Behind the Letter: A Dive into Ephesians

Hey there, and welcome to our first week of Bible study!

I’m so thrilled you’re here, and I hope you’ll stick with me as we journey through the book of Ephesians. Here’s the plan: with each book, we’ll start with some background – the origin, historical context, and a little bit of knowledge to help us understand what’s going on. I find it helps me connect with the scriptures more deeply. Now, I’m not here to preach (I don’t think God’s given me that calling), but I will share my own commentary and opinions along the way. Sometimes the scriptures are just too hot not to! So, let’s Get into it!

Welcome to the book of Ephesians!

To make things easier, I’ve broken down the origin of this book into three main points. I’m not a historian, but I’ve taken my share of Christian history courses and done some reading via La google. If you know more, please share – the goal here is for us to learn together.

1. What and Where is an “Ephesians”?

So, “Ephesians” refers to the people who live in Ephesus, a booming city back in the day. Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire before it was colonized and famous for its "Temple of Diana" (also called Artemis), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Fun fact: this temple is also mentioned in Acts 19, which always gets me excited, I am such a nerd for history and, I just love when the Bible and history coincide! Ephesus was a major trade center, with a bustling port where silk, rice, and even silver were traded. There were silver workers who made small replicas of Artemis for worship, and when Paul pointed out that God can not be made by human hands (Acts 19:26-28), they were not thrilled! Matter fact they wanted to start a riot.

Big cities with high traffic also lead to a mixing of ideas – and, as we know, not all ideas are good ones. But that’s a whole topic on its own, so let’s keep moving!

2. Who Wrote This Letter?

If you’re already familiar with the Bible, you may know Paul wrote this letter. And if you didn’t know, well, now you do! Paul wrote this letter from prison, though some scholars believe it may have been written by someone close to him under his guidance. Either way, its authenticity doesn’t change the power of its message, trust me when I say that.

Quick side note: following Jesus wasn’t exactly popular then (and, honestly, it’s still not the easy path today). Back then, they faced intense persecution, and gruesome death for their beliefs. So, if you’re walking the narrow path and feel alone, remember, you’re in good company – And if you you are following Jesus and you find yourself not being liked you're probably doing it right....half-jokingly... kinda.

3. Why Was This Letter Written?

Alright, here’s the meat and potatoes: why was this letter written? Paul’s letter is primarily directed toward Gentile believers, encouraging them by letting them know they "no longer live as Gentiles live." He wanted them to know that now that Jesus Christ has died for our sins those who believe rather be – Jew or gentile – now come up under the promise of the new covenant. This letter served as a guide for these new believers as they navigated their identity in Christ and grew in faith.

Side Note: My dad often wonders how Paul could be called an apostle when he wasn’t present for Jesus’ ministry or crucifixion. But Paul’s apostleship was still appointed by Jesus (long story!). In this letter, Paul humbly refers to himself as “the least of all apostles,” but also calls himself the “apostle to the Gentiles.” I find this so powerful because his unique background allowed him to connect with Gentiles in a special way and guide them through experience. In his case, Jesus turned Paul a murderer into a missionary.

Videos

Here are a few videos that may help you on your journey through Ephesians. The first video provides valuable background information. In the second video, features one of my favorite people Jackie Hill Perry she sits on the couch with Jasmine L. Holmes, and Melissa Kruger as they discuss Ephesians and their new book on Ephesians. Their deep insights and powerful explanations of Ephesians always bring me a fresh perspective. To truly appreciate the depth they explore, I encourage you to read the entire book of Ephesians.

Happy Readings.