewish name Saul and Greek name Paul.
EPHESIANS
Here is another idea how many time Paul stated “I
am the least of the saints because I persecuted
the church.”
It possible that Paul not only imprison some
Christians but also killed some as well. I think
Paul is saying by using this name I am the least
deserving of the Grace of God.
But look at what HE is doing for me! Have you ever
felt that way?
EPHESIANS
Now he is called an Apostle and there are two Greek
words which means to send. The Greek word here is
Apostello which means to send.
This word seem to represent the Hebrew word which
means to be sent as a official representative
Interesting in the book of John Jesus used this Greek
word when “"For I did not speak on My own initiative,
but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a
commandment as to what to say and what to speak.”
(John 12:49)
JOHN 20:21
Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the
Father has sent Me, I also send you.“
In other words we are Jesus:
1. Hands
2. Feet
3. Voice
To a lost world today. Now I know it’s the Holy
Spirit that bring revelation to lost people.
Also remember the Holy Spirit is given to us to
remember the things Jesus said and
communicate them with Power.
Not only was Jesus the Sent one! My friend you are
the sent one!
The Great Commission:
Matthew 28:19-20
19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always,
even to the end of the age.”
EPHESIANS:1:1
1a]by the will of God-Paul is giving his testimony.
He was persecuting churches and was on the
Damascus road and Jesus meet him on that road.
His life was changed and he was never the same!