Epistle of Ephesians

Epistle of Ephesians
The letter of Paul to the Ephesians was supplied at least as early as the middle of the second
century and appears on all subsequent Greek manuscripts. It was almost everywhere
acknowledged as directed to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. It is one of the Pauline
epistles, believed to have been composed during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. In this study
of the letter, it will further deal with authorship, date, Purpose, recipients and major themes.
1. Authorship (Who wrote this letter)

The letter to the Ephesians was accepted as the work of the apostle Paul until about the
beginning of the 1800s, when his authorship came under suspicion, claiming that this letter
gives no indication the author knew his reader and their particular problems (1:15; 3:2). The
writer begins by identifying himself and proceeds in typically Pauline fashion to ascribe his
apostolic authority to the will of God (1:1; cf. 2Co 1:1; Gal 1:1; Col 1:1). Paul’s name also
reappears later (3:1). Thus, Ephesians clearly claims to have been written by Paul.
2. Date of the Letter

Accepting Pauline authorship, the date then depends on the Place of origin and the relevant
imprisonment. If it is written from Ephesus, then it must have been written between A.D 54
and 57, and if written from Caesarea, the date of Ephesians falls between A.D 59 and 61.
Thus, based on Paul’s circumstances in Rome, many scholars 1 suggest as a date of Ephesians
early A.D 60s or specifically A.D 60/61-62. adopts as its date early 60s when Paul was
imprisoned in Rome with some freedom to write this epistle near his death. So, basing on
their convincing arguments, this study adopts as its date early 60s when Paul was imprisoned
in Rome with some freedom to write this epistle near his death.
3. Purpose of the Letter

The purpose of the letter to the Ephesians was to encourage unity in the early church. Paul
counsels the people of Ephesus not to be divided by their former statuses as Jews or Gentiles,
rather Paul argues how and what unites the church in Ephesus, that is to shared their
commitment to the cause of Christ and their agreement on Christ divinity. Some the writes
this letter for at least two reasons:
1
Like Hoehner, Arnold, Thielman, O’Brien, Carson and Moo, Te-Li Lau, and Barth.
i. To reveal the purpose of God for the whole universe. To show God’s purpose through Jesu
Christ, and also to show that Christ is working His purpose through the Church, which ia His
body on Earth.
ii. To encourage the church to walk is a spirit of oneness and unity: “Be kind and
compassionate to one another forgiving each other a. just as in Christ’s God, forgive you”
(4:32)
4. Recipients of the letter

In Ephesians 1:1 it is clearly mentions that the recipients of the Letter to the Saints or
believers at the city of Ephesus. The letter to the Ephesians is the most general letter within
the Pauline Corpus. It is a circular letter sent to the Aisa Minor region of the early Church
that reviews the core themes of the gospel. It is considered that this letter is written by
someone from the Paul’s circle and not by Paul himself, but according to the biblical
tradition, the Letter of Ephesians is considered as one of the Pauline letters that was
addressed to the Sanits at Ephesians. The le The recipients were “Gentiles in the flesh, called
the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, separated from Christ, alienated from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise” (2:11). The writer
urges them “no longer to live as the Gentiles do” (4:17). The fact that they were Gentiles did
not mean that the letter could not have been written to Ephesus but it is a fact to note. The
indication of the letter is that Paul and the recipients did not know each other personally and
that their knowledge of each came by hearsay. In 1:15, Paul writes: “Because I have heard of
your faith in the Lord Jesus.” The loyalty of the people to whom he was writing was
something which had come to him by information and not by experience. In 3:2 he writes to
them: “Assuming that you have Heard of the stewardship of God’s Christ that was given to
me for you”. So therefore, the readers were urged to conform their lives to the pattern of holy
living, which the church was intended to serve. So, that they will be eager to maintain within
their unity of fellowship which God has willed for his creation.
5. Major Themes
5.1. The Mystery of Christ

The concept of “mystery of Christ” reveals profound truths about God’s plan for humanity.
This mystery includes the revelation that Gentiles are now follow heirs with Jews in God’s
kingdom (3:6). So, in the letter of Ephesians the mystery of Christ is that the Gentiles are
fellow heirs, fellow members, fellow recipients of God’s grace. So therefore, here what Paul
means to say about the mystery of Christ is the horizontal union between the Jews and
Gentiles in one body in Christ, and also reveals the depth of God’s love, the extent of God’s
grace, and the transformative power of the Gospel for all who believed.
5.2. New and Transformed humanity in Christ

Paul unveils the transformative power of Christ’s gospel, which starts a new and unified
humanity. When Paul mentions about creating new humanity of the two (2:15b-16), he is
talking about Jews and Gentiles coming to Christ. Their identity as Jews and Gentiles
becomes a secondary to their identity in Christ, but to reconcile both of them to God through
the cross of Christ. So, this new identity in Christ transcends social division, offering a
profound sense of belonging and purpose, which fragmented humanity into one in Christ.
5.3. Unity of the Believers in Christ

What is the Unity of believers? It implies the oneness of the Spirit, aims, interests, and
feelings of diverse individuals, and it necessary in order to receive God’s blessings and to see
much accomplished for Christ. Here, the recipients of the letter should make “every effort to
maintain the unity the Spirit in the bond of peace, (4:3). The writer exhorts the Church to
maintain the unity which is already possesses and stresses that the essential ingredient for
achieving the harmony of unity in diversity is love (Eph. 4: 1-16). Apostle Paul sees the unity
of believers in Christ as a powerful witness to the world, displaying the transformative power
of the gospel and reflecting the unity of the triune God.
Conclusion
The epistle of Ephesians presents a profound vision of unity, redemption, and a

transformative humanity through faith in Jesus Christ. As it is discussed earlier, Paul urging
the believers to lead a life of worthy of their calling. This epistle underscores the Spiritual
blessings and inheritance that believers have in Christ, empowering them to live victoriously
and to participate in God’s redemptive plan. The believers are equipped to live out their new
identity in Christ, bearing witness to the transformative power of the gospel through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the letter to the Ephesians inspires the believers to live in
unity, holiness, and love, reflecting the glory of God and advancing God’s kingdom on the
earth

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1. Authorship (Who wrote this letter)

2. Date of the Letter

3. Purpose of the Letter

4. Recipients of the letter

5.1. The Mystery of Christ

5.2. New and Transformed humanity in Christ

5.3. Unity of the Believers in Christ

The epistle of Ephesians presents a profound vision of unity, redemption, and a

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