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BibleJourney New Testament: Ephesians (Acts 19)
In the Text
1. Not your ordinary Pauline letter
Ephesians has no greetings
Ephesians has a eulogy (1.3-14) prior to its intercessory prayer report (1.15-23)
Ephesians has no mention of individuals (except Tychicus, 6.21-22)
Ephesians has no mention of a particular church’s situation
Ephesians has no mention of Ephesus (in earliest manuscripts)
Ephesians’ literary style involves long sentences and the piling up of synonyms
a. Long sentences: e.g., Eph. 1.3-14 and 1.15-20!
b. Use of Genitives ‘of’: e.g., ‘the ruler of the power of the air’ (2.2)
*** Not a systematic theology either!
2. Outline and flow of thought
Introduction/Greeting (1:1-2)
Spiritual Privileges of the Church (1:3-3:21)
Spiritual Responsibilities of the Church (4:1-6:20)
Conclusion/Final greeting & benediction (6:21-24)
3. Purpose
4. Main themes
A. Lordship of Jesus Christ (1:20-23; cf. Pss 8, 110)… Implications:
Authority and power over all things, including the Church
Authority that brings unity between Jews and Gentiles “in Christ”
Authority over Satan and spiritual powers (2:1-3; 6:10-18)
Authority over every area of life
B. Election for holy and blameless lives (1:4; cf. Dt 4:37; 7:7ff) See also Ephesians 4:22-24
C. Reconciliation
D. Peace and unity (1:2; 2:14, 17; 4:3; 6:15, 23)
Cosmic peace and unity (1.19-2.2; 6.10-18)
Ethnic peace and unity (2.11-3.21)
Ecclesial peace and unity (4.1-5.20/21)
Familial peace and unity (5.21/22-6.9)
Virtues, vices and household codes
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Behind the Text (cf. Acts 19 and notes below on authorship)
1. Authorship
2. Intended Audience
3. The city of Ephesus
City of prominence
City of religion and occult
City of women
4. Images for the Church and believers
Body
Family/Household
Temple
Soldiers/warfare
In Front of the Text
Unity in Christ
Living out the reality of spiritual truth
Perspective from prison (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemnon)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Paul’s authorship challenged…
Ephesians is different from other Pauline epistles:
Ephesians is not typical of a letter
Ephesians has no greetings
Ephesians has a eulogy (1.3-14) prior to its intercessory prayer report (1.15-23)
Ephesians has no mention of individuals (except Tychicus, 6.21-22)
Ephesians has no mention of a particular church’s situation
Ephesians has no mention of Ephesus (in earliest manuscripts)
Ephesians’ literary style involves long sentences and the piling up of synonyms
a. Long sentences: e.g., Eph. 1.3-14 and 1.15-20!
b. Use of Genitives ‘of’: e.g., ‘the ruler of the power of the air’ (2.2)
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Consider: ancient notion of “authorship” (i.e. with amanuensis), context, type of letter and stage in life
Consider: ‘awareness’ in Ephesians of other letters by Paul
Romans:
a. Rom. 1.21, 24 and Eph. 4.17-19
b. Romans (not necessarily Galatians) and Eph. 2.8-10
c. body/members
1 Corinthians:
a. Body/members (1 Cor. 12.12, 28) shows closer parallel than Romans
b. Church as a building, holy temple (2.20-22) parallels 1 Cor. 3.9-17
c. Building metaphor for spiritual growth (4.12, 16) and 1 Cor. 14.3, 5, 12, 26.
d. Vice list (1 Cor. 5.11; 6.9 and Eph. 5.3, 5)
e. 1 Cor. 15.27 and Eph. 1.22 both involve same Gk form of Ps. 8.6 and the idea of the subjection of the powers’
f. BUT: Eph. 2.6 clashes with 1 Cor. 4.8: if author of Eph. read 1 Cor. he did not understand it.
2 Corinthians: Sealing and ‘deposit’ in 2 Cor. 1.22 and Eph. 1.13f seems more than chance
Philemon: Phlm. 4-6 and Eph. 1.15-17
Colossians’ numerous parallels (e.g. Eph 4:1-3 // Col 3:12-14; Eph 6:21-22 // Col.4:7; Note: 21 uniquely shared words)