Intro to Ephesians

The Ephesians

Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province known as Asia (modern day Turkey).

It had become part of the Roman empire ling before the Apostle Paul visited around 52 AD.

There was a theater in the city that was the size of a football stadium, and is estimated to have held as many as 50k people.

Emperor worship was encouraged, but the major religion was Diana and Artemis (GR) worship.

The temple of Diana was massive and regarded as an impressive piece of architecture.

Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus

Paul had come to Ephesus during his second missionary journey, during which he also visited Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth.

When traveling to Ephesus, he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, and he would end up leaving them there when he moved on. After Paul left the city, Apollos arrived, preaching about Jesus, but he lacked understanding:

Acts 18:24–26 ESV

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

And we know from what is said about Paul’s experience in Ephesus in Acts, that there were some who are described as receiving John’s baptism:

Acts 19:1–3 ESV

1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”

Some doctrinal confusion. Perhaps because of some deficiencies in Apollo’s teaching, perhaps other factors, but while the purposes of God were unfolding in Ephesus through Paul’s ministry, it was not without difficulty.

And it’s from this same passage in Acts that we know Paul returned to Ephesus and remained there for over two years.

A Summary of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus

We can read about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus in Acts 19:1-20:6. Paul reflects on his ministry in Acts 20:17-38. Here are some highlights:

We already noted some of the doctrinal confusion that was present and how God used Priscilla and Aquila to guid Apollo.

Paul continued to minister among them, and there was a mixed response:

Acts 19:8–10 ESV

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:11-20)

The sons of Sceva, who was a Jewish High Priest were exorcising evil sprits from people in the name of Jesus, because of what they saw in Paul’s ministry. But they did not know Jesus, and an evil spirit they were attempting to cast out responds:

Acts 19:15–16 ESV

15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

But the ministry of the gospel spread among this people:

Acts 19:18–20 ESV

18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

The Riot (Acts 19:21-41)

A silversmith named Demetrius became upset that his business, which was making shrines of Artemis began to suffer.

This also impacted the to the craftsmen in similar trades.

Demetrius raised up an angry mob in part by saying this:

Acts 19:25–27 ESV

25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

So he blames Paul for the decline in business, and we’re told that the people responded with anger and began chanting, gret is Artemis of the Ephesians!

The city was thrown into chaos. People began to turn on each other. Efforts were made to calm everyone down, but the people’s hatred and rage prevailed:

Acts 19:34 ESV

34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Finally the crowd was calmed down by the town clerk (v. 35) when he encouraged to bring their complaints to the attention of the courts.

After the riot, Paul encouraged his disciples and left for Macedonia.

Paul Reflects to the Ephesian Elders (Acts 20:17-38)

Paul was blameless

Acts 20:18–21 ESV

18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was led by the Spirit (22-23)

Paul was committed to the proclamation of the gospel

Acts 20:24 ESV

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul the prisoner

We know that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote this letter:

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Ephesians 6:20 ESV

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

It seems that Paul wrote at least four letter from prison: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.

It may be the Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea when he wrote this letter. He was there for over two years (see Acts 23:23-26:32)

Imprisonment did not deter him from his ministry

The Message of Ephesians

Encouragement

The church in Ephesus was in the midst of blatant paganism.

The had witnessed many of their brothers and sisters being manhandled and dragged into the city theater.

The antagonism of the chant, great is Artemis of the Ephesians.

A stubborn interest in the occult. There was significant animus towards Christ and His church.

Sinclair Ferguson puts it this way:

The were surrounded by the influence of the world, the flesh and the devil - they needed to know that God had raised them out of that spiritual death.

They were confronted on a daily basis with Gentile paganism - they needed to know that Christ had brought them into the family of God.

They lived under the shadow of a false temple and a false idol - they needed to know that they were the true temple of God.

They lived in an ungodly society - they needed to know how the gospel would transform their lives.

They saw life in marriage, family and business corrupted by self-interest - they needed to know how grace could transform all relationships.

They were under attack from the forces of darkness - they needed to know how they could remain standing in the battle.

This is what Paul unfolds in this letter.

Dear Ephesians

Ephesians 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Author

Paul the Apostle

What we know about Paul is that

He was converted on the Damascus Road (Acts 9)

He was from Tarsus, and citizens of Tarsus enjoyed the privilege of Roman citizenship.

He was a Hebrew of Hebrews (Phil. 3:5)

He was a descendent from the tribe of Benjamin but also a Roman citizen.

But for all the credentials he had, he makes clear what qualified him to be an apostle of Christ Jesus: by the will of God.

The Ephesians

They are saints who are described in two ways:

in Ephesus

in Christ Jesus

In chapters 1-3, Paul describes what it means to be in Christ Jesus

In chapters 4-6, he describes how to work out this new life out while still living in Ephesus.