Ephesians
INTRODUCTION
The epistle to the Ephesians is believed to have been written after many churches had already been founded and that could have been after Paul had had an opportunity to ponder the meaning of the new organism that had come into being, called the church. When talking about church, we should be able to know exactly what we mean as the word “Church” means the church universal (catholic), rather than the local grouping of people. From the contents of this Epistle, we can see that this epistle was not directed to novices in the Christian faith, but to those who, having achieved some level of maturity wished to go on to fuller knowledge of the Christian faith and life. In his epistle, Paul intended to inform the Gentiles of their new …show more content…
During this time, many questioned his character and teaching resulting in this predicament (Phil 1:15-17). Although he was given some amount of freedom, execution was inevitable (Phil 1:19-26). It was would have been very difficult to know that this letter was written by a man in prison had it not been for a couple general references to his imprisonment (3:1; 4:1; 6:20).
(2) Ephesians turns out not to be a personal epistle. Its content of is much more general and much less personal as compared to first and Second Timothy, and Titus which were specifically and directed personally to Timothy and Titus. Philemon was written to Philemon addressing the issue of his runaway slave, Onesimus. Philippians deals with the personal affairs of Paul (chapter 1), Timothy, and Epaphroditus (chapter 2), and Euodia and Syntyche (chapter 4).
(3) Ephesians is not a “problem-solving letter.” We cannot compare it to other letters that were occasioned by problems which Paul sought to …show more content…
It was not written to a young novice church that still needed milk, but to the most well-taught churches that ever existed. Rather we see Paul writing more about praising God for who He is and what He has done, as evidenced in the person and work of Jesus Christ and in the gospel. This is evidenced in his brief greeting in the opening verses of 1 and 2; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ …” Here clearly see that the tone of Ephesians, and especially the first three chapters, is that of praise toward God. It is clear that the first three chapters are addressed to God as much as to men, with the reader being given the privilege of overhearing Paul’s response to God in both praise and petition, and then having the opportunity to join with
The epistle to the Ephesians is believed to have been written after many churches had already been founded and that could have been after Paul had had an opportunity to ponder the meaning of the new organism that had come into being, called the church. When talking about church, we should be able to know exactly what we mean as the word “Church” means the church universal (catholic), rather than the local grouping of people. From the contents of this Epistle, we can see that this epistle was not directed to novices in the Christian faith, but to those who, having achieved some level of maturity wished to go on to fuller knowledge of the Christian faith and life. In his epistle, Paul intended to inform the Gentiles of their new …show more content…
During this time, many questioned his character and teaching resulting in this predicament (Phil 1:15-17). Although he was given some amount of freedom, execution was inevitable (Phil 1:19-26). It was would have been very difficult to know that this letter was written by a man in prison had it not been for a couple general references to his imprisonment (3:1; 4:1; 6:20).
(2) Ephesians turns out not to be a personal epistle. Its content of is much more general and much less personal as compared to first and Second Timothy, and Titus which were specifically and directed personally to Timothy and Titus. Philemon was written to Philemon addressing the issue of his runaway slave, Onesimus. Philippians deals with the personal affairs of Paul (chapter 1), Timothy, and Epaphroditus (chapter 2), and Euodia and Syntyche (chapter 4).
(3) Ephesians is not a “problem-solving letter.” We cannot compare it to other letters that were occasioned by problems which Paul sought to …show more content…
It was not written to a young novice church that still needed milk, but to the most well-taught churches that ever existed. Rather we see Paul writing more about praising God for who He is and what He has done, as evidenced in the person and work of Jesus Christ and in the gospel. This is evidenced in his brief greeting in the opening verses of 1 and 2; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ …” Here clearly see that the tone of Ephesians, and especially the first three chapters, is that of praise toward God. It is clear that the first three chapters are addressed to God as much as to men, with the reader being given the privilege of overhearing Paul’s response to God in both praise and petition, and then having the opportunity to join with