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113 lines
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<div class="head">Executable Outlines</div>
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<div class="subhead">The Epistle to the Ephesians</div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad30">
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<div class="levI" align="center" style="color:324395;font-size:150%;font-weight:bold;">Introduction</div>
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<p><b>AUTHOR:</b> The apostle Paul (<a id="si-Eph 1:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,1);">Eph 1:1</a>; <a id="si-Eph 3:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',3,1);">Eph 3:1</a>). Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to Paul include: Irenaeus (200 A.D.), Clement of Alexandria (200 A.D.), and Origen (250 A.D.). Polycarp (125 A.D.) attests to its canonicity in his own epistle to the Philippians (chapter 12).</p>
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<p><b>THE RECIPIENTS:</b> There are reasons to believe that this epistle was not designed for just one congregation, but intended to be passed around to several churches in the area surrounding Ephesus. The earliest manuscripts do not contain the phrase "in Ephesus" (cf. <a id="si-Eph 1:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,1);">Eph 1:1</a>). The epistle itself is in the form of a general treatise rather than as a letter written to a specific church. For example, there are no specific exhortations or personal greetings. It is thought by some (Conybeare and Howson) that this letter is the epistle that was first sent to Laodicea (cf. <a id="si-Col 4:16" onClick="return mV('Col',4,16);">Col 4:16</a>), and designed to be shared with other churches, including Ephesus. Because Ephesus was the leading city of the region, and the main center of Paul's missionary activity in the area (cf. <a id="si-Act 19:1" onClick="return mV('Act',19,1);">Act 19:1</a>, <a id="si-Act 19:8-10" onClick="return mV('Act',19,'8-10');">Act 19:8-10</a>), it is understandable why later scribes might have assigned this epistle to the church at Ephesus. Without question it was intended for <b>"the saints ...and faithful in Christ Jesus."</b> (<a id="si-Eph 1:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,1);">Eph 1:1</a>)</p>
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<p><b>PAUL'S MINISTRY IN THE REGION:</b> Paul first came to Ephesus for a short visit toward the end of his second missionary journey (<a id="si-Act 18:18-19" onClick="return mV('Act',18,'18-19');">Act 18:18-19</a>). Located on the SW coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), Ephesus was one of the great cities in that part of the world. A Roman capital, it was a wealthy commercial center and home for the worship of the goddess Diana (cf. <a id="si-Act 19:23-41" onClick="return mV('Act',19,'23-41');">Act 19:23-41</a>). Though Paul briefly studied with the Jews at the local synagogue and was invited to stay longer, he made plans to visit them again after a quick trip to Jerusalem (<a id="si-Act 18:20-21" onClick="return mV('Act',18,'20-21');">Act 18:20-21</a>).</p>
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<p>On his third missionary journey Paul made it back to Ephesus for an extended stay of three years (cf. <a id="si-Act 19:1, 10" onClick="return mV('Act',19,1,10);">Act 19:1, 10</a>; <a id="si-Act 20:31" onClick="return mV('Act',20,31);">Act 20:31</a>). After his initial success in converting twelve disciples of John (<a id="si-Act 19:1-7" onClick="return mV('Act',19,'1-7');">Act 19:1-7</a>), Paul spent three months teaching in the local synagogue (<a id="si-Act 19:8" onClick="return mV('Act',19,8);">Act 19:8</a>). Resistance to his doctrine forced him to leave the synagogue, but he was able to continue teaching in the school of Tyrannus for a period of two years. The end result is that the gospel spread from Ephesus throughout Asia Minor (<a id="si-Act 19:9-10" onClick="return mV('Act',19,'9-10');">Act 19:9-10</a>). A disturbance created by some of the local idol makers finally forced Paul to leave Ephesus (<a id="si-Act 19:23-41" onClick="return mV('Act',19,'23-41');">Act 19:23-41</a>-<a id="si-Act 20:1" onClick="return mV('Act',20,1);">Act 20:1</a>).</p>
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<p>Toward the end of his third journey, Paul stopped at nearby Miletus, and met with the elders of the church at Ephesus. Reminding them of his work with them, he charged them to fulfill their own responsibilities as overseers of the flock of God, and then bid them a tearful farewell (<a id="si-Act 20:17-38" onClick="return mV('Act',20,'17-38');">Act 20:17-38</a>).</p>
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<p><b>TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING:</b> Ephesians is one of Paul's four "prison epistles" (<a id="si-Eph 3:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',3,1);">Eph 3:1</a>; <a id="si-Eph 4:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,1);">Eph 4:1</a>; <a id="si-Eph 6:20" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,20);">Eph 6:20</a>;</b> cf. Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). The general consensus is that these epistles were written during Paul's imprisonment at Rome (cf. <a id="si-Act 28:16" onClick="return mV('Act',28,16);">Act 28:16</a>; <a id="si-Act 28:30-31" onClick="return mV('Act',28,'30-31');">Act 28:30-31</a>). If such is truly the case, then Paul wrote Ephesians around <b>61-63 A.D.</b> from <b>Rome</b>. The indication is that the epistles to the Colossians, Philemon and the Ephesians were carried to their destination by Tychicus and Onesimus (cf. <a id="si-Eph 6:21-22" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,'21-22');">Eph 6:21-22</a>; <a id="si-Col 4:7-9" onClick="return mV('Col',4,'7-9');">Col 4:7-9</a>; <a id="si-Phm 1:10-12" onClick="return mV('Phm',1,'10-12');">Phm 1:10-12</a>).</p>
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<p><b>PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE:</b> Unlike other epistles written to specific churches, this epistle does not deal with specific problems in a local congregation. Instead, Paul addressed great themes that pertain to the Christian's position in Christ, as a member of the body of Christ, the church. As expressed in his prayer for his readers, it was his desire that they might know:</p>
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<div class="levA"><b>* What is the hope of God's calling (<a id="si-Eph 1:18" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,18);">Eph 1:18</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA"><b>* What are the glorious riches of God's inheritance in the saints (<a id="si-Eph 1:18" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,18);">Eph 1:18</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA"><b>* What is God's great power toward those who believe (<a id="si-Eph 1:19" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,19);">Eph 1:19</a>)</b></div>
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<p>In the first three chapters, Paul answers his own prayer by expounding upon their spiritual blessings in Christ. The last three chapters focus on the conduct (or "walk", cf. <a id="si-Eph 4:1, 17" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,1,17);">Eph 4:1, 17</a>; <a id="si-Eph 5:2, 8, 15" onClick="return mV('Eph',5,2,8,15);">Eph 5:2, 8, 15</a>) expected of those so richly blessed. Therefore Paul writes to:</p>
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<div class="levA"><b>* Remind Christians of their spiritual blessings in Christ (<a id="si-Eph 1:3" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,3);">Eph 1:3</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA"><b>* Exhort Christians to have a "walk worthy of the calling with which you were called" (<a id="si-Eph 4:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,1);">Eph 4:1</a>)</b></div>
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<p><b>THEME OF THE EPISTLE:</b> A grand epistle like Ephesians almost defies coming up with one main theme. With its exalted view of the church in God's plan of redemption, it is common to suggest the theme as <b>"The Church, The Fullness of Christ"</b>. Another theme which does justice to the content of the epistle and one that I suggest for this study is that offered by Warren Wiersbe:</p>
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<p align="center"><b>"THE BELIEVER'S RICHES IN CHRIST"</b></p>
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<p><b>KEY VERSE: <a id="si-Eph 1:3" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,3);">Eph 1:3</a></p>
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<div class="block"><b>"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,"</b></div>
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<p> </p>
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<div class="levI" align="center" style="color:324395;font-size:150%;"><b>OUTLINE:</b></div>
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<p>(adapted from The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 2, Warren W. Wiersbe, p.7):</p>
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<div class="levI"><b>INTRODUCTION (<a id="si-Eph 1:1-2" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,1,2);">Eph 1:1-2</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levI"><b>I. <u>DOCTRINE: OUR RICHES IN CHRIST</u> (<span class="noTag">Eph 1:3-3:21</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA"><b>A. OUR SPIRITUAL POSSESSIONS IN CHRIST (<span class="noTag">Eph 1:3-14</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="lev1">1. From the Father (<a id="si-Eph 1:4-6" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,'4-6');">Eph 1:4-6</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">2. From the Son (<a id="si-Eph 1:7-12" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,'7-12');">Eph 1:7-12</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">3. From the Spirit (<a id="si-Eph 1:13-14" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,13,14);">Eph 1:13-14</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">-- First Prayer: for enlightenment (<a id="si-Eph 1:15-23" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,'15-23');">Eph 1:15-23</a>)</div>
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<div class="levA"><b>B. OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION IN CHRIST (<span class="noTag">Eph 2:1-22</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="lev1">1. Raised and seated on the throne (<a id="si-Eph 2:1-10" onClick="return mV('Eph',2,'1-10');">Eph 2:1-10</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">2. Reconciled and set into the temple (<a id="si-Eph 2:11-22" onClick="return mV('Eph',2,'11-22');">Eph 2:11-22</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">-- Second Prayer: for enablement (<a id="si-Eph 3:1-21" onClick="return mV('Eph',3,'1-21');">Eph 3:1-21;</a> with verses 2-13 as a parenthesis)</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>II. <u>DUTY: OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN CHRIST</u> (<span class="noTag">Eph 4:1-6:20</span)</b></div>
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<div class="levA"><b>A. A CALL TO WALK IN UNITY (<span class="noTag">Eph 4:1-16</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="lev1">1. Preserving the unity of the Spirit with proper attitudes (<a id="si-Eph 4:1-7" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,'1-7');">Eph 4:1-7</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">2. Edifying the body of Christ by the grace given us (<a id="si-Eph 4:8-16" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,'8-16');">Eph 4:8-16</a>)</div>
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<div class="levA"><b>B. A CALL TO WALK IN PURITY (<span class="noTag">Eph 4:17-5:21</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="lev1">1. Walk not as other Gentiles (<a id="si-Eph 4:17-32" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,'17-32');">Eph 4:17-32</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">2. Walk in love (<a id="si-Eph 5:1-6" onClick="return mV('Eph',5,'1-6');">Eph 5:1-6</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">3. Walk as children of light (<a id="si-Eph 5:7-14" onClick="return mV('Eph',5,'7-14');">Eph 5:7-14</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">4. Walk as wise (<a id="si-Eph 5:15-21" onClick="return mV('Eph',5,'15-21');">Eph 5:15-21</a>)</div>
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<div class="levA"><b>C. A CALL TO WALK IN HARMONY (<span class="noTag">Eph 5:22-6:9</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="lev1">1. Husbands and wives (<a id="si-Eph 5:22-33" onClick="return mV('Eph',5,'22-33');">Eph 5:22-33</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">2. Parents and children (<a id="si-Eph 6:1-4" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,'1-4');">Eph 6:1-4</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">3. Masters and servants (<a id="si-Eph 6:5-9" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,'5-9');">Eph 6:5-9</a>)</div>
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<div class="levA"><b>D. A CALL TO WALK IN VICTORY (<span class="noTag">Eph 6:10-20</span>)</b></div>
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<div class="lev1">1. Standing strong in the power of the Lord (<a id="si-Eph 6:10-13" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,'10-13');">Eph 6:10-13</a>)</div>
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<div class="lev1">2. Equipped with the whole armor of God (<a id="si-Eph 6:14-20" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,'14-20');">Eph 6:14-20</a>)</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>CONCLUSION (<a id="si-Eph 6:21-24" onClick="return mV('Eph',6,'21-24');">Eph 6:21-24</a>)</b></div>
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<p> </p>
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<div class="levI" align="center" style="color:324395;font-size:150%;"><b>REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION</b></div>
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<div class="levI"><b>1) To whom is this epistle addressed? (<a id="si-Eph 1:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,1);">Eph 1:1</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- The saints and faithful in Christ Jesus; actual identity uncertain</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>2) From where and when did Paul write Ephesians?</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- From Rome, sometime around 61-63 A.D.</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>3) What three other epistles were written about this time? What are the four epistles sometimes called?</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon</div>
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<div class="levA">- The "prison epistles"</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>4) When did Paul first come to Ephesus (<a id="si-Act 18:19-22" onClick="return mV('Act',18,'19-22');">Act 18:19-22</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- Toward the end of his second missionary journey</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>5) When and how long did he spend most of his time at Ephesus? (<a id="si-Act 18:23" onClick="return mV('Act',18,23);">Act 18:23</a>; <a id="si-Act 19:1" onClick="return mV('Act',19,1);">Act 19:1</a>; <a id="si-Act 20:31" onClick="return mV('Act',20,31);">Act 20:31</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- On his third missionary journey; three years</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>6) For what three things did Paul pray that they might know? (<a id="si-Eph 1:15-19" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,'15-19');">Eph 1:15-19</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- The hope of God's calling</div>
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<div class="levA">- The glorious riches of God's inheritance in the saints</div>
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<div class="levA">- God's great power toward those who believe</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>7) What is the two-fold purpose of this epistle? (<a id="si-Eph 1:3" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,3);">Eph 1:3</a>; <a id="si-Eph 4:1" onClick="return mV('Eph',4,1);">Eph 4:1</a>)</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- To remind Christians of their spiritual blessings in Christ</div>
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<div class="levA">- To exhort Christians to have a "walk" worthy of their calling</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>8) What is the "theme" of this epistle, as suggested in the introduction?</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- The Believer's Riches In Christ</div>
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<div class="levI"><b>9) What serves as the "key verse" of this epistle?</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- <a id="si-Eph 1:3" onClick="return mV('Eph',1,3);">Eph 1:3</a></div>
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<div class="levI"><b>10) According to the outline above, what are the two main divisions in this epistle?</b></div>
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<div class="levA">- Doctrine: Our Riches In Christ</div>
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<div class="levA">- Duty: Our Responsibilities In Christ</div>
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<p align="center" style="font-size:85%;margin-top:25px;">Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2003</p>
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<div class="return"><a href="#top">Return to Top</a><br>
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<a href="./study/eo/index.html">Return to Executable Outlines</a>
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<div class="cite2">
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<p class="bibliobox"><strong>Bibliographic Information:</strong><br>Author: Copeland, Mark A.<br>Title: "The Epistle to the Ephesians"<br>Work: <em>Executable Outlines</em><br>Date Added: 28 Aug 2003<br>Source: Executable Outlines</p>
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