WHO WROTE:  Paul.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  Chapters 1-3 cover a time period of only one (1) year, plus with the other Chapters, we can approximate the time period to be 59 A.D. - 62 A.D.

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  This Epistle was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that as the one written to the Colossians; which in many points it resembles.  This would be during Paul’s first imprisonment (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; 6:20); and probably soon after his arrival there, about the year 62 A.D.  This writing would have been four years after he had parted with the Ephesian elders at Miletus.

 

It was written during the latter part of the two years of captivity which we find recorded in Acts 28:30; about 61 or 62 A.D.  Paul’s first and hurried visit for the space of three months to Ephesus is recorded in the Book of Acts, 18:19-21.  The work he began on this occasion was carried forward by Apollos; along with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26).

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  Any Book written by Paul must be classified with this important statement from Peter, that all the writings of Paul are “hard to be understood,” Second Peter 3:16.

 

On his second visit, early in the following year, he remained at Ephesus for about three years, for he found it was the key to the western provinces of Asia Minor.  Here “a great door and effectual,” First Corinthians 16:9, was opened unto him, and the Church was established and strengthened by his assiduous labors there (Acts 20:20 & 31).

 

From Ephesus, as a center, the gospel spread abroad “almost throughout all Asia,” Acts 19:26.  On his last journey to Jerusalem the apostle landed at Miletus, and summoning together the elders of the Church from Ephesus, he delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge (Acts 20:18-35), expecting not to see them anymore.

 

The close relation as to style and subject between the Epistles to the Churches in Colosse and Ephesus, must strike every reader.  Their precise relation to each other has given rise to much discussion.  The great probability is that the Epistle to the Colossians was written first.  The parallel passages in Ephesians, which amount to about forty-two in number and having the appearance of being expansions from the Epistle to the Colossians, are remarkable in resemblance to say the least.

 

Out of 155 verses in Ephesians, 78 are found in Colossians in varying degrees of identity.  Examples would be from comparing:

 

Ephesians 1:6 to Colossians 1:13;

Ephesians 1:7 to Colossians 1:14;

Ephesians 1:10 to Colossians 1:20;

Ephesians 1:16 to Colossians 1:9;

Ephesians 1:19-2:5 to Colossians 2:12-13;

Ephesians 1:21 to Colossians 1:16;

Ephesians 2:16 to Colossians 2:20;

Ephesians 3:2 to Colossians 1:25;

Ephesians 4:2-4 to Colossians 3:12-15;

Ephesians 4:15 to Colossians 2:19;

Ephesians 4:16 to Colossians 2:19;

Ephesians 4:22-24 to Colossians 3:9-10;

Ephesians 4:32 to Colossians 3:12-13;

Ephesians 5:5 to Colossians 3:5;

Ephesians 5:6-8 to Colossians 3:6-8;

Ephesians 5:15-16 to Colossians 4:5;

Ephesians 5:19 to Colossians 3:16;

Ephesians 5:22-6:9 to Colossians 3:18-4:1;

Ephesians 6:4 to Colossians 3:21;

Ephesians 6:5-9 to Colossians 3:22-4:1;

Ephesians 6:19-20 to Colossians 4:3-4;

Ephesians 6:22 to Colossians 4:8.

 

Another Book of which Ephesians is closely related to is found in the Book of First Peter, of which the similarity is one of thought and structure rather than of phrase.  Peter either knew of the Book of Ephesians, or at the very least, had discussed these subjects with its author (Paul).  The following are the more striking passages with their parallels:

 

Ephesians 1:3 to First Peter 1:3;

Ephesians 1:18-20 to First Peter 1:3-5;

Ephesians 2:18-22 to First Peter 2:4-6;

Ephesians 1:20-22 to First Peter 3:22;

Ephesians 3:9 to First Peter 1:20;

Ephesians 3:20 to First Peter 1:12;

Ephesians 4:19 to First Peter 1:14.

 

The phrase “heavenly places” occurs five times in the Book of Ephesians in connection with where our blessings come from (1:3), where the risen Christ is seated (1:20), where we also will be seated (2:6), where God’s purposes will be made known because of the Church (3:10), and where originated the powers of darkness with which we must struggle (6:12).

 

“The Ephesians claimed to have intercourse with invisible beings, from whom they derived their knowledge of that which was to come to pass.  In our day this communion with spirits is called Spiritualism, and the arts practiced by mediums are not all slight of hand, cunning, and pretense.  The visible and invisible worlds are in close connection.  Satan is the master deceiver, and his confederates in evil are in training under him to work in the same line in which he works”  YI, November 16, 1893; TA:239.