The Book of Ephesians is held in great reverence by both Biblical scholars and lay people. American Baptist theologian, W. O. Carver described the Book of Ephesians as “the greatest piece of writing in all history” and English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge called it “the divinest composition of man”. 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. By exploring who the audience and the author of the book were, as well as delving into the characteristics of the book, the full depth of the Book of Ephesians is revealed.
The Book of Ephesians was written to “God’s holy people in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1, NIV). 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. As a large population center on a major trade route and the capital of the Roman province of Asia, Ephesus was considered the “Gateway to Asia”. Additionally, the city of Ephesus was known as a center of pagan worship as the Temple of the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman goddess Diana), considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside of the city limits. As such, people from across the region traveled to Ephesus to visit the Temple and an industry of blacksmiths served them by creating trinkets and statues of the goddess. Additionally, Ephesus was home to a large community of Jews who had a synagogue in the city.
The author of the Book of Ephesus was the Apostle Paul. Prior to writing his Epistle to the Ephesians in 60–61 AD, Paul had an established ministry in Ephesus. Paul first comes in contact with Ephesus when leaving Corinth to travel to Jerusalem in 53 AD. As noted in Acts 18:18–22, Paul stopped off in Ephesus, visited the synagogue in the city, and left his acolytes Priscilla and Aquila there before traveling on towards Jerusalem. On his return from Jerusalem, Paul travels to Ephesus and establishes there his longest ministry in any one location. As Acts 19 describes, one of Paul’s first works was to re-baptise twelve disciples in the name of Jesus who had been baptised by the Jewish-Christian Apollos in the name of John. Acts 19:8–10 goes on to state that Paul spent three months in the synagogue “arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God”, but after being maligned by the Jews of the synagogue then spent two years having “discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus” with both Jews and Gentiles. During this time “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19:11–12). Such was the success and demand for Paul’s ministry that the blacksmiths who made idols for the goddess Artemis saw their business decline and their economic way of life threatened. Led by a silversmith named Demetrius, an angry crowd rioted and filled the theater in Ephesus that held 24,500 people shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28). Soon after the riot, Paul left Ephesus in approximately 56 AD to go to Macedonia. Paul was never to return to Ephesus.
So what makes the Book of Ephesus so special in relation to the other books of the New Testament that Paul penned? New Testament scholar N.T. Wright states that “it offers a breathtaking view of the entire landscape” and Pastor Robert Deffinbaugh calls it the “high road of New Testament revelation”. By examining the characteristics of the epistle or letter, we gain insight into why it is held in lofty regard. First, the Book of Ephesians is not a personal letter such as those written to Timothy, Titus, or Philemon nor does it speak of Paul’s personal plans. N.T. Wright suggests that it may have been written as a circular letter to the church in Ephesus to be distributed to several young churches in the Ephesus region. The letter does not seek to correct errors as does his letters to Corinth or Galatia nor is it a teaching epistle. As Robert Deffinbaugh notes, the church in Ephesus was one of “the most well taught churches that ever existed” with Paul ministering there for nearly three years and Timothy, Paul’s close aide, ministering there after Paul left. Additionally, Paul wrote the Book of Ephesians while imprisoned in Rome and unsure of what fate awaited him. Clearly, Paul wanted to drive home the point of his imprisonment as he starts Ephesians 3 with “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus” and Ephesians 4 with “As a prisoner for the Lord”. Paul may have been physically imprisoned, but his mind and spirit, as portrayed in the letter, were clearly free. And lastly, the style of the writing is as Baptist missionary Wil Pounds describes as “the language of a lyrical prayer” and there is “nothing like this in Paul’s other letters”.
By taking into account the audience, the author, and the characteristics, the context of the Book of Ephesians rounds into view. We have a teacher in Paul facing his earthly demise passing on potentially final thoughts to his most prized student in the church of Ephesus. There are no more lessons to be taught and now is the time for the student to reflect on the overarching purpose of the teaching; becoming a church created in Jesus Christ and in the glory of God. The teacher and the student taking a final walk through the figurative church; to divine in Ephesians 1 through 3, God’s plan for His church, prayers for His believers, and salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike. In Ephesians 4 through 6, the members of the church doing good work on behalf of the unity of the church, for themselves, and in their relationship with others. And as that walk comes to an end, Paul signals that it is time to put on the Armor of God:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10–17)
The student, the church of Ephesus, has finally matriculated and Paul, the teacher, has sent them forth in the glory of God.
Authors Note
(Originally submitted on 9/3/14 for the BIB203A Interpreting the Bible class taught by Robert Marquardt at Colorado Christian University, CAGS)
References
An overview of the book of Ephesians (2001). Retrieved from http://www.christianinconnect.com/ephesians.htm
Deffinbaugh, R. (2004). The uniqueness of Ephesians among the epistles. Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/1-uniqueness-ephesians-among-epistles
Letters to the church: Ephesians (2012). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/08/letters-to-the-church-ephesians/
Pounds, W. (2006). Introduction to Ephesians. Retrieved from http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/ephintro.html
Timeline of the apostle Paul (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/paul/timeline.cfm
Watson, J.D. (n.d.). Introduction and overview of Ephesians. Retrieved from http://www.thescripturealone.com/EphIntro.htm
Wright, N.T. (2004). Paul for everyone: the prison letters. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.
