Who wrote Ephesians, and when?
Paul. About AD 60–62, from prison in Rome.
Ephesians names Paul as its author, and the church has always read it as his. Traditionally it is one of the prison letters, written from Rome about AD 60 to 62, in the same period as Colossians, Philippians and Philemon, and carried by Tychicus. Many scholars accept this. Others think the letter was written later by a close follower of Paul, pointing to differences in style and to the fact that the earliest copies do not contain the words in Ephesus in the opening verse. The church's tradition and many scholars today hold that Paul wrote it, perhaps as a general letter for several churches. The question does not change what the letter teaches.
Who was Ephesians written to?
The church in Ephesus and probably other churches in the region, as a circular letter.
The letter is addressed to believers in Ephesus, the leading city of the Roman province of Asia and home to the great temple of Artemis. Paul had spent about three years there, longer than anywhere else (see Acts 19 and 20). Yet Ephesians contains almost no personal greetings, which is odd for a church Paul knew so well. That is one reason many think it was a circular letter, meant to be read in Ephesus and then passed to other churches nearby. The readers were mostly Gentile Christians living in a world of magic, idols and civic pride, who needed to know that they belonged fully to God's people and that the powers around them had been defeated.
What was happening at the time?
Ephesus was a major city famous for the temple of Artemis and for magic. Paul spent about three years there. Unlike most of his letters, Ephesians addresses no specific crisis. Its first half is a sweeping vision of God’s purpose from before creation, salvation by grace, and Jew and Gentile made one. Its second half is how to walk worthy of that calling, in the church, the home and spiritual battle.
Why was Ephesians written?
To reveal God’s plan in Christ and the church, and to call believers to live out that unity and holiness.
Ephesians was not written to fix a particular problem. It was written to lift the readers' eyes. The first three chapters unfold God's plan from before creation to bring everything together under Christ, and explain that believers are saved by grace, through faith, as a gift. Jews and Gentiles, once divided, are made one new humanity, and that united church is where God's wisdom is put on display. The last three chapters ask the readers to live in a way that fits such a calling: in unity, in holiness, in their homes and at work, and in the daily struggle against evil. In the story of the Bible, Ephesians shows the goal the whole plan was aiming at, one people in one Christ.
How to read Ephesians today
Read chapters 1 to 3 as one long act of praise and prayer, because that is what they are. The opening sentence in Greek runs for many verses, so do not worry if it feels dense. Chapter 2:1-10 is a clear summary of the gospel to start with. Notice the turning point at 4:1, where teaching gives way to instruction. Chapter 5:22-33 on marriage and chapter 6:10-20 on spiritual armour are read in different ways by Christians today; take in the principle before you argue about the details. Pray for a bigger picture of what God is doing, and for grace to live worthy of the calling described in the first half.
The key verse in Ephesians
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Passages worth knowing in Ephesians
- Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed in Christ
Chosen, adopted, redeemed and sealed.
- Ephesians 2:1-10
By grace through faith
Made alive when we were dead in sins.
- Ephesians 2:11-22
One new man
The dividing wall broken down.
- Ephesians 3:14-21
Paul’s prayer
To know the love of Christ that passes knowledge.
- Ephesians 4:1-16
Unity and maturity
One body, one Spirit, one Lord.
- Ephesians 5:22-6:9
Households in Christ
Husbands, wives, children, servants.
- Ephesians 6:10-20
The armour of God
Stand against the schemes of the devil.
The main themes of Ephesians
- God’s eternal plan
- Grace
- Unity in Christ
- The church
- Holy living
- Spiritual warfare
An outline of Ephesians
| Section | Chapters |
|---|---|
| What God has done in Christ | 1–3 |
| How to walk in response | 4–6 |