ASIA ANTIOCH SEMINARY

Patgaon, Guwahati

Paper Presentation
(M.Div. 1st Year 2022 Academic Session)

Subject: Introduction to New Testament

Topic: Letter to Ephesians

Presenter : Amos Manglal

Responder : Gaidimliu Kamei

Facilitator : Khumro Jingru

Date : 1st September 2022 (Thursday)

Introduction:

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Ephesus and the surrounding
region. Ephesians is an epistle for the entire world, for Jew and Gentile, for husband and
wife, for parents and child, for master and servant. It was the mind and will of God in Paul’s
day; it is the voice of inspiration in our day; it is an epistle of universal appeal and
application. In this paper presentation we will discuss about the author, date, purpose and
Theology of Ephesians book.

The City of Ephesus:

Location: Ephesus was located on the western shore of Asia Minor, in a plain at the mount of
the river Cayster. It was some Three Hundred mile due east from Corinth.

Commerce: When Paul labour in Ephesus it was the great commercial centre of western Asia
minor, ranking with Antioch and Alexandria as the three greatest trading centre in the eastern
Mediterranean.1

1. Authorship:

1
D. Emond Hiebert, an Introduction to the New Testament Three Volume Collection (U.S.A: Gabriel
Publishing, 2003), 253.
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 Paul wrote Ephesians with the authority of an apostle. Apostolos means “sent one”
and in New Testament is used as an official title of the men God uniquely chose to be the
foundation layer of the church and the receivers, teachers, and writers of his final revelation
the New Testament.2

The traditional view is that Ephesians is an authentic Pauline letter, but this is widely
denied in modern times. The structure is similar to that of the undisputed epistles, and there is
a lot of Pauline language. Some who oppose Pauline authorship claim that it is the result of
imitation.

Some argue that the letters Colossians and Ephesian were written by the same person.
Why would an author send a letter to the same region so soon after the first? The best
explanation, according to many, is that both letters were written at the same time.3

2. Date and Place of Writing:

2.1. Place:

The Epistle clearly state that Paul was a prisoner when it was written (3:1; 4:1; 6:20).
That it was composed about the same time as Colossian is seen from the fact that Tychicus is
the common bearer of both as well (Col. 4:7-8; Eph. 6:21-22) as well as from the content of
the two epistle. We conclude that Ephesian was written during Pauls first imprisonment at
Rome is recorded in Acts 28:30-31.

2.2. Date:

Its close affinity to Colossian and Philemon suggest a date contemporaneous with
those two epistles. We therefore date Ephesian as written during the summer of A.D 62.4

3. Purpose:

There is no agreement on what the purpose of the letter is. It is clear that it is
intended to instruct the reader, but the instruction is not given in the way we are familiar with
from Paul's writings in general. Most of Paul's letters are sporadic, written for a specific
purpose on a specific occasion, but it is difficult to identify any specific occasion that
prompted this letter. Some even doubt whether it is a letter at all. Others believe that the
purpose of the letter is to instruct the Gentile converts on important aspects of their new faith.
Some who believe the writing was written later than Paul believe it was written to further the
ecclesiastical interests of early Catholicism.5

2
John MacArthur, the MacArthur New Testament Commentary Ephesians (India: Grace to India, 1997), 01.
3
D.A Carson and Douglas J. Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament second edition (Grand Rapids Michigan:
Zondervan Publisher, 2005), 480-486.
4
Hiebert, an Introduction to the New Testament Volume Collection (U.S.A: Gabriel Publishing, 2003), 265.

5
D.A Carson and Douglas J.Moo, an Introduction to the New Testament Second Edition (U.S.A: Zondervan
Academic, 2005), 490-491.

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 Unlike Colossians, Ephesians was written to combat error and expose the
inconsistencies of false teaching. Paul's goal was more detached and thus exalted. He rose
above the smoke of battle to catch a vision of God's sovereign plan that transcends the
bitterness of controversy and the necessity for the church on earth to constantly struggle for
its survival. Paul stepped back from the conflict to think about God's overall plan for his
church and the world. When he did, he realized the breath-taking scope of God's strategy in
Christ for the fullness of time like never before (Eph. 1:9, 10). I. Robinson accurately
described Paul's mood when he declared that his mind was now free "for one supreme
interpretation, uncontroversial, positive, and basic of the great doctrine of his life, that
doctrine into which he advanced year by year under the discipline of his unique
circumstances.6

4. Audience:

Paul's third missionary journey brought the gospel to Ephesus. He spent as much time
in Ephesus as he did in any other city. (Ac. 19:10). Paul's Ephesian work was the most visible
and successful of his ministry. The church is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Many
believe that this was originally a circular letter intended for several cities because the words
in Ephesian are missing from Ephesians 1:1 in some of the earliest and best manuscripts (as
Galatians). This would explain Paul's lack of referencing individuals and his notes, as he had
only hardened the reader's faith.

Ephesus was the most important city in the Roman province of Asia, with a
population of 600,000. Ephesian, like Corinth, was a prosperous commercial and port city.
Although a number of governmental activities took place in Ephesus, the official capital was
Pergamum. It was very religious (especially with the famous Diana Temple, one of the Seven
Wonders of the World) and very ancient.7

Ephesian is written for a mostly gentile audience, but there are few hints as to why it was
written. The majority of Paul's letters to churches address specific issues of Christian belief
and practise that confront a specific congregation. However, Ephesus exhibits a general,
theological reflective character that dominates even the exhortation of chapters 3-6, and the
epistle does not appear to address any specific church congregation, let alone its current
problems. The fact that the oldest and best manuscripts of Ephesian lack the geographical
designation at Ephesus (1:1), combined with Paul's and the audience's apparent personal
unfamiliarity, suggests that the letter did not specifically address the church in the Asia
provincial capital of Ephesus - a church founded, nurtured, and intimately known by the
Apostle himself (Act 19:20).8

5. Theme of Ephesians:

6
FrankE. Gaebelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol. 11(Grand Rapid Michigan: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1978), 17.
7
G.B Howell, Jr.Brent Bruce and M.C. Lemore, the Holman Illustrated Study Bible (Nashville Tennessee: Holman
Bible Publisher, 2006), 1711.
8
Gordon D. Fee and Robert L. Hubbard Jr, the Eerdmans Companion to the Bible (Michigan U.K: Wm.B.
Eerdmans Publishing, 2011), 670.

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 We stand out for reading of letter is the emphasis on the love and power of God, both
of which are described in superlative term, and the stress on the unity of Gentile with Jews in
the people of God. Ephesians has been well describe as “Pastoral rather than polemical”, and
it is of special interest in giving a theological discourse that is not shaped by the need for
polemic. Nor it is shaped by the need to respond in detail to a particular local situation.
Rather it appears to represent what could be said to churches largely composed of Gentile
after some year of development.9

6. Theology of Ephesians:

We can approach Ephesian theology in two ways that are complementary. In this
letter, we will first look at the motif of "power" and the church. These themes are connected
to Paul's motivation for writing Ephesians. Second, we will look at how the epistle's two
halves emphasise the indicative and imperative of the gospel, respectively.

6.1. The Power:

Paul has several ways of describing them. They are the rulers, the authorities, and the
cosmic power over this present darkness, the spiritual force of evil in the heavenly places
(6:12). Paul mentions them in the same breath as the devil (6:11; cf. 4:27) and expressly
distinguishes them from flesh to blood (6:12), that is, human beings (cf. Gal. 1:16). As a
result, we must regard these powers as unseen and angelic beings working together under
Satan's authority (cf. Eph.2:2) They are not impersonal, but rather personal. Paul locates them
and their activities in the heavenly places (6:12; cf. 3:10), even as he documents their
ceaseless activity in the affairs of humanity. Paul describes this power in three ways.

For starters, they are malevolent ("evil"). And therefore opposed to Christ and his
followers.

Second, they have a global (or "cosmic") authority or power. The phrase "darkness"
denotes a demonic rule that encompasses all unbelievers, whether Jews or Gentiles. These
believers were once part of the realm of darkness, from which the Lord delivered them (Eph.
5:8). (Col 1:13). Paul therefore attributed authority to this age (Eph. 1:21; cp. 5:26; 6:13), the
current Adamic order marked by sin, a corrupted curse, and death.

Third, there may be a hierarchy among these demonic forces given their polarity and
classification as rulers or authorities. Paul emphasises earlier in the epistle that the son of
disobedience, among whom we all previously lived in the passion of our flesh, is the spirit
that is now at work (Eph. 2:2-3). Therefore, Satan sits at the head of a multitude of demonic
forces that rule over and have control over everyone descended from Adam (cf. 2 Cor.4:4).

Therefore, Paul's ministry in Ephesus was not only carried out under the power of the
spirit, but it was also characterised by battles with demonic forces. The Ephesian Christians
themselves had been delivered from a way of life in which they had looked to demonic forces
for defence and support. But because of the authorities' presence and activity, they continued
9
I. Howard Marshall, New Testament Theology Many Witnesses One Gospel (U.S.A: Inter Varsity Press, 2004),
389.

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to live in a culture market. They had to keep fighting these spiritual forces (Eph. 6:12). For
these reasons, Paul emphasises that the powers are actually defeated while reminding the
Ephesians of the gospel message he shared with them. He also wanted the church to
understand the potent work of the Spirit and to look to Jesus Christ alone for protection and
provision.

6.2. The Church:

A key component of Ephesians' teaching is the struggle against unjust power. The
letter's contents cannot be fully explained by this, though. The purpose and nature of the
church serve as another key theme in Ephesian. In Ephesians, Paul uses several metaphors to
explain the church. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, which is the Body of Christ(1:12).
Paul also refers to the church as the bride of Christ (5:23–24), the object of Christ's love and
the object of his glorious revelation (5:27). Jews and Gentiles make up the church, which is
one new man (2:15), as does the God's family (2:19). Paul compared the church to a house
with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that was built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets (2:20). The church is specifically being transformed into a holy temple in the Lord,
a place where God dwells by the spirit (2:21-22).

Paul emphasises two aspects of the church's existence and work in Ephesians.

Christological thinking is the first dimension. The church derives her origin, identity,
and calling from Jesus Christ, with whom she is linked as his body, bride, and building, as
many of Paul's descriptions of the church make clear. Paul made a clear connection between
the church and Christ's historical accomplishments—his death, burial, resurrection,
ascension, session, and triumphant return. Paul refers to Jesus' death as an act of love on
behalf of the church in verse 25 so that he may use the cross to make peace between us and
God in one body, putting an end to our animosity (2:16). Additionally, when a believer is
linked with the risen Christ, they pass from death into life because of the spirit that raised
Jesus from the dead and is currently at work in their lives (1:19–20). (2:5-6). Grace and gifts
have been given to the church by the ascended Christ in order to help the body of Christ
mature (4:7; 4:11). (4:12-13, 16). As a result of Christ being sat at the right hand of the
fathers (1:20), the father placed everything beneath his feet and gave him authority over
everything to the church (1:22). In other words, the church can now employ all the authority
and power that God gave to Christ for its benefit.

Eschatological thought is the church's second aspect in Ephesian. Paul cares that the
church comprehends her place and function in the story of redemptive history, to put it
another way. Paul believed that God's plan for the historical ministry of Christ will come to
pass in due course (1:10; cf. Gal. 4:4). God's aim was for Christ to complete history's task and
bring all things—heavenly and terrestrial—together in him. When Christ returns, fully
establishes his messianic rule (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24), and renews creation, the intent will have
been partially realised in the transfer of the entire creation to the second Adam (1:21-23). (cf.
Rom. 8:18-25).10

10
Michael J. Kurger, Theological Introduction to the New Testament (U.S.A: GS Book, 2017), 274.

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7. The Implication of the Gospel:

Paul long stay in Ephesus was undoubtedly the most important parts of this period of
his ministry – Perhaps even the most significant time of his entire life work. In addition to
being the geographical centre of all the place Paul had previously visited, Ephesus was also
prominent centre of spiritual traditions, at the heart of which was the great temple of Artemis
(Diana) which was renowned as one of the wonder of the ancient world.

Paul ministry in Ephesus was so successful that the two mainstays of Ephesus
religious life were seriously challenge. One of the things for which Ephesus was well known
was it great numbers of magicians and astrologers many of whom become Christian and
actually burnt their book of magic spells. The silversmith of the city found that their trade in
selling small replicas of the temple of Artemis to pilgrim began to decline, which led
Demetrius and some other to start a riot against the Christian in the city (Acts 19:23-41).11

Conclusion:

Ephesians encourage us to take a new perspective on our lives, one in which our work
is an outgrow of God’s own work of creating the world and redeeming it from sin. We work
it response to God’s call to follow Jesus in every aspect of our live (Eph. 4:1). At work, we
discover the opportunity to do many of the good work that God intended for us to do. Thus in
our office, factory, school, household and every other place of work, we have the opportunity
to “render service with enthusiasm” to the Lord (Eph. 6:7).

Bibliography:

Carson, D.A. and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament Second Edition. Grand Rapid

Michigan: Zondervan Publishing, 2005.

Drane, John. Introducing the New Testament. England: Lion Publishing, 1999.

Fee, D .Gordon and Robert L. Hubbard Jr. The Eerdmans Companion to the Bible. Michigan U.K: Wm. B

11
John Drane, Introducing the New Testament (England: Lion Publishing, 1999), 320.
6
 Eerdmans Publishing, 2011.

Gaebelein, Frank E. The Expositor Bible Commentary Vol.11. Grand Rapid Michigan: Zondervan Publishing

House, 1978.

Howell, G.B, Jr. Brent and M.C Lemore. The Holman Illustrated study Bible. Nashville Tennessee: Holman

Bible Publisher, 2006.

Hiebert, D.Emond.An Introduction to the New Testament three Volume Collection. U.S.A: Gabriel

Publishing, 2003.

Kurger, Michael Theological Introduction to the New Testament.U.S.A: GS Book, 2017.

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Ephesians. India: Grace to India, 1997.

Marshall, I. Howard. New Testament Theology many witnesses one Gospel.U.S.A: Inter Variety Press, 2004.