Put on the full armor of god so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. Ephesians is the great pauline letter about the church. Commentary on the book of ephesians by matthew henry new. On the hunt professor john dominic crossan talks about his book in search of paul on fresh air. And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the. Preface to the epistle of paul the apostle to the ephesians. I recommend this volume to anyone who is not familiar with the basic themes of this epistle. Determining the precise destination for the ephesian letter would seem like a straightforward.
One of the apostle pauls books, 10th book of the new testament. This summary of the book of ephesians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ephesians. Ephesians exegetical guide to the greek new testament. Paul the author of this letter, realizing that the ephesians were starting to forsake their first love, wrote this epistle to encourage them to love both god and their fellow saints. Ephesians 1 1 paul, an apostle of christ jesus by the will of god, to the saints in ephesus, the faithful in christ jesus. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. Ephesians bible book with full chapters king james version. Tom constables expository notes on ephesians this is also available in the net. These structural layouts alone are worth the price of the book. The ancient city was situated at the mouth of the river cayster, on the shore of the aegean sea, about 50 miles south of smyrna. Sproul has himself written a very helpful introductory level commentary on it titled the purpose of god. A salutation, and an account of saving blessings, as prepared in gods eternal election, as purchased by christs blood.
In light of these two great reconciliations, christians worldwide are empowered to live a new life of light and love. His introduction to the tenth book of the new testament covers its content and form, its relationship to colossians, the time and place of its writing, and its intended audience. Ephesians 5 matthew henrys concise commentary on the bible. Careful transliteration and translations of the greek, solid versebyverse exegesis, and interaction with contemporary scholarship offer unparalleled insight into the text. Ephesians baker exegetical commentary on the new testament. However, paul presented the gift of god in christ and the benefits we. Paul uses the same words here power, strength and might. While this book begins, paul, an apostle of christ jesus through the will of god, to the saints who are at ephesus, and the faithful in christ jesus 1.
And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all pauls epistles that has nothing in it peculiarly adapted to the state or case of. It is a great resource if you are preaching or teaching from the book of ephesians. The city of ephesus was a large commercial port city in asia minor present day turkey located at. He interacts extensively with the latest scholarship and provides a fair and thorough discussion of every disputed point in the book. Ephesians sets forth what no other book of the new testament describes so completely the nature of the body of christ, which is the true church. You can find the best commentary on ephesians for you using the tools on the right side. Finally, be strong in the lord and in his mighty power. The church has been brought from death to life in christ. Aug 01, 2016 ben merkles commentary on ephesians should be on the shelf of everyone who studies the greek text of ephesians. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, paul. We therefore welcome all the more warmly the following contribution to the debate which is based on a paper given to the tsf group in oxford. Overview of the book of ephesians reformed answers to. As with all becnt volumes, this commentary features the authors detailed interaction with the greek text. Hoehner then delves into the text of ephesians verse by verse, offering the greek text, english translation, and detailed commentary.
Paul, author of ephesians and at least 12 other new testament books, church. The purpose is to assist the student in gaining a greater comprehension of the biblical teaching contained in. The central organizing theological idea in ephesians is that through christs atoning work god has mightily brought about the churcha new humanity, i. Style and genre in ephesians q m t qdonovan the authorship of ephesians is an increasingly open question in current discussion. According to ephesians, christ and believers are seated in the heavenly places, the church bears witness to gods wisdom in the heavenly places, and the armor of god is made available for believers to battle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places ephesians 6. Second, god has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, christ having broken down the barriers through his own death 2. Ephesus was a city of ionia, in asia minor, and once the metropolis of that part of the world.
The book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. Book of ephesians chapter two in ephesians chapter 2 we learn that christians are saved by grace. As we continue in our faith from day to day, month to month, and year to year, the temptation to get comfortable will always exist. Watch our overview video on the book of ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Moo, wheaton college ephesians has been described as both the crown of pauls letters and a waterloo for commentators.
Janke nebraska district pastors conference, trinity lutheran church winner, south dakota, april 20, 1993 1. Enclosed within the book of ephesians is the discipline needed to develop into true children of god. Ephesians pastor david legge 4 grace be to you, and peace, from god our father, and from the lord jesus christ. Ephesians and colossians summary the epistle to the ephesians. E phesians is one of the most encouraging books in the new testament. This commentary will join hoehner and obrien as the first references on ephesians to which i turn.
This course is designed as an expository study of the epistle to the ephesians, taking the student through the entire epistle with cross references to other portions of scripture. Today mike gives a deep dive into the background and meaning of ephesians 6. With extensive research and thoughtful chapterbychapter exegesis, thielman leads readers through all aspects of the book of ephesianssociological, historical, and theologicalto help them better understand its meaning and relevance. Book of ephesians overview insight for living ministries. First, god has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace 2. Book summary ephesians reveals to us the great mystery of the church which is the body of christ. Paul intended that all who long for christlike maturity would receive this writing. This is consistent with both the ultimate purpose of god ephesians 1. Some think that this epistle to the ephesians was a circular letter sent to several churches, and that the copy directed to the ephesians happened to be taken into the canon, and so it came to bear that particular inscription. The book is quite similar in many ways to colossians, but that book places more emphasis on the work of christ, where this book emphasizes more the involvement of the church. The book of ephesians was very likely written between a. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament.
Having explained gods great goals for the church, paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all pauls epistles that has nothing. Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of ephesians in the bible king james version. Everything in these three chapters spells out what is. Ephesians encourages us to take a new perspective on our lives, one in which our work is an outgrowth of gods own work of creating the world and redeeming it from sin. These two great prayers of the apostle paul are like two big fingers pointing out two big problems we have today. Sprouls work, the following are five of the most helpful commentaries on the book of ephesians. Ephesians introduction new testament matthew henry. Wed probably listen to johnny cash read the phone book, but its way more fun to hear him read the bible instead. We also learn when we become christians we are not who we used to be and we are filled with new life and have the blessings of gods kindness and eternal gift to us. Saved by grace the classic hymn is inspired by ephesians 2. We work in response to gods call to follow jesus in every aspect of our lives eph. The letter is addressed to the church in the city of ephesus, capital of the roman province of asia.
First, the structure of the text is nicely portrayed so that readers can see the flow of the argument. This book depicts the sixfold role and relationship in regard to the church. Ephesians introduction new testament matthew henry st. Calvins favorite epistle, it joyfully celebrates the grace of god and the love of christ in all their fullness. Murrays notes on the greek text are indispensible for reading ephesians in its original language. Here we have yet another letter from the apostle paul.
The book of ephesians hits on a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors, designed to ensure believers are living up to our heavenly calling. Its authorship has traditionally been attributed to paul the apostle but starting in 1792, this has been challenged as deuteropauline, that is, written in pauls name by a later author strongly influenced by pauls thought, probably by a loyal. It was the power that god used to raise jesus from death. To teach the christians at ephesus the wonder and practical implications of being the church in christ.
Ephesians chapter 5 coffmans commentary of the new. This letter, in many ways, is the crowning glory of the new testament. Ephesians 5 commentary cautions against several sins. You may remember him from such new testament letters as romans and 1 corinthians.
Paul founded a church, and which for a time flourished gloriously, was not the ancient ephesus. Meticulously researched and comprehensive in scope, hoehners respected resource explores issues of authorship, structure, historical setting, purpose, and theology in pauls letter to the believers in ephesus. Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the book of ephesians. The church has received wondrous blessings in union with christ. Intro to ephesians biblica the international bible society. Ephesians overview albert barnes notes on the whole bible. Again, by clearly stating that this is a unity of the faith, paul did not command a structural or organizational unity, but a spiritual unity around a common faith. You will also learn about how we are members of one body in this second. Paul had called these christians to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called 4. The book of ephesians tells how the gospel affects our everyday.
With extensive research and thoughtful chapterbychapter exegesis, thielman leads readers through all aspects of the book of ephesians sociological, historical, and theologicalto help them better understand its meaning and relevance. The message of ephesians for the global church is that in christ god has reconciled to himself all things by his free grace, and in so doing he has enabled humans all over the world to be reconciled with one another. The epistle to the ephesians, also called the letter to the ephesians and often shortened to ephesians, is the tenth book of the new testament. Verse 5 for this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolator hath any inheritance in the kingdom of christ and god. He has imputed his righteousness to his body, for now we have been bought with a price and therefore no longer our own but all things are gods. The purpose of the book of ephesians was to warn the church elders about the false teachers that were teaching a false gospel and to maintain their first love that they held when they first became believers.
These are all of the chapters of the book of ephesians. Paul authoritatively opens his letter as an apostle of jesus christ to the believing ephesians with a prayer that they may. Some have taken the absence of the usual personal greetings. In our study of ephesians, weve come to one of the two great prayers in this book.
One thing is certain ephesus was a city in darkness blinded by idolatry and material wealth. Samuel taylor coleridge, the hymnwriter, wrote these words about the book of ephesians he said. This time, pauls writing to the church in ephesus and, boy, does he have a lot to say. Theme the letter describes gods plan for mans salvation, with emphasis on the role of the church. Kjv bible verses from ephesians offer free, online access, for those of the christian faith, to study scriptural passages for biblical studies, contained in. Bible commentaries adam clarke commentary ephesians. Ephesians 1, new international version niv the bible app. Paul shows how the good news should create ethnically diverse communities that are unified by devotion to jesus and to each other. We hope that you find the ephesians summary from the kjv bible chapters and verses helpful to your bible studies and for references as a guide to further reference to the book of ephesians. Feb 07, 2015 the book of ephesians was written to gods holy people in ephesus ephesians 1. An introduction to the book of ephesians an argument of the book of ephesians selected bibliography on the book of ephesians. Ephesians bible study courses the book of ephesians this course is designed as an expository study of the epistle to the ephesians, taking the student through the entire epistle with cross references to other portions of scripture. I offer the following commentary and summary for ephesians in this article.
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