Introduction to Ephesians

 Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio 

  1. Author.   Paul wrote Ephesians (1:1) in about 61 or 62 A.D. from his first Roman imprisonment.
  2. Recipients.   Ephesians is written to the Christians at Ephesus (1:1).   Every saved person and every church should receive its teachings so that all church members function together with unity in the church body, providing God glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.   Amen (3:21).
  3. Theme.  The believer’s daily walk in faithful submission as a member of a church body which has Christ as its head.
  4. Key verses.   3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.   Amen.   4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.   5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
  5. Key words used in Ephesians:   Christ – 46 times; God – 33 times; Spirit – 12 times; grace – 12 times; walk – 8 times; mystery – 6 times.
  6. References to the Lord’s church in Ephesians: The word church appears 9 times in Ephesians:
    1. 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things in the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.   Every church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a complete, operating body with Christ functioning as the Head, fitly framed together (2:21-22).
    2. 3:16 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.   Every real church is a demonstration of the manifold wisdom of God!
    3. 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.   Amen.   The glorious wisdom of God is an eternal testimony that shines from every real church where Jesus Christ is honored as Lord and Savior.
    4. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the body, even as Christ is the head of the church and he is the saviour of the body.   The Lord’s church is a bride to Crhist like a bride to her husband.
    5. 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.   Every real church reports directly to Christ without any intermediates.
    6. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave   himself for it.   This is an inclusive statement, not an exclusive statement; i.e., for believers a place of fellowship and service in His churches.
    7. 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.   The ultimate promise is that the Lord’s church which assembles in heaven will be perfected without any ungodliness whatsoever!
    8. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nouriseth and cheriseth it; even as the Lord the church.   Let everyone beware that a member of one of the Lord’s church bodies is like a part of the flesh in a physical body; i.e., against Jesus as did Paul when he persecuted the church of Jerusalem: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecuteth thou me?   And he said, Who art thou, Lord?   And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (Acts 9:4-5).
    9. 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.   Here the word church is used generically, i.e., of the type of institution about which Paul is speaking; therefore, this truth is applicable to all real churches of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  7. Ephesians has 6 chapters, 155 verses, and about 3,039 words.

Notes