Cultural background of the book of ephesians

The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at the mouth of the cayster river near the aegean sea. Background on colossae and the colossians bible commentary. But without the references to the whole armour of god and the foundation of the church being built upon the apostles. It analyzes the historicalcultural background of every passage of the new testament in clear, nontechnical language, making it especially useful for those without expertise in greek or ancient history. Historical, cultural, and literary background exegetical. God the father planned throughout history for jesus to create a multiethnic community of followers. One of the seven wonders of the world was in ephesus. He also sent along the letter to the colossian church.

In this lesson, we will commence our study of the book of ephesians. Paul is sending the slave onesimus back to his master philemon, in the care of tychicus. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the churches in ephesus and. As we continue in our faith from day to day, month to month, and year to year, the temptation to get comfortable will always exist. Praise for spiritual blessings in christ praise be to the god and father of our lord jesus christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in christ. The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. Some assumptions about ephesians itself and the role of this passage in this letter. Historical background on the book of ephesians 1 historical. It includes a glossary of cultural terms and important historical figures, maps and charts, uptodate bibliographies, and introductory essays about cultural background information for each book of the. Feb 07, 2015 in order to explore the full richness of the book of ephesians, it is necessary to not only examine the literary text of the book, but to examine the historical cultural context of the book as well. A significant change had occurred in the concept of the coming of the messiah and.

Doing a historical background study is helpful in understanding the specific situation and setting of the author and the reader of biblical literature. Ephesians chapters wonderfully expound the gospel while ephesians chapters 46 provide a clear picture of how those doctrines change our lives. Translate, according to the greek order, i beseech you, therefore seeing that such is your calling of grace, the first. This would further seem to suggest, as i have believed, that not only did paul write the book of colossians, but that he wrote colossians before writing the book of ephesians. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to.

The city ephesus itself was a large, multiethnic center of trade, commerce and culture. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. If such is truly the case, then paul wrote ephesians around 6163 a. The historical and cultural context of the book of. He also was a slaveholder whose slave onesimus had escaped, had later encountered the apostle paul, and had responded to the gospel message about jesus. Furthermore, i think the letter has to be kept in its historical context as a companion letter with colossians and philemon.

Comprised of jews and nonjews, these followers form the covenant family god promised to abraham. We can do this by learning the historical situation of the author and his reader. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. The book of ephesians clearly leaves its mark among other bible books by displaying the powerful impact of the gospel of christ jesus in the individual and corporate life of believers. The church can thank phillip and his son alexander for establishing the greek empire, which gave way. Pauls doctrine of the church shines in ephesians unlike any other epistle. The historical context of pauls letters to the galatians and. The indication is that the epistles to the colossians, philemon and the ephesians were carried to their destination by tychicus and onesimus cf. The mood of colossians is argumentative and controversial, that of ephesians clam and peaceful. The below chart will help underline and point out these similarities. Because it was also at an intersection of major trade routes, ephesus became a commercial center. The historical context of pauls letters to the galatians. The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Cultural and historical background for ephesians in order to understand the radical nature of the message of ephesians or even some of pauls harsh language toward gentiles, it is important to provide some cultural and historical context for the jew gentile relationship in the ancient world.

Philemon was a citizen of colossae and an upright leader in that church. Background paper on the epistle to the philippians the city of philippi the city of philippi was located in modern macedonia, which is north of greece. The book of ephesians clearly leaves its mark among other bible books by displaying the powerful impact of the gospel of christ jesus in the individual and. The city was founded by phillip ii, the father of alexander the great. Julian colorado christian university ephesians historical background we must understand ephesus if we want to understand the book of ephesians. Ephesians 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Ephesians historical background 950 words bartleby. Grace and peace to you from god our father and the lord jesus christ.

Father, son, and spirit are seen in pauls epistle to the ephesians as operating from before the foundation of the world for the redemption of the church. The book of ephesians is held in great reverence by both biblical. It analyzes the historical cultural background of every passage of the new testament in clear, nontechnical language, making it especially useful for those without expertise in greek or ancient history. Since clement of rome cites ephesians, it must be dated earlier than ad 95 b.

Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. To begin with, the epistle to the ephesians may be improperly titled, which creates a difficulty in its opening verses. This was the capital of the roman province of asia and its population composed of mainly the ephesians and. Introduction from the niv study bible go to ephesians.

The other is an understanding of the cultural background of the passage youre reading. Only with the background can you grasp the authors original concerns and purposes. Timothys father was greek, while his mother was a jewish christian. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. The goal is to provide readers with not only the israelite or early christian direct context, but to look. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is, written in pauls name by a later author strongly influenced by pauls thought, probably by a loyal. In the book of ephesians, we see how the gospel story affects believers everyday lives. Ephesus was the most important city in western asia minor now turkey. Waymentapart from a few memorable phrases, the epistle to the ephesians often passes by our attention without significant notice or comment. Before turning our attention to some words about culture, i want to make a few further observations that are important for understanding this passage in the larger context of ephesians. To understand and apply the bible well, you need two crucial sources of information.

Its also important to discover the authors intended meaning of the text in order to interpret it. Because the only way to understand a piece of literature is by using the grammaticalhistorical or what we call the literal method of interpretation, one branch of which is the historical background which forms the context for appreciating the content of the epistle. Mar 30, 2020 one very helpful book is the new testament world. Aug 23, 2012 as explained more fully below, the cultural environment in ephesus was particularly problematic for christians. Ephesians 3 background information with maps and images. This cultural background informs what individuals take away from teachings on ephesians 5. Interpretations of and preaching on ephesians 5 may ultimately reinforce cultural messages that may. But culture often meets doctrinal inspiration at an awkward crossroad, where some use tradition to demand changes in doctrine. The beliefs, values, behavior and material objects that constitute a peoples way of life. Culture the arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society or nation. Paul identifies himself as a prisoner at the time of his writing ephesians 3. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the bible. Ephesians 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the. Intro to 1 timothy biblica the international bible society.

Ephesians overview spurgeons verse expositions of the bible. Unlike a typical commentary, which interprets the meaning of each text, keeners book offers insights. What i hope to do is to offer a few probings into the cultural background of this passagewhich has become. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our. Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of gods redemptive work in christ. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. Ephesians intro to ephesians biblica the international bible. It had been an important town during the greek and persian war of the fifth century b.

Constable historical background the city of colosse lay in the beautiful lycus valley about 100 miles east of ephesus. In the letter to the colossians, paul addresses how our relationship to god through jesus christ affects us in the. It had a harbor that at that time opened into the cayster river see map, p. Colossians is somewhat tense to be more specific and concrete, while ephesians is more general and abstract. Ephesians shows an apostle at the end of his life trying to maintain the purity of the gospel that he had worked so hard to promote and preach. First, the concept for the cultural backgrounds bible. Ephesians bible study the christian church in the world. Adventist youth honors answer bookoutreachcultural. Background of the book of colossians 1 who is considered the. The former is a letter of discussion and the latter is a letter of reflection.

As the salutation indicates, paul is writing to timothy, a native of lystra in modern turkey. The churchs relation to christ in his everlasting purpose, is the foundation and archetype of the three greatest of earthly relations, that of husband and wife ephesians 5. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new testament. Ephesians in the picture study bible the book of ephesians. Timothys father was greek, while his mother was a jewish. One cannot step over the threshold of this letter into the book of ephesians without being inundated with thoughts of gods mercy and grace. Note first that verse 18 is the swing verse in a passage that begins in 5. The book of ephesians is charged with weighty doctrines that reveal the glory of the triune god. In the greco roman world of the first century, ephesus was exceeded in population only by rome and alexandria. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new. Cultural diversity cultural diversity is the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as.

The background out of which the gospel of matthew comes is judaism which had undergone a vast doctrinal development during the four hundred years of the interbiblical period. Paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to gods holy people in ephesus, the faithful in christ jesus. Reference tools used eerdmans handbook to the bible new bible dictionary the zondervan encyclopedia of the bible 3. Ephesus was an ancient port city whose wellpreserved ruins are in. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. As explained more fully below, the cultural environment in ephesus was particularly problematic for christians. Examine the historical, cultural, and literary background. Ephesians colossians philippians philemon paul remained in ephesus for nearly three years on his 3rd missionary journey. The historical and cultural context of the book of philemon. In order to explore the full richness of the book of ephesians, it is necessary to not only examine the literary text of the book, but to examine the historicalcultural context of the book as well. In the book of acts, the history of church at ephesus begins with the ministry of paul on his second.

The second approach is to consult a tool that talks about cultural values that may or may not talk about your passage specifically. A significant change had occurred in the concept of the coming of the messiah and the attending circumstances and results of that great event. The book is also listed as pauline in the marcionite and muratorian canons. This unique commentary provides, in versebyverse format, the crucial cultural background you need for responsibleand richerbible study. Luke records in acts that paul spent two years in ephesus see acts 19. Abbott, a critical and exegetical commentary on the epistles to the ephesians and to the colossians, icc, pp.