Introduction & Context[1]
Context
· Paul is the author, as we see in Ephesians 1:1 and again in 3:1
· Paul, the first time he visited, sailed from Corinth to Ephesus with Prisca and Aquila. His first trip lasted only 3 short months. In Paul’s second visit to the church in Ephesus he remained there for three years. On Paul’s last journey to Jerusalem he landed at Miletus and brought together the elders from Ephesus and delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge in Acts 20:18-35
o 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by [2] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 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. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.
Four years after Paul gave them this charge and ended up in jail for the first time he wrote this letter to the Ephesians, around 62 A.D.
Audience
· The Saints, the faithful, those who are in Christ – we see here that Paul is addressing all of those who believe in Jesus.
Ephesus
· Port City of Western Asia Minor, located on the Aegean Sea
· The church was founded by Paul
· Ephesians was written to a group of churches in the area surrounding Ephesus
· It was known as “the first and greatest metropolis of Asia.”
· Ephesus contained the massive Temple of Diana, containing her chief shrine
· Ephesus contained the largest theater in the world, capable of containing 50,000 spectators
· Paul saw Ephesus as strategic – he spoke of his opportunity to do ministry in Ephesus as having been the opening of “a great door and effectual.” Paul was correct, the gospel spread abroad from Ephesus almost to all of Asia.
· A part of the site of this once famous city is now occupied by a small Turkish village, Ayasaluk – the corruption of two Greek words meaning “the holy divine”
Themes
· It doesn’t seem to be written against a specific sin or problem within the churches, but simply out of Paul’s love for the church.
· The letter differs slightly from his letter to the Romans in how he describes the gospel. In Romans he speaks much of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ, in Ephesians however he writes specifically about the union to Jesus.
· One commentary said this of Ephesians, “this perhaps the profoundest book in existence.” It is a book “which sounds the lowest depths of Christian doctrine, and scales the loftiest heights of Christian experience”
· This epistle is referenced as key for establishing the truth of God’s complete sovereignty in our personal salvation[2]
Notes on Bryan Chapell, “Our Calling” – Ephesians 1:1-2, pp. 3-16
The Source of Strength
· Paul faces immense challenges: if being a chosen messenger isn’t difficult enough, the culture surrounding Ephesus is historically opposed to the message of God’s covenantal love, but the covenantal people who are there (the Jews) are opposed to the Gentiles receiving “their” message.
· Cultural, historical and racial differences confront the apostle – and what can he do? He’s in prison – quitting would be understandable, but he recognizes that his strength to face the obstacles lies in provisions beyond him: God’s Word and God’s will.
God’s Word (1:1)
· Apostle – “appointed messenger” – Paul has been called by Jesus to speak! Not noly that Paul belongs to Christ Jesus, but also that Paul represents Christ so definitely that Paul’s message is Christ’s own message. Paul speaks, Christ speaks.
o Opposition, affliction, imprisonment? What do these matter, HE SPEAKS FOR GOD!
· How does this help us? We have this inspired message from Paul/Jesus –therefore, when we speak faithfully the truths contained in this book – we speak for God. Rely upon the Word of God! His word is our source of strength.
God’s Will (1:1a)
· Paul’s confidence, his offense and his defense is found in that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus by “the will of God.”
· Remember this is the man who killed and tortured those who professed the name of Christ! How can he defend his right to speak? What right does he have? NONE! But Paul is not an apostle because of his merit, he is an apostle because of Christ’s redemption – Jesus corrected, claimed and commissioned him. He could speak for God, because it was God’s will.
o This should bring us great comfort – for what right do we have to speak for God? None, were my speaking based on my merit, I would be mute – BUT, JESUS! But, Jesus. Because God wants me and calls me to speak, I have right to speak.
· Paul could not only say he can speak, because God wants him to – he can say “and you must listen..” Not because of his own authority, but because of God’s.
· What effect should believing that God’s people are chosen for a divine purpose by the will of God? Confidence! Confidence that God has called for a purpose.
Acknowledge the Strength of Your Opposition (1:1b-c)
· Common day readers miss what Paul is saying, when he states the letter is “…to the saints who are in Ephesus…” This would be similar to saying his letter was to the Christians in Iran or the conservative evangelical working at MTV .
· Ephesus must have been an overwhelming city to minister in – fourth or fifth largest city in the world. Not merely because of size, however:
o Massive opposition from the Roman emperor cult: Still to this day, as you walk into Ephesus you can see the remnants of a great statue to the Roman emperor Trajan – who ruled after Paul’s time, but the statue still demonstrates the attitude of the Roman rulers Paul faced. The statue had Trajan with his foot upon the globe, equating his authority to that of a God.
o Sexual sin: Still to this day, one can make their way to the docks by the great port at the sea and a sign will emerge directing sailors to a brothel.
§ Ancient accounts demonstrates that the economy and culture of the entire region was lathered in materialism, sensuality, and idolatrous diversions as any modern city.
o Not more wicked than other cities, there were traces of desperate searching for the divine
§ Ephesus today, the most imposing building is the city’s library – representing the journey towards true enlightenment
o To call a “pagan-born” hearer a name such as “saint” (phrase of jewish origins: ‘set apart’ or ‘consecrated ones’) would have been unthinkable-even offensive- to the Jews of that time, it was a term reserved for special servants of God in Israel.
The Opposition Can Be Overcome (1:1c)
· Paul states both the physical and spiritual location of these saints:
o Physical: Ephesus/surrounding area
o Spiritual: in Christ Jesus
· When the culture surrounding us is full of sin and rebellion, we prevail not by our might but by virtue of the consecrating power of God that is ours by faith alone.
Recognize the Strength of Your Message (1:2)
· The salutation in verse 2 gives the reader the message Paul wishes to impart throughout the rest of the book: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” How can such hope be offered in the midst of such difficulty (sin culture in Ephesus)
o The Power of Grace (1:2a)
§ Grace is not of human origin, but from God – therefore has no limitations.
o The Power of Peace (1:2a)
§ The divine grace Paul received on the road to Damascus and the grace which he preaches to the Ephesians isn’t simply to produce hope – but peace, that God is no longer holding their sins against them. Amen! Peace!
“Peace is the evidence and expression of God’s power. Nothing in this world is more powerful than the peace that is the power of the gospel to them that believe. With such peace the gospel conquers challenges greater than we, and grants us the confidence and compassion to face them in Christ’s name and with his blessing.” –Bryan Chapell
Notes on John Stott, “Introduction to the Letter” – Ephesians 1:1-2, pp. 15-28
· John Calvin’s favorite letter…crown of St. Paul’s writings…the divinest composition of man…doctrine set to music
Message
· Letter focuses on what God did through the historical work of Jesus Christ and does through his Spirit today, in order to build his new society.
· Salutation: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
o Grace & Peace– God’s free, saving initiative and ‘peace’ what he has taken the intiative to do: reconcile sinners to himself and to each other in his new community.
· v 15 – Jesus made peace by the blood of his cross.
“For Paul the author is ‘an apostle of Christ Jesus’, the readers themselves in Christ Jesus, and the blessing comes to both them from God our Father and from… the Lord Jesus Christ... Thus the Lord Jesus Christ dominates Paul’s mind and fills his vision. He seems compelled to bring Jesus Christ into every sentence he writes…” –Stott, pp. 28
Grant’s Notes on Ephesians 1:1-2
Who is writing? Paul
Why is he writing? He is an apostle
An apostle of whom? of Christ Jesus
How can a man be God’s messenger? By the will of God
Who is Paul writing to? To those who are in Ephesus
Which people in Ephesus?
the saints
the Faithful
those in Christ Jesus:
Salutation:
What does Paul intend to demonstrate/communicate to the Ephesians?
‘The Free, initiating, new life producing…’ Grace
‘Which brings about, through the blood of the cross’ peace
‘Where does this grace and peace originate?
From God our Father
And the Lord Jesus Christ
V1 – The Letter opens with Paul identifying himself as the author, and as an apostle of Jesus Christ – not by his own doing, but by the will of God. He is writing to the saints, the faithful and those who are in Christ Jesus in Ephesus.
V2 – He greets them, and lays out the central theme for not only this book/text, but his life: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace? I know grace is unmerited favor, not only not receiving what one deserves but receiving good/blessing upon good/blessing.
According to, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, “Grace is the favor God is able to show to men because Christ died for them; ‘we are saved by grace.”
“an action which is beyond the ordinary course of what is expected, and is therefore commendable.”[3]
“By grace we are to understand the free and undeserved love and favour of God, and those graces of the Spirit which proceed from it; by peace all other blessings, spiritual and temporal, the fruits and product of the former. No peace without grace. No peace, nor grace, but from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ”.[4]
[1] Introduction and Context adapted from Easton’s Bible Dictionary all information taken from “Ephesus” and “Ephesians” sections unless otherwise noted.
[2] Chapell, Bryan. “Ephesians” page xvi.
[3]Wuest, Kenneth S.: Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English Reader. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1997, c1984, S. Jud 17
[4]Henry, Matthew: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible : Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody : Hendrickson, 1996, c1991, S. Eph 1:1
No comments:
Post a Comment