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AUTHOR: Without a doubt, the apostle Paul is the author of this epistle. None of the ancient interpreters of the Bible seem to disagree with this opinion. There is no doubt that the author had in mind, when he wrote it, the church he had founded in the great metropolis of Ephesus.
THEMATIC: The main purpose of this epistle of Paul was to strengthen the faith of the believers of Ephesus, broadening their horizons and tightening even more the bonds of fraternity that already united them, as well as explaining the nature and the purpose of the Church, the visible body of Christ on earth. The letter to the Ephesians is one of the highest religious documents ever produced and has been presented by New Testament theologians and scholars as the "epistle from the third heaven" because it contains the most significant and profound statements about God's eternal purposes concerning to men. It was not written to combat heresies or to tackle any specific problem. Rather, it is a letter of encouragement in which Paul describes the nature and structure of the Christian church and challenges believers to act as representatives of the body of Christ on earth. Furthermore, this epistle contains the clearest divine revelations concerning the nature and destiny of the Church [ Eph 1:3 ] and [ Eph 1:5 ]. For centuries to come, the Church will exhibit before the universe the fullness of the divine life, living the life of God, imitating the character of Christ, wearing the armor, fighting the battles, forgiving as God forgives, educating as He educates; and all this, that the larger work may be accomplished by which Christ is to be the center of the universe.
COMPILATION: This is one of four letters that the Apostle Paul wrote during his imprisonment in Rome (A.D. 59-61 or A.D. 62). With the exception of Philippians, the rest were written at the same time and sent by the same messenger, Tychicus. It consists of 6 chapters and 155 verses.
CHRONOLOGY (ESTIMATED) | |
AD 47-49 | Paul's first missionary journey |
A.D. 50 | The Council of Jerusalem |
AD 50 to 53 | Paul's second missionary journey |
A.D. 53 | The church in Ephesus is started |
AD 53-57 | Paul's Third Missionary Journey |
AD 54 to 56 | Paul's extended stay in Ephesus |
A.D. 58 | Paul Arrested in Jerusalem |
AD 60 to 62 | Paul is Imprisoned in Rome |
AD 67 | Peter and Paul are executed |