Ephesians: Who? Where? When? Why? What?

The entries on the book of Ephesians are linked to a course of lectures I am giving at Northern Training (www.northerntraining.org).

What I am trying to do is to introduce the themes and relevance of Ephesians – which John Calvin said was his favourite letter.

How do you begin to approach a book of the Bible?

1. Who? Who wrote it and to whom did they write?

2. Where? Where are the writer and readers?

3. When? When was it written? What historical events were taking place?

4. Why? Why was it written?

5. What? Summarise its overall message – the beginning of an iterative process.

Who? Where? When?

See 1:1.

By Paul to the saints in Ephesus. Both claims are disputed!

By Paul

Some doubt Paul wrote it. They claim ‘Paul’ was a pseudonym used by one of his later followers. This was not a deception because pseudonymity was an accepted literary device. There is a different style and different themes compared to other letters (more realised eschatology) – with the exception of Colossians which is also often thought to be written under a pseudonym.

But I think Paul wrote it:

1. Personal sections (e.g. 3:1-3; 6:19-22). Very awkward to read these as if pseudonymous.

2. We all use different styles and stress different themes in different contexts and at different times in our lives.

3. There is no evidence the early church accept writing under a pseudonym as a literary device. It used in Jewish apocalyptic writings in the centuries before, but apocalyptic is a very different literary form. In fact they seem concerned with historical accuracy (Luke 1:1-4).

4. There is early attestation of Pauline authorship

5. It says Paul wrote it! The accusation of non-Pauline authorship is led by liberal scholars who do not trust the accuracy of the Bible.

To the Ephesians

Early manuscripts do not have ‘Ephesus’ in verse 1 (see NIV footnote). We do not have a signed original of New Testament documents. We only have copies and copies of copies. The Bible is actually by far the best attested manuscript from the period with many more surviving manuscripts that other works. But sometimes it is not clear (though never on matters of significant doctrine). It may have been that this letter was intended to circulate among a variety of churches. The name could then be added much like some circular letters today. There are no explicit references to issues in the Ephesian church (as there, for example in 1 and 2 Corinthians).

Peter O’Brien concludes that ‘to Ephesus’ was not original, but the later references to it being to Ephesus suggests that it intended to be among churches in Ephesus and its surrounding countryside. The population of Ephesus was 250,000 and first century churches met in homes so it is like that the saints in Ephesus make up a number of household congregations. There are personal touches (6:21-22). More significantly, as we shall see, it highlights themes of special relevance to the Ephesian context. But Paul also intended some of his letters to circulate. See Colossians 4:16: ‘After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.’ After all, we are circulating all the New Testament letters among very different churches right down to this day!

Paul calls them:

1. saints
They are the ‘saints’ or ‘holy ones’. Israel was to be God’s ‘holy nation’ (Exodus 19:6). Now those who believe in Christ are God’s holy people. ‘Holy’ means ‘set apart’ or ‘consecrated’. Set apart speaks of where we have come from – we have left our old way of life. Consecrated speaks of what we are dedicated to – we are now part of God’s new community and we live to glorify him.

2. the faithful in Christ Jesus
Again ‘the faithful’ are not an elite in Ephesus. It means those who have faith. Paul is talking to all believers. ‘In Christ’ is a key phrase in Paul’s understanding of what it means to be a Christian – especially in the letter to the Ephesians. We are united to Christ by faith – by believing in the gospel message (v. 13). As a result, what is true of Christ becomes true of us. His is our . His life is our life. God looks on us as if we are Christ so that he does not see our sin, but Christ’s righteousness.

Read Acts 19. What do we know about Ephesus and the Ephesian church?

Where?

Paul was in prison (3:1; 6:20) in Rome.

When?

In the first century under the imperial rule of Rome.

Paul visited Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla (probably Spring 52 ad). See Acts 18:18-21. The Jews asked him to stay. He declined, but promised to return. He left Aquila and Priscilla behind and they discipled Apollos in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28).

Paul visited Ephesus again (probably Autumn 53-Spring 56 ad). See Acts 19:1-20:1. He stayed at least two years (Acts 19:10) – despite opposition from members of the trade guilds led by a silversmith called Demetrius.

Paul met with the Ephesian elders at Miletus in the following year (Spring 57). See Acts 20:13-38. From there Paul travelled to Jerusalem where he was arrested and taken to Rome. It was under house arrest in Rome that he wrote the letter to the Ephesians (probably sometime in 60-62 ad).