EPHESIANS – DISCOVERING OUR IDENTITY, INHERITANCE, AND INFLUENCE IN CHRIST

January 13, 2021

For the next ten weeks, we will be studying Ephesians, posting verse by verse Bible study lessons on Mondays and Thursdays. In between lessons, we will post devotional thoughts from Ephesians that correspond with the verses studied that week. You may wish to choose a key verse each week to memorize. We are excited to begin our journey through the rest of the Prison Epistles with Ephesians (We have already studied Philippians which is in our archived lessons on this website). After Ephesians, we plan to study Colossians and Philemon, wrapping up the entire study of the Prison Epistles.

When we look up a word in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, we will put the Strong’s number in superscript after the word. That way if you wish to look it up for yourself, it will be easier for you. If you do not own a copy of Strong’s, you may use an online version such as the one found at http://biblehub.com/strongs.htm

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS

AUTHOR: The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome somewhere around 60-62 AD. It may have been a letter circulated around all the churches in Asia Minor beginning with Ephesus since some manuscripts do not refer to Ephesus or the Ephesians directly. Ephesians along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon are known as “The Prison Epistles” since all four were written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome.

RECIPIENTS: As stated before this letter may have gone to all the churches in Asia. The church at Ephesus was most likely established by Priscilla and Aquila but was also led by Paul for a time and then after that by Timothy, Paul’s son in the faith. It was at Ephesus that Paul was accused of destroying the business of those who made idols honoring their goddess Artemis (Diana) (Acts 19).

THEMES: We will highlight the themes by highlighting key words:

  • The blessings that belong to believers in Christ. Throughout, we will emphasize the words in Christ, in him, in whom, in the Lord.
  • The grace of God and salvation by grace alone.
  • Riches of Christ
  • Faith is the means by which the gift of salvation is made real in our lives
  • The unity of the body of believers
  • Submission of wives to husbands
  • Sacrificial Love of husbands for wives
  • Armor of the Lord
  • Love from God, love toward God, and love of believers for one another

The first three chapters are doctrinal (LEARNING), and the last three chapters give practical guidance for application of the doctrine (LIVING) as believers. The fourth chapter highlights unity of the body in the Spirit, the interdependence among believers and the Lord, and the Christian’s walk with the Lord before men. The fifth chapter is known for discussing the mutual submission of believers to one another and within the marriage relationship. In the sixth chapter, there is vital instruction concerning spiritual warfare and the armor of the Lord.

We hope you will join us in learning the wealth of wisdom the Holy Spirit will illuminate to all of us as we study together. As always, we would love to read your comments and hear how the Lord uses Ephesians to impact your lives. 

ASSIGNMENT: Read through the entire book of Ephesians. There are only six chapters. Try to write a catchy title for each chapter of the book, or even each section, that will help you remember what each part of the book is about.