As part of the New Testament Survey Course, Session 19 provides an overview of the letter of the Apostle Paul to the church in the city of Ephesus. This is one of the prison letters of Paul, written from his imprisonment in Rome. (Course taught at Harare Theological College - 2016)

2. Letter To Problem Theme
Ephesians Church None
Church
Nature + Purpose
Colossians Church
Extra
for Salvation
Christ
Supreme + All-Sufficient
Philemon Individual
Division
ex-slave+Master
Reconciliation
to Slave as Brother
Philippians Church None Unity + Joy
Overview: Paul’s Prison Letters

3. Overview : Questions
 Is this an individual or church letter ?
 Who was the writer & recipient ?
 Is this letter mainly responding to problems, or teaching theology ?
 What was the challenge believers were facing in Ephesus ?
 What is the style / approach of this letter ?
 What is the purpose ? Why did Paul write this letter ?
 What is the overall theme of this letter ?
 How does the direction of this letter change from 1st to 2nd half ?

4. BACKGROUND
City of Ephesus
• Worship of Artemis
Church of Ephesus
• Paul’s founding of the church

5. City of Ephesus

6. City of Ephesus
 Capital + Major city of Asia Minor (now Turkey)
 3rd largest city in Roman Empire - 350,000 people
 Major Trade Centre + Shipping Port
 Academic Centre – University City
 Religious Centre – Worship of goddess Artemis

7. 3 x Giant Religious Temples in Empire
Jerusalem
Temple to
Yahweh
Corinth Temple to
goddess
Aphrodite
Ephesus
Temple to
goddess
Artemis

8. “I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the
statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and
the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the
house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy”
Temple to the Goddess Artemis

9. Temple to the Goddess Artemis
 Temple = 1 of 7 wonders of the world (alongside pyramids)
 Completely made of marble with 127 giant columns
 Greeks + Romans + Ephesians – believed in many gods
 Ephesus – worldwide centre for worship to the goddess Artemis
 Artemis = goddess of Fertility + Childbirth
 Visited by Kings, Tourists + Magicians from across Empire
 Centre for magicians, sorcerers + spirit mediums
 People travelled from across Europe & Asia to secure
spells, curses & reverse curses from others

10. Goddess Artemis

11. The Riot - Acts 19:24-29 (Msg)
(24) A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of
shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business.
(25) He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you
well know that we have a good thing going here--
(26) and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by
telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of
people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia
province.
(27) "Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our
famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious
reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter--the whole world
worships our Artemis!"
(28) That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of
the Ephesians!
(29) Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar,
stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way

12. Deliverance - Acts 19:11-19
(11) And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
(13) Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name
of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by
the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."
(15) But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but
who are you?"
(16) And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of
them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked
and wounded.
(18) Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and
divulging their practices.
(19) And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books
together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value
of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

13. Background Spiritual Warfare
 Here : Battle most pronounced between Holy Spirit vs. evil spirits
 Therefore : in this letter Paul explains armour of God (6:10-20)
 Situation : Satan always looking for opportunities to attack our
life (4:27)
Message
 We are in Christ – above all demonic rule & authority
 Equipped by God – with spiritual armour for battle – should use it
to stand firm + live out victory we have in Christ

14. Church of Ephesus
 Paul’s Headquarters in 3rd missionary journey
 Stayed to build church for 3 years (longest of any church)
 Deep personal bond with church + leaders (farewell in Acts 20)
 Only church in NT to receive letters from 2 Apostles !
 Letter from John in Book of Revelation 2:1-7

15. OUTLINE
• From / To
• Date + Situation
• Approach / Style
• Purpose
• Theme

16. Introduction (Chapter 1: 1 - 2)
From : Paul in prison - Rome
Messenger : Tychius (Eph.6:21)
To : Church in city of Ephesus
+ all churches in the region of Asia Minor (circular)
Connection : 3 years building the church
Date : A.D. 61 (28 years after Christ’s death)
Situation : Paul in Prison

17. Approach
 NOT to Correct Problems of the city church
 Circular Letter – for all region
 NOT Personal encouragement
 More Impersonal style
 Broad teaching - for Building the Faith + Church

18. Purpose
 To Strengthen believers
( already walking with God )
• to know their position in Christ
• to live out in unity & new life as a result

19. Theme =
Church (universal body of Christ)
= Nature of the church body
 Position in Christ
 Integration Jew & Gentile (unity)
= Behaviour of the church body
 Ministry
 Conduct
 Conflict with evil forces

20. STRUCTURE
• Structure of every Letter
• 1st half 2nd half
• Direction of Ephesians
• Structure of this letter

21. Structure of every Letter
 At that time = standard Greek structure of writing Letter
 Paul used = similar structure for most letters
1. From + To
2. Thanksgiving + Prayer
3. Basis of Belief / Position in Christ
4. Living Application of Belief / Position
5. Final greetings from Paul and fellow missionaries
6. Closing > grace + peace

22. Ephesians: 1st half 2ndhalf
Christian Doctrine Christian Duty
Christian Faith Christian Living
God has done through Christ We do in consequence
Spiritual Wealth in Christ Spiritual Walk

23. Direction: 1st half 2ndhalf
• Paul’s Teaching Always = from the Teaching >> to Living it out
• Belief without Application = Empty Faith
• Living without Belief = Human Struggle without Christ
Personal Question
• Do I have a firm foundation of who I am in Christ ?
• Am I living out the result of my new life in Christ ?

24. Structure
• Several different structures used by different books & theologians
 Decide which structure is clearer for you >> Mark it across your Bible

25. Structure

26. SECTIONS
• Chapters
• Central Messages

27. Chapters
Ch.1 = Riches in Christ
Ch.2 = Oneness in Christ
Ch.3 = Privilege in Christ
Ch. 4 = Life in the Body (church)
Ch. 5 = Life in the Family
Ch. 6 = Life in the Trenches (warfare)

28. Central Messages
Ch.1 = Position in Christ
Ch.1 = Grow deeper in God
Ch.2 = Grace to Works
Ch.2-4 = Unity in Church
Ch. 4 + 5 = Living the New Life
Ch. 5 = Submission to One Another
Ch. 6 = Spiritual Warfare

29. Ch.1+2 = Position in Christ
1. Receive every Spiritual Blessing from God (1:3)
2. Chosen before foundation world (1:4, 11)
3. Adopted as Sons of God (1:5, 11)
4. Redeemed (Saved) from eternal death by Christ’s blood (1:7)
5. Forgiven of all sins (1:7)
6. Sealed with the Spirit guaranteeing our salvation (1:13)
us

30. 7. Live in His great power & strength at work in us (1:19 + 2:20)
8. New Life in Christ Jesus (2:5) – old life dead
9. His Workmanship – handiwork (2:10)
10. Reconciled & at peace with God (2:13-17)
11. Direct Access through Christ to the Father (2:18)
12. Belong - Citizens of God’s Kingdom – new nationality (2:19)
Personal Challenge
 Am I standing in this position in Christ ?
 Am I aligning my feelings to my position in Christ ? (or vice versa)
 Do I understand this as for us ? – me in the community of Christ

31. Chosen to be Holy
For he chose us in him before the creation
of the world to be holy and
blameless in his sight
(Ephesians 1:4 NIV)

32. Ch.1-3. Result = Grow Deeper in God
In what they KNOW – Paul prays for greater revelation of God
 In ch.1:15-35 Paul speaks to people who already possess the great things of the
previous section, but do not fully understand + embody them.
Paul prays they:
 receive Spirit of wisdom & revelation so they know Jesus better (1:17)
 know of the hope and riches we are inheriting in increasing measure (1:18)
 better understand the great power believers have access to (1:19)
 Know the length + depth of the love of Christ (3:19)
In what they DO (ch.3:14-21)
 Strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being (3:16)
 Filled with all Fullness of God (3:19)

33. Grace Works
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)

34. Ch.2 = Grace Works
SALVATION
 WITHOUT= heading to hell as objects of divine wrath and tools
of the Devil (2:3).
 MOTIVATED by God’s love, grace & kindness to undeserving
sinners (2:4-7).
 TOTALLY apart from works : all by God’s grace (2:8-9).
 PURPOSE - to do GOOD WORKS which God has already
prepared for us to do

35. Ephesians 2 vs. James 2
= Agreement
Ephesians 2 + Galatians 2
 HOW we get saved by grace
which THEN produces works (fruit).
James 2
 how we KNOW we are saved (by grace)
through the FAITH that produces works (fruit).

36. Ch.2-4 = Unity
 Paul’s Central Desire for church = Unity (+ Jesus’ last prayer)
Situation
 Hostility between Jews & Gentiles
 Opposite culture & values. History of conflict
Solution
 Jesus made our peace with God we make peace with each other
 Jesus reconciled us to God we reconcile to each (2:14-16)
Meaning
 Inter-dependant + of one purpose + united + deep bonds of love
(not to be the same or identical)

37. 3 Pictures of Unity (2:19-22)
 Citizens of New Community
 Part of God’s Family
 Part of the Temple of God being built
Instruction (4:2-3)
 Make every effort to build unity
between each other
 Humble + Gentle + Patient with one
another in love

38. Ch.4 = Ministries to build Church + New Life
 Christ given the church these ministries (as people) to build the church
 Not only to DO work of the ministry >> to EQUIP all believers for action
 5 ministries : - Apostles = plant & build churches
- Prophets = foretelling and forthtelling of God’s message
- Evangelists = Gospel message to all unbelievers
- Shepherds (Pastors) = counsel, care & guidance
- Teachers = teach, preach & exhort using God’s word
 Note – Multiple Ministries - not held by one person
Purpose
 To equip believers for works of ministry (4:12) to then minister to others
 To build up the church (4:12)
 To bring believers to maturity (4:13)
 So no longer manipulated by deceit & false teaching (4:13)

39. Ch.4+5 = Living the New Life
We need to bring our fellow believers in church to Gospel Living

40. Ch.4+5 = Live the New Life
 Paul urges us - Live out the New Life we have already been given in
Christ (from salvation)
 By - Renewing our mind(4:23)
 On - the Word of God
(read + meditate on God’s word – so that it dwells in you)
 In the - Power of the Holy Spirit (pray & rely on the work of the Holy
Spirit in your life)
 Note – the working together of the Word + the Spirit of God
 Actively : Take off old self + Put on New Self (created for us)

41. Ch.4 + 5 = Live the New Life
 Since : Old Self Died >> New Creation in Christ
 Therefore : Live this truth out
 Get Changed : Take off old clothes (evil attitudes+actions) (4:22-24)
>> put on new clothes (Godly attitudes + actions)
____________________
Focus =
 Speech -
 Anger
 Bitterness
 Wrath
 Slander
 Malice / Kindness
 Sexual immorality
 Drunkenness
 Love one another
 Submit to one another
 Respect one another
 Honour one another

42. Ch. 5 = Submit to One Another
Context
 Relations between one another as the body of Christ (5:1-21)
 Love one another (5:2)
 Respect + Honour one another
 Decision to Submit to one another (5:21)
Submission & Headship
 Not the ORDER of authority >> the OPERATION of Authority
 Not of POSITION >> instead of the ROLE + FUNCTION
 Not to be DEMANDED >> to be OFFERED

43. Ch. 5 = Submit: Wives to Husbands
Husbands & Wives
 Headship = Creation Order of ROLE + FUNCTION
 POSITION =BOTH in image of God + Dominion over earth (Gen.1:27-28)
 MODEL = CHRIST – Equal to God yet chose to Submit (Phil.2:6-7)
 MINISTRY = BOTH in Teaching + Prophecy + Missionary (Acts 1:14,
9:36, 12:12, 16:14-15, 18:26 + Rom. 16:1+ Phil. 4:2-3).
Sacrificial Love of Husbands
 As of his own body
 As CHRIST >> laid down his life for the church

44. Ch.5 : Submission in the Household & Workplace
 Obey + Honour : Children to Parents
 Obey + Serve : Servants to Masters
 Applicable now as employees to manager

45. Ch.6 = Armour of God
 Using imagery from Roman military.
 Modern use = modern weapons –
Sword = AK-47 + Breastplate = bullet
proof vest + Shoes = Boots
Modern Army
Roman Army

46. Ch. 5 = Spiritual Warfare
Situation
 Against powerful, highly organised enemy
 Satan always looking for opportunities/weaknesses to attack our
life (4:27)
 Greater than human warfare – not against individual human -against
forces which direct human & social - attitudes & behaviour (4:12)
4 areas of spiritual warfare across N.T.
 In our lives - temptation & sin
 In people – sinful / evil passions e.g. anti-Semitism in Hitler
 In society - evil customs / laws / culture. e.g. racism / corruption
 In church / Christianity - false teaching & sinful attitudes

47. Ch. 5 = Armour of God
Situation : Believers
 Are in Christ – above all demonic rule & authority
 Equipped by God – with spiritual armour for battle (4:11)
Instruction
 PUT ON (repeatedly) & USE Armour (4:11) – not make it: use God’s armour
 PRAY at all times – constantly battle through prayer (4:18)
 Use ALL ARMOUR – not one or two pieces (4:13)
 WHEN – in periods of temptation, attack or trial (4:13)
 Use to – RESIST + STAND FIRM against cunning schemes of Satan (4:11) until
overcome. NOT withdraw, retreat, or give in.
 Use to - LIVE OUT VICTORY provided by Christ for daily living

48. Ch.6 = Armour of God
Belt / Girdle of Truth (6:14)
 Girdle/Belt : designed to keep all armour in place to
enable movement in battle
 To fully know truth of God – to discern true / false
teaching / thinking & so not be deceived by Satan
 To apply truth in our character – honesty + integrity –
so not compromised by Satan’s deceit & trickery
Breastplate of Righteousness (6:14)
 Breastplate = body armour - protect vital organs
 Symbolic of righteousness - protects soul
 Put on by righteous actions & way we live
 Needs to be righteousness of Christ not of ourselves

49. Ch.6 = Armour of God
Helmet of Salvation (4:17)
 Just as helmet protect head from attack - hope of
salvation protects mind from attacks of Satan’s lies &
temptation - to despair, give-up
 Not worldly hope : Biblical hope = certainty of
salvation. Hope of Knowing victory is ours : gives
energy perseverance in battle
Shield of faith (4:16)
 Large oblong oval shield – protected whole body
 Covered in metal or leather soaked water : to
extinguish fiery arrows.
 Take up faith = total conviction, confidence, reliance
on Christ – foundation of our walk in God – quench
fiery arrows not in own strength but via faith in Christ

50. Ch.6 = Armour of God
Shoes of the gospel of peace (4:15)
 Be ready to share gospel – ultimate power of God for
salvation : transform lives out of darkness into light
 Never loose sight in struggle of God’s aim to bring
salvation lives from darkness
 Gospel peace = bring people into peace with God &
each other
Sword of the Spirit (4:17)
 Not long sword : short 2 edged dagger
 Hebrews 4:12 – “word of God is ‘living and powerful
and sharper than any two-edged sword”
 Jesus used Word 3x when tempted by Satan
 Commanded to know Word & use in attack against
false teaching, challenge own thinking & people’s
attitudes / actions

51. Ch. 5 : Personal Challenge
Have we :
1. Put on the belt of truth – know the truth fully and live it out daily - in honesty,
and sincerity. Are you free from any forms of falsehood or deceit ?
2. Put on righteousness – is your actions, your lifestyle full of integrity. Is it self-
righteousness or a righteousness that comes from Christ ?
3. Put on helmet of salvation – the hope, the certainty of ultimate salvation, of
the final victory at the end of your life?
4. Taken up Shield of faith – have complete reliance & faith in Christ ?
5. Put on shoes of gospel - ready to share gospel wherever possible ?
6. Taken up sword of word – use Word to challenge all thinking + actions &
withstand the lies, the temptations, the attacks of Satan ?

52. 1. Benware. 1990. Survey of the New Testament.
2. Berding & Williams. 2008. What the New Testament Authors Really
Cared About
3. Tenney. 1985. New Testament Survey.
4. Zondervan. 1995. NIV Study Bible.
5. Crossway. 2008. ESV Study Bible.
Recommended Books : References

53. Review : Questions
 Is this an individual or church letter ?
 Who was the writer & recipient ?
 Is this letter mainly responding to problems, or teaching theology ?
 What was the challenge believers were facing in Ephesus ?
 What is the style / approach of this letter ?
 What is the purpose ? Why did Paul write this letter ?
 What is the overall theme of this letter ?
 How does the direction of this letter change from 1st to 2nd half ?
 What does Ephesians teach about our position in Christ ?
 As believers what are we chosen for ?
 In Christ what is the relation between grace & works ?
 What is the central thing Paul wants to come about in church ?
 What are the 3 social areas of submission ?
 What should believers do with the armour of God ?