Ephesians
Author: Paul
Date of Writing: 62 AD
Type of Book: Prison Epistle
Theme: The edification of the church
Ephesians is the first of what are called Paul's Prison Epistles, along with Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. Paul wrote them while he was a prisoner awaiting trial in Rome.
Ephesus was a prominent capital of the Roman Empire in Asia, located in present-day Turkey. Paul visited there toward the end of his second missionary journey, and the leaders of the church at that time were Priscilla and Aquila, along with Apollos.
Later, during Paul's third missionary journey, he stayed and ministered in Ephesus for three years with great success. The ministry had such an impact that it was a threat to the business at the temple of Diana, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Since Paul had stayed longer in Ephesus than anywhere else he journeyed, he was able to teach the Ephesian Christians some of the deepest and greatest truths of God, laying a strong foundation with them.
In the first three chapters Paul outlines all the riches that are ours in Christ. He gives the most imperative teaching in the Bible on what it means to be the church, the body of Christ, listing our standing and position because of what Christ has done for us. He takes us into the heavenlies, presenting the lofty truths of the mystery of the gospel and our salvation. He makes it clear that everything we have in God is because of grace and doesn't come from human effort.
In the last three chapters Paul applies these truths in a practical way, outlining the walk of th believer in light of who we are in Christ. While the first three chapters present some of the heaviest doctrinal truths of the Bible, the last three chapters share the practical implications of these doctrines in a clear and understandable way.
Paul offers helpful teaching on the church, the family, and the workplace; and also gives a powerful description of how to experience victory in spiritual warfare by putting on the armor of God. He also outlines the purpose of the church stating that God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers " for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11-12).
The church in Ephesus was the first church Jesus wrote to in Rev.2. The problem Jesus addressed with them was that though they prided themselves on their doctrinal purity, they had left their first love. It's the same problem that is always a danger with the churches today. They had soaked up the first half of the book of Ephesians but had neglected the second half; especially Eph. 5:1-2 where Paul says, "Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us."
-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible