Letter of St. Paul to Ephesians

 

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.