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Written by Walt Robertson
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Sunday, 24 June 2007 |
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Written
to “Those who are saints and are faithful.” Early manuscripts do not contain
the words “at Ephesus” – this was probably a letter intended to be passed
around to churches in that area and the name “Ephesus” was just stuck in later.
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Written
by Paul, roughly 60 – 63 AD, (30 to 33 years past the crucifixion/resurrection/ascension
of Christ)
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Who was Paul? Who were the Ephesians? What did they mean to
each other?
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Paul
is “Saul” from the stoning of Steven (Acts 7:54 – 8:1) and was converted by
Christ directly on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9).
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Paul
was set aside for missionary work by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-3).
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Paul
made three missionary journeys. On the second and third ones, he was passed
through the area of Ephesus.
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First
time preaching the Word of God in Ephesus is brief: Acts 18:18-21.
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However,
on the third missionary journey he spends more time in the area and a riot
breaks out. Acts 19:1-41
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These
people were passionate about their idolatry. Paul was passionate about the
gospel.
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Read I Corinthians 15:1-5: this is the gospel. Jesus said in Mark 1:15
that we must repent and believe the gospel in order to be saved.
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On
his way back he stopped in Miletus and sent for the elders of the church at
Ephesus to come to him.
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After
the third Journey – Paul was arrested and eventually sent to a prison in Rome.
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While
in prison he wrote many letters called the prison “Epistles” (epistle means
letter) – this is one of those.
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Paul
wrote nearly ½ the books in the New Testament – 13 of 27 (more than ½ if he
wrote the book of Hebrews as some people think). He wrote more than any other
NT author by volume.
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W
e
don’t know for sure how Paul died. Traditionally, he was executed by beheading.
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