DATE. Probably written at Rome between 60 and 64 A.D.
WRITER, The apostle Paul.
DATE. Probably written at Rome between 60 and 64 A.D.
PAUL'S MINISTRY AT EPHESUS:
His first visit
Ac 18:18-21
on his second visit, the Holy Spirit is given to believers
Ac 19:2-7
his continuance of the work with remarkable success
Ac 19:9-20
his conflict with the silversmiths
Ac 19:23-41
his address to the Ephesian elders
Ac 20:17-35
HISTORICAL OCCASION OF THE WRITING.
The converted Jews in the early churches were inclined to be exclusive, and separate themselves from their Gentile brethren. This condition of affairs in the church at Ephesus may have led to the writing of this
epistle, the keynote of which is Christian Unity.
KEY VERSE
Eph 4:13
KEY CHAIN, showing the current of thought
Eph 1:10 2:6,14-22 4:3-16
MAIN THEME, the unity of the church, especially between Jew and Gentile believers. This is shown by the recurrence of certain words and phrases, as
(1) The word, "together";
gathered TOGETHER
Eph 1:10
quickened TOGETHER
Eph 2:5
raised up TOGETHER, sitting TOGETHER
Eph 2:6
builded TOGETHER
Eph 2:22
(2) The word, "one," indicating unity;
ONE new man
Eph 2:15
ONE body
Eph 2:16
ONE spirit
Eph 2:18
ONE hope
Eph 4:4
ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all
Eph 4:5,6
OTHER RECURRENT WORDS AND PHRASES.
(1) "In Christ"
Eph 1:1,3,6,12,15,20 2:10,13 3:11 4:21
(2) "In heavenly places
Eph 1:3,20 2:6 3:10
(3) "Riches," of grace
Eph 1:7 2:7
--- of glory
Eph 1:18 3:16
--- of Christ
Eph 3:8
SYNOPSIS.
PART I. The Church and the Plan of Salvation.
Note. Paul in discussing the plan of salvation in the different epistles, somewhat varies the emphasis. In Romans he especially dwells upon faith apart from works. In Galatians, faith apart from ceremonial observances. In Ephesians he lays great stress upon the UNITY OF BELIEVERS.
Ch. 1.
(1) The salutation
Eph 1:2
(2) The divine origin of the church
Eph 1:3-6
(3) The plan of salvation.
(a) Through the redemptive work of Christ
Eph 1:7,8
(b) Universal in its scope
Eph 1:9,10
(c) Insuring a rich spiritual inheritance
Eph 1:11-14
(d) Prayer that believers might be fully enlightened as to the
riches of its provisions
Eph 1:15-23
Ch. 2.
(e) The plan provides for a spiritual resurrection from sin and the
exaltation of the believer into heavenly places
Eph 2:1-6
(f) It is wholly of grace and not of works
Eph 2:7-10
(g) It embraces the Gentiles who were far from God, but were brought
nigh by the blood of Christ
Eph 2:11-13
(h) It removes all barriers between Jews and Gentiles and unites
them into one body for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Eph 2:14-22
Ch. 3.
(i) The mysteries of the divine purpose revealed to Paul, and his
appointment as apostle to the Gentiles
Eph 3:1-12
(j) Paul's second prayer for the spiritual fullness of the church and
her enlightenment concerning the matchless love of Christ
Eph 3:14-21
PART II. PRACTICAL APPLICATION. What the divine plan calls for, on the part of the church.
Ch. 4.
(1) The unity of believers.
(a) In Spirit
Eph 4:1-3
(b) The seven unities mentioned
Eph 4:4-6
(c) Diversity of gifts but unity in one body of Christ
Eph 4:7-16
(2) Consistent Christian life, the believers' walk:
(a) Not as other sinful people
Eph 4:17-21
(b) In newness of life, abandoning the old sins
Eph 4:22-32
Ch. 5.
(c) Walking in love and purity
Eph 5:1-7
(d) Walking in the light
Eph 5:8-14
(e) Walking circumspectly, filled with the Spirit
Eph 5:15-21
(3) The home life.
(a) Duties of husbands and wives
Eph 5:22-33
Ch. 6.
(b) Duties of children, fathers, servants and masters
Eph 6:1-9
(4) The spiritual warfare.
(a) Source of strength
Eph 6:10
(b) The armour and the foes
Eph 6:11-18
(5) Concluding words and benediction
6:19-24
CHOICE SELECTIONS.
Paul's prayers for the church
Eph 1:16-23 3:14-21
Christian unity
Eph 4:3-16
The spiritual armour
Eph 6:10-17
(Outline from Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible)