A Survey of the Book of Ephesians

We have come to one of Paul’s sublime masterpieces, the book of Ephesians.  The book of Ephesians was written around A.D. 60-61.  This book is included in Paul’s Prison Epistle Section – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Paul’s labor in this Asia Minor Commercial Center was certainly productive, with the gospel being propagated throughout the province.  After a long stay of three years, Paul’s effective ministry in Ephesus was met with opposition, for a severe uproar occurred in the Ephesian theater, forcing the Apostle Paul to move on to Macedonia.  However,  Paul did get an opportunity to say farewell to the Ephesian elders before going to Jerusalem (Acts 20:17-38).  In reading many Pauline epistles, and the book of Acts, one startling point captivated my mind and heart – “Paul was determined to allow nothing to prevent him from preaching God’s inspired word.”  He didn’t allow any circumstance, or anybody, for that matter,  to deter  him from preaching the gospel.  Once he received his directives from God on that road to Damascus, he was resigned to do God’s will.  He was so resolved to preach God’s unsearchable riches without reservation, for he said – “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).  The theme of this sublime epistle is the wealthy position of the believers and because  of that position the expected practice of their Christian walk.  The practical walk of a Christian must always be based on his or her wealthy position in Christ Jesus.   Paul was careful in writing this lofty epistle stressing that the believers will come to apprehend their spiritual calling so that they might understand their expected conduct.  The key verses of this grand epistle are found in Ephesians 2:8-10 and 4:1, and they read: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”  The epistle of Ephesians may be outlined this way:

1. The Elevated Position of the Believers (Wealth) 1:1-3:21
2. The Expected Practice of the Believers (Walk) 4:1-6:24

May God truly bless!