Letter of St. Paul to Ephesus
Title: Paul came to Ephesus at least
twice: during his second and third missionary journeys. First time it was a
very short visit to the local synagogue (Acts 18:19-21), but the second visit
resulted in the founding of the local congregation, riot of the Jews, and near miraculous
release (Acts 19).
Date of
writing: Based on
the fact that St. Paul wrote a few times about chains (3:1; 4:1; 6:20), it is
safe to assume that the letter is written either during his “trip to Rome, or
at Rome. Also, he had a demonic/cultic attack during his second visit to
Ephesus than anywhere else. No wonder, he writes to THEM about spiritual
warfare. Therefore, it should be dated around 60 AD.
Structure:
a. 1:1-2,
Greetings
b. 1:3-14, spiritual blessings
c. three aspects of unity
God in Christ |
Christ in Church |
Among the members |
1:15-23, “mystery” of God in Christ |
3, Mystery of Gospel |
5:22-33, wives and husbands (mystery 5:32) |
2:1-10, by grace |
4, Unity in the Body of Christ |
6:1-4, children and parents |
2:11-22, One in Christ |
5:1-21, walk in love |
6:5-9, servants and masters |
b’. 6:10-20, spiritual warfare
a’. 6:21-24,
Final greetings
Main
themes:
Spiritual blessing
Submission in Christ
Salvation by grace
Spiritual
warfare
Main
Characters:
Paul, Tychicus
(Acts 20:4).
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible: 4:11 is the layout of ministerial functions of the church parallel to
the orders of the priests and Levites of the tabernacle and the Temple.
5:1-2 refers
to fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Therefore, the knowledge of the
sacrificial system is presupposed for the readers/hearers of the letter.
Pairs of
husband and wife, of children and parents, and of servants and masters also
find their description in Colossians 3.
Lutheran
teaching: The whole
discussion of the relations of grace, faith, and works is heavily dependent on
the proper understanding of Eph 2:8-10. This passage is discussed at length in
AC VI:1; XX:11, 27; Ap. IV (II):73, 85, 87, 93; XV (VIII):6; SA II, IV:24 etc.
Dr. Luther
saw the Sacrament of the Altar as a prime means of defense against the dark
arts, which are described in Ephesians 6:16 “if you could see how many knives,
darts, and arrows are every moment aimed at you” (LC V:82).
Lutheran
hymnody:
LSB 504:3-4
– Father most holy (see TLSB, p. 2028, note for 6:21-24)
LSB 528 –
Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Relevancy
of the Book:
People are
still fighting and struggling with the assaults, yet we always need to remember
that the battle is done with the spiritual spheres, not among people. People
should be converted – not killed. We need to learn to use the spiritual armor
to protect ourselves and advance the Gospel.
Memory
verses:
2:8-10 For
by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing;
it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
6:12 For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
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