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Background to Ephesians

New Testament (Second Edition) Situation

Paul writes this letter from Roman custody, probably in Rome. As readers in the Ephesian region of Asia Minor would know, he had been arrested on the charge of having brought a *Gentile into the temple (Acts 21:28–29; 28:16). Ethnic and cultural division between Jew and Gentile was a major issue in the Ephesian church (cf. Acts 19:17), and Paul was one of the best-qualified writers of antiquity to address both sides intelligently.

From his detention under Roman authorities (probably in Rome), Paul is also aware of the possibility of imminent persecution and the need for the church to be a good witness in society (cf. especially comment on Eph 5:21–6:9). He is also aware of the struggle of some of the believers with their own background in the occult practices of Asia Minor—*magic (Acts 19:19), astrology and attempts to escape the astrological power of Fate (cf. comment on Eph 1:8–11, 19–23; 3:9–11).

Ephesians 1:3-14 contains praise for Salvation. Many Jewish prayers begin with “Praise be to God who (helps his people in some way). This letter is no different - it reccounts God’s redemptive plans and acts on behalf of his beloved people. The church is made up of Jews and Gentiles and therefore Paul uses 11 different terms used for Israel in the Old Testament to imply believers in Christ.

We think of the heavenly realms as high up and we are down here but that wasn’t the case when Paul was writing. In Paul’s time, people believed that the heavens had numerous levels and that God or the purist spiritual being lived in the highest heaven. Heavenly realms can mean both where God is (here) and where the angelic powers live.

Salvation was God’s initiative - Deut 7v7-9 and God chose Israel in Abraham to be his covenant people and adopted them as his children. But his people fell short. What God has dont in Christ is not dependent on their background.