What is the book of Ephesians?
The book of Ephesians is a letter from Paul.
Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter. It’s thought that he wrote it around the year AD 60.
Who was Ephesians written to?
To believers in southwestern Asia Minor. Some were Jews but most were Gentiles.
The oldest copies of this letter don’t say that it was to believers in Ephesus. This means that it was a general letter to churches in several cities. The letter was read out loud in churches all around Asia Minor. This included the church at Ephesus.
Paul hadn’t met all the believers he was writing to.
Followers of Jesus recognise that Ephesians shares the truth about Jesus. It’s for all people everywhere.
Why was Ephesians written?
To talk about God’s plan for the whole world.
To describe who Jesus Christ is and what the church is.
Main ideas
Having peace through Christ.
Being saved through having faith in Jesus Christ and by God’s grace.
Christ’s work mattering for everything that God made.
The church as a body, as a temple and as somewhere people belong as citizens. The church as God’s family and as Christ’s bride.
Outline
Greetings (1:1–2).
God’s plan for the world (1:3–14).
Paul’s first prayer for the believers (1:15–23).
God’s plan to save people and make them one in Christ (2:1 – 3:13).
Paul’s second prayer for the believers (3:14–21).
How the church can live according to God's plan (4:1 – 6:20)
Final greetings and blessings (6:21–24).