EPHESIANS
The Opening Statement
A. The truths of this book have impacted the lives of many saints
1. Samuel Coleridge called it “the divine composition of man”
2. John Calvin called it his favorite book of the Bible
3. John Knox asked that Calvin’s sermons on Ephesians be read to him on his deathbed
B. This book has been called the “crowning jewel,” or capstone, of Paul’s theology. All of the great themes of Paul are expressed in wonderful summary fashion.
C. As God used Romans to instigate the Reformation, He will use Ephesians to reunite splintered Christendom. Believers’ unity and commonality in Christ far overshadow their differences.
1. Samuel Coleridge called it “the divine composition of man”
2. John Calvin called it his favorite book of the Bible
3. John Knox asked that Calvin’s sermons on Ephesians be read to him on his deathbed
B. This book has been called the “crowning jewel,” or capstone, of Paul’s theology. All of the great themes of Paul are expressed in wonderful summary fashion.
C. As God used Romans to instigate the Reformation, He will use Ephesians to reunite splintered Christendom. Believers’ unity and commonality in Christ far overshadow their differences.
The Author
A. Paul
1. Expressly stated in 1:1, 3:1
2. Reference to imprisonment (probably in Rome) in...
Ephesians 3:1..."For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles..." (NASB)
Ephesians 4:1..."Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called..." (NASB)
Ephesians 6:20..."...for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in {proclaiming} it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (NASB)
3. Almost unanimous church tradition
a. Clement of Rome, in 95 A.D. , wrote a letter to Corinth that quotes 4:4 – 6
b. Ignatius (30 – 107 A.D.) quotes from 1:9; 2:19; 3:4 – 9
c. Polycarp (65 – 155 A.D. ), the disciple of John the Apostle, and the bishop of Smyrna asserts Paul's authorship
d. Irenaeus (130 – 200 A.D. ) asserts Paul’s authorship
e. Clement of Alexandria (150 – 210 A.D. ) asserts Paul's authorship.
4. It is listed in a. Marcion's (who came to Rome in 140's A.D. ) list of accepted books b. Muratorian Fragment (180 – 200 A.D.), a list of canonical books from Rome and placed it in Paul's writings
5. The closings of both Colossians and Ephesians have 29 words that are almost exactly the same in Greek (there are two additional words in Colossians).
B. Another Author
1. Erasmus was the first to doubt Paul’s authorship based on
a. Style - long sentences that are very uncharacteristic of Paul’s other letters
b. No personal greetings
c. Unique vocabulary
2. 18th-Century critical scholarship began to deny Paul’s authorship
a. Several verses seem to be from a second generation believer, Ephesians 2:20..."...having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner {stone,}..." (NASB); Ephesians 3:5..."...which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit..." (NASB)
b. Theological words were used with differing definitions (example: “mystery”)
c. Uniqueness of the genre of a cyclical or circular letter.
C. Answers to Erasmus’ points
1. The style is different because Paul had time to think when writing Ephesians while in prison.
2. The absence of a personal greeting is explained by the fact that Ephesians was a cyclical letter that was to be sent to many churches in the area. A Roman postal route which included Ephesus and the Lycus River Valley can be seen in Revelations 2 – 3. Paul wrote a twin letter, Colossians, to a specific group of three churches which included several personal greetings.
3. The number of unique words in Ephesians is exactly the same as the number of unique words (hapax legomena) in Romans. The purpose, subject matter, recipients and occasion explain the use of new words.
4. Paul speaks of “apostles and prophets” in 1 Corinthians 12:28, which is similar to 2:20 and 3:5. No one denies Paul's authorship of I Corinthians.
1. Expressly stated in 1:1, 3:1
2. Reference to imprisonment (probably in Rome) in...
Ephesians 3:1..."For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles..." (NASB)
Ephesians 4:1..."Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called..." (NASB)
Ephesians 6:20..."...for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in {proclaiming} it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (NASB)
3. Almost unanimous church tradition
a. Clement of Rome, in 95 A.D. , wrote a letter to Corinth that quotes 4:4 – 6
b. Ignatius (30 – 107 A.D.) quotes from 1:9; 2:19; 3:4 – 9
c. Polycarp (65 – 155 A.D. ), the disciple of John the Apostle, and the bishop of Smyrna asserts Paul's authorship
d. Irenaeus (130 – 200 A.D. ) asserts Paul’s authorship
e. Clement of Alexandria (150 – 210 A.D. ) asserts Paul's authorship.
4. It is listed in a. Marcion's (who came to Rome in 140's A.D. ) list of accepted books b. Muratorian Fragment (180 – 200 A.D.), a list of canonical books from Rome and placed it in Paul's writings
5. The closings of both Colossians and Ephesians have 29 words that are almost exactly the same in Greek (there are two additional words in Colossians).
B. Another Author
1. Erasmus was the first to doubt Paul’s authorship based on
a. Style - long sentences that are very uncharacteristic of Paul’s other letters
b. No personal greetings
c. Unique vocabulary
2. 18th-Century critical scholarship began to deny Paul’s authorship
a. Several verses seem to be from a second generation believer, Ephesians 2:20..."...having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner {stone,}..." (NASB); Ephesians 3:5..."...which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit..." (NASB)
b. Theological words were used with differing definitions (example: “mystery”)
c. Uniqueness of the genre of a cyclical or circular letter.
C. Answers to Erasmus’ points
1. The style is different because Paul had time to think when writing Ephesians while in prison.
2. The absence of a personal greeting is explained by the fact that Ephesians was a cyclical letter that was to be sent to many churches in the area. A Roman postal route which included Ephesus and the Lycus River Valley can be seen in Revelations 2 – 3. Paul wrote a twin letter, Colossians, to a specific group of three churches which included several personal greetings.
3. The number of unique words in Ephesians is exactly the same as the number of unique words (hapax legomena) in Romans. The purpose, subject matter, recipients and occasion explain the use of new words.
4. Paul speaks of “apostles and prophets” in 1 Corinthians 12:28, which is similar to 2:20 and 3:5. No one denies Paul's authorship of I Corinthians.
The Literary Relationship between Colossians and Ephesians
A. The historical relationship between Colossians and Ephesians
1. Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:12; Philemon 23) was converted during Paul's Ephesian campaign (Acts 19)
a. He took his newly found faith back to his home area, the Lycus River Valley.
b. He started three churches—in Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colossae.
c. Epaphras sought Paul for advice on how to combat this merging of world views by the heretics. Paul was in prison at Rome (early 60's).
2. False teachers came and began to merge the gospel with Greek ontology
a. spirit and matter were co-eternal
b. spirit (God) was good
c. matter (creation) was evil
d. a series of eons (angelic levels) existed between the good high God and a lesser god who formed matter
e. salvation was based on knowledge of secret passwords which helped people progress through the eons (angelic levels)
B. The literary relationship between Paul’s two letters
1. Paul heard of the heresy in these churches which he had never visited personally.
2. Paul wrote a hard-hitting letter in short, emotional sentences, directed at the false teachers. The central theme was the cosmic lordship of Jesus. This is known as Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
3. Apparently, soon after writing Colossians, with time on his hands in prison, he developed these same themes. Ephesians is characterized by long sentences and developed theological concepts (1:3 – 14, 15 – 23; 2:1 – 10, 14 – 18, 19 – 22; 3:1 – 12, 14 – 19; 4:11 – 16; 6:13 – 20). It takes Colossians as a starting point and draws out its theological implications. Its central theme is the unity of all things in Christ, which was a contrast to the incipient gnostic concept.
C. Related literary and theological structure
1. Similarity of the basic structure
a. they have very similar openings
b. they have doctrinal sections dealing primarily with Christ
c. they have practical sections admonishing Christian lifestyle using the same categories, terms and phrases
d. they have closing verses exactly alike in 29 consecutive words in Greek, with only two different words added in Colossians.
2. Similarity of words or short phrases (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:1c and Col. 1:2a “faithful”,
Eph. 1:4 and Col. 1:22 “holy and blameless”,
Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 “redemption . . . Forgiveness”,
Eph. 1:10 and Col. 1:20 “all things . . . heaven . . . Earth”,
Eph. 1:15 and Col. 1:3-4 “heard . . . love for all the saints”,
Eph. 1:18 and Col. 1:27 “the riches of the glory”,
Eph. 2:16 and Col. 1:20 “reconcile . . . Cross”,
Eph. 3:2 and Col. 1:25 “stewardship”,
Eph. 3:3 and Col. 1:26,27 “mystery”,
Eph. 4:3 and Col. 3:14 “unity”,
Eph. 4:15 and Col. 2:19 “head” and “grow”,
Eph. 4:24 and Col. 3:10,12,14 “put on . . . ”,
Eph. 5:3 and Col. 3:5 “immorality,” “impurity,” “greed”
Eph. 5:5 and Col. 3:5 , “idolatry” (coveting),
Eph. 5:6 and Col. 3:6 “the wrath of God”,
3. Exact phrases or sentences (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:1a and Col. 1:1a,
Eph. 1:2 and Col. 1:2b,
4. Similarity of phrases or sentences (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:21 and Col. 1:16,
Eph. 2:1 and Col. 1:13,
Eph. 2:16 and Col. 1:20,
Eph. 3:7a and Col. 1:23d, 25a,
Eph. 3:8 and Col. 1:27,
Eph. 4:2 and Col. 3:12,
Eph. 4:29 and Col. 3:8; 4:6,
Eph. 4:32b and Col.3:13b,
Eph. 5:15 and Col. 4:5,
Eph. 5:19-20 and Col. 3:16
5. Theologically synonymous concepts (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:3 and Col. 1:3 a prayer of thanks
Eph. 2:1,12 and Col. 1:21 alienation from God
Eph. 2:15 and Col. 2:14 hostility of Law
Eph. 4:1 and Col. 1:10 worthy walk
Eph. 4:15 and Col. 2:19 Christ’s body growing to maturity from Head
Eph. 4:19 and Col. 3:5 sexual impurity
Eph. 4:22,31 and Col. 3:8 “lay aside” sins
Eph. 4:32 and Col. 3:12-13 Christians kind to one another
Eph. 5:4 and Col. 3:8 Christian speech
Eph. 5:18 and Col. 3:16 filling of Spirit = word of Christ
Eph. 5:20 and Col. 3:17 thanksgiving to God for all things
Eph. 5:22 and Col. 3:18 wives be subject to husbands
Eph. 5:25 and Col. 3:19 husbands love your wives
Eph. 6:1 and Col. 3:20 children obey your parents
Eph. 6:4 and Col. 3:21 fathers do not provoke children
Eph. 6:5 and Col. 3:22 slaves obey masters
Eph. 6:9 and Col. 4:1 masters and slaves
Eph. 6:18 and Col. 4:2-4 Paul’s request for prayer
6. Terms used in both Colossians and Ephesians which are not found in other Pauline literature
a. “fullness”...Ephesians 1:23 “the fullness of Him who fills all in all”...Ephesians 3:19 “be filled up to all the fullness of God”...Ephesians 4:13 “to the fullness of Christ”...Colossians 1:19 “for all the fullness to dwell in Him”...Colossians 2:9 “for in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells”
b. Christ as “head” of the church...Ephesians 4:15 "...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all {aspects} into Him who is the head, {even} Christ..."...5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body." (NASB) and Colossians 1:18 "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." and 2:19 "...and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God." (NASB)
c. “alienated”...Ephesians 2:12 "...{remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."...4:18 "...being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart..." (NASB) and Colossians 1:21 " And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, {engaged} in evil deeds..." (NASB)
d. “making the most of your time”...Ephesians 5:16 "...making the most of your time, because the days are evil." (NASB) and Colossians 4:5 " Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity." (NASB)
e. “rooted”...Ephesians 3:17 "...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; {and} that you, being rooted and grounded in love..." (NASB) and Colossians 2:7 "...having been firmly rooted {and now} being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, {and} overflowing with gratitude." (NASB)
f. “the word of truth, the gospel”...Ephesians 1:13 "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise..." (NASB) and Colossians 1:5 "...because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel..." (NASB)
g. “forbearing”...Ephesians 4:2 "... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love..." (NASB) and Colossians 3:13 "...bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." (NASB)
h. unusual phrasing and terms (“held together,” “supply”)...Ephesians 4:16 "...from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." (NASB) and Colossians 2:19 "...and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God." (NASB)
D. Summary
1. Over one third of the words in Colossians are in Ephesians. It has been estimated that 75 of the 155 verses in Ephesians have a parallel in Colossians. Both claim Paul's authorship while in prison.
2. Both were delivered by Paul’s friend Tychicus.
3. Both were sent to the same area (Asia Minor).
4. Both deal with the same Christological topic.
5. Both emphasize Christ as head of the church.
6. Both encourage appropriate Christian living.
E. Major Points of Dissimilarity
1. The church was always local in Colossians but universal in Ephesians. This may be due to the cyclical nature of the letter of Ephesians.
2. Heresy, which was such a prominent feature of Colossians, is not directly mentioned in Ephesians. However, both letters use characteristic gnostic terms (“wisdom,” “knowledge,” “fullness,” “mystery,” “principalities and powers” and “stewardship.”)
3. The second coming is immediate in Colossians but delayed in Ephesians. The church was, and is, called to serve in a fallen world. (2:7; 3:21; 4:13).
4. Several characteristically Pauline terms are used differently. One example is the term “mystery.” In Colossians the mystery is Christ (Colossians 1:26 – 27; 2:2; 4:3), but in Ephesians (1:9; 5:32) it is God’s previously hidden, but now revealed, plan for the unity of Gentiles and Jews.
5. Ephesians has several Old Testament allusions 1:22— Psalm 8 2:17—Isaiah 57:19 2:20—Psalm 118:22 4:8—Psalm 68:18 4:26—Psalm 4:4 5:15—Isaiah 26:19, 51:17, 52:1, 60:1 5:3—Genesis 3:24 6:2—3-Exodus 20:12 6:14—Isaiah 11:5, 59:17 6:15—Isaiah 52:7
6. there are only one or two in Colossians 2:3—Isaiah 11:2 2:22—Isaiah 29:13
F. Though very similar in words, phrases and often outline, the letters also include unique truths.
1. Trinitarian blessing of grace - Ephesians 1:3 – 14
2. Grace passage - Ephesians 2:1 – 10
3. Merging of Jews and Gentiles into one new body - Ephesians 2:11 – 3:13
4. Unity and giftedness of the body of Christ - Ephesians 4:1 – 16
5. “Christ and the church” / “husband and wife” - Ephesians 5:22 – 33
6. Spiritual warfare passage - Ephesians 6:10 – 18
7. Christological passage - Colossians 1:13 – 18
8. Human religious ritual and rules - Colossians 2:16 – 23
G. In conclusion, it seems best to follow F. F. Bruce in asserting that Paul wrote both letters in close proximity by developing the thoughts of Colossians into a capstone presentation of truth.
1. Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:12; Philemon 23) was converted during Paul's Ephesian campaign (Acts 19)
a. He took his newly found faith back to his home area, the Lycus River Valley.
b. He started three churches—in Hierapolis, Laodicea and Colossae.
c. Epaphras sought Paul for advice on how to combat this merging of world views by the heretics. Paul was in prison at Rome (early 60's).
2. False teachers came and began to merge the gospel with Greek ontology
a. spirit and matter were co-eternal
b. spirit (God) was good
c. matter (creation) was evil
d. a series of eons (angelic levels) existed between the good high God and a lesser god who formed matter
e. salvation was based on knowledge of secret passwords which helped people progress through the eons (angelic levels)
B. The literary relationship between Paul’s two letters
1. Paul heard of the heresy in these churches which he had never visited personally.
2. Paul wrote a hard-hitting letter in short, emotional sentences, directed at the false teachers. The central theme was the cosmic lordship of Jesus. This is known as Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
3. Apparently, soon after writing Colossians, with time on his hands in prison, he developed these same themes. Ephesians is characterized by long sentences and developed theological concepts (1:3 – 14, 15 – 23; 2:1 – 10, 14 – 18, 19 – 22; 3:1 – 12, 14 – 19; 4:11 – 16; 6:13 – 20). It takes Colossians as a starting point and draws out its theological implications. Its central theme is the unity of all things in Christ, which was a contrast to the incipient gnostic concept.
C. Related literary and theological structure
1. Similarity of the basic structure
a. they have very similar openings
b. they have doctrinal sections dealing primarily with Christ
c. they have practical sections admonishing Christian lifestyle using the same categories, terms and phrases
d. they have closing verses exactly alike in 29 consecutive words in Greek, with only two different words added in Colossians.
2. Similarity of words or short phrases (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:1c and Col. 1:2a “faithful”,
Eph. 1:4 and Col. 1:22 “holy and blameless”,
Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 “redemption . . . Forgiveness”,
Eph. 1:10 and Col. 1:20 “all things . . . heaven . . . Earth”,
Eph. 1:15 and Col. 1:3-4 “heard . . . love for all the saints”,
Eph. 1:18 and Col. 1:27 “the riches of the glory”,
Eph. 2:16 and Col. 1:20 “reconcile . . . Cross”,
Eph. 3:2 and Col. 1:25 “stewardship”,
Eph. 3:3 and Col. 1:26,27 “mystery”,
Eph. 4:3 and Col. 3:14 “unity”,
Eph. 4:15 and Col. 2:19 “head” and “grow”,
Eph. 4:24 and Col. 3:10,12,14 “put on . . . ”,
Eph. 5:3 and Col. 3:5 “immorality,” “impurity,” “greed”
Eph. 5:5 and Col. 3:5 , “idolatry” (coveting),
Eph. 5:6 and Col. 3:6 “the wrath of God”,
3. Exact phrases or sentences (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:1a and Col. 1:1a,
Eph. 1:2 and Col. 1:2b,
4. Similarity of phrases or sentences (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:21 and Col. 1:16,
Eph. 2:1 and Col. 1:13,
Eph. 2:16 and Col. 1:20,
Eph. 3:7a and Col. 1:23d, 25a,
Eph. 3:8 and Col. 1:27,
Eph. 4:2 and Col. 3:12,
Eph. 4:29 and Col. 3:8; 4:6,
Eph. 4:32b and Col.3:13b,
Eph. 5:15 and Col. 4:5,
Eph. 5:19-20 and Col. 3:16
5. Theologically synonymous concepts (click here to see a side-by-side comparison of verses)...
Eph. 1:3 and Col. 1:3 a prayer of thanks
Eph. 2:1,12 and Col. 1:21 alienation from God
Eph. 2:15 and Col. 2:14 hostility of Law
Eph. 4:1 and Col. 1:10 worthy walk
Eph. 4:15 and Col. 2:19 Christ’s body growing to maturity from Head
Eph. 4:19 and Col. 3:5 sexual impurity
Eph. 4:22,31 and Col. 3:8 “lay aside” sins
Eph. 4:32 and Col. 3:12-13 Christians kind to one another
Eph. 5:4 and Col. 3:8 Christian speech
Eph. 5:18 and Col. 3:16 filling of Spirit = word of Christ
Eph. 5:20 and Col. 3:17 thanksgiving to God for all things
Eph. 5:22 and Col. 3:18 wives be subject to husbands
Eph. 5:25 and Col. 3:19 husbands love your wives
Eph. 6:1 and Col. 3:20 children obey your parents
Eph. 6:4 and Col. 3:21 fathers do not provoke children
Eph. 6:5 and Col. 3:22 slaves obey masters
Eph. 6:9 and Col. 4:1 masters and slaves
Eph. 6:18 and Col. 4:2-4 Paul’s request for prayer
6. Terms used in both Colossians and Ephesians which are not found in other Pauline literature
a. “fullness”...Ephesians 1:23 “the fullness of Him who fills all in all”...Ephesians 3:19 “be filled up to all the fullness of God”...Ephesians 4:13 “to the fullness of Christ”...Colossians 1:19 “for all the fullness to dwell in Him”...Colossians 2:9 “for in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells”
b. Christ as “head” of the church...Ephesians 4:15 "...but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all {aspects} into Him who is the head, {even} Christ..."...5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body." (NASB) and Colossians 1:18 "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." and 2:19 "...and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God." (NASB)
c. “alienated”...Ephesians 2:12 "...{remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world."...4:18 "...being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart..." (NASB) and Colossians 1:21 " And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, {engaged} in evil deeds..." (NASB)
d. “making the most of your time”...Ephesians 5:16 "...making the most of your time, because the days are evil." (NASB) and Colossians 4:5 " Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity." (NASB)
e. “rooted”...Ephesians 3:17 "...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; {and} that you, being rooted and grounded in love..." (NASB) and Colossians 2:7 "...having been firmly rooted {and now} being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, {and} overflowing with gratitude." (NASB)
f. “the word of truth, the gospel”...Ephesians 1:13 "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise..." (NASB) and Colossians 1:5 "...because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel..." (NASB)
g. “forbearing”...Ephesians 4:2 "... with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love..." (NASB) and Colossians 3:13 "...bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." (NASB)
h. unusual phrasing and terms (“held together,” “supply”)...Ephesians 4:16 "...from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." (NASB) and Colossians 2:19 "...and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God." (NASB)
D. Summary
1. Over one third of the words in Colossians are in Ephesians. It has been estimated that 75 of the 155 verses in Ephesians have a parallel in Colossians. Both claim Paul's authorship while in prison.
2. Both were delivered by Paul’s friend Tychicus.
3. Both were sent to the same area (Asia Minor).
4. Both deal with the same Christological topic.
5. Both emphasize Christ as head of the church.
6. Both encourage appropriate Christian living.
E. Major Points of Dissimilarity
1. The church was always local in Colossians but universal in Ephesians. This may be due to the cyclical nature of the letter of Ephesians.
2. Heresy, which was such a prominent feature of Colossians, is not directly mentioned in Ephesians. However, both letters use characteristic gnostic terms (“wisdom,” “knowledge,” “fullness,” “mystery,” “principalities and powers” and “stewardship.”)
3. The second coming is immediate in Colossians but delayed in Ephesians. The church was, and is, called to serve in a fallen world. (2:7; 3:21; 4:13).
4. Several characteristically Pauline terms are used differently. One example is the term “mystery.” In Colossians the mystery is Christ (Colossians 1:26 – 27; 2:2; 4:3), but in Ephesians (1:9; 5:32) it is God’s previously hidden, but now revealed, plan for the unity of Gentiles and Jews.
5. Ephesians has several Old Testament allusions 1:22— Psalm 8 2:17—Isaiah 57:19 2:20—Psalm 118:22 4:8—Psalm 68:18 4:26—Psalm 4:4 5:15—Isaiah 26:19, 51:17, 52:1, 60:1 5:3—Genesis 3:24 6:2—3-Exodus 20:12 6:14—Isaiah 11:5, 59:17 6:15—Isaiah 52:7
6. there are only one or two in Colossians 2:3—Isaiah 11:2 2:22—Isaiah 29:13
F. Though very similar in words, phrases and often outline, the letters also include unique truths.
1. Trinitarian blessing of grace - Ephesians 1:3 – 14
2. Grace passage - Ephesians 2:1 – 10
3. Merging of Jews and Gentiles into one new body - Ephesians 2:11 – 3:13
4. Unity and giftedness of the body of Christ - Ephesians 4:1 – 16
5. “Christ and the church” / “husband and wife” - Ephesians 5:22 – 33
6. Spiritual warfare passage - Ephesians 6:10 – 18
7. Christological passage - Colossians 1:13 – 18
8. Human religious ritual and rules - Colossians 2:16 – 23
G. In conclusion, it seems best to follow F. F. Bruce in asserting that Paul wrote both letters in close proximity by developing the thoughts of Colossians into a capstone presentation of truth.
The Date
A. The date of this letter is linked to one of Paul’s imprisonments in Ephesus, Philippi, Caesarea, or Rome. A Roman imprisonment best fits the facts of Acts.
B. Once Rome is assumed to be the place of imprisonment, the question arises, which time? Paul was in jail in the early 60's, which is recorded in Acts, but he was released and wrote the Pastoral letters (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) and was then rearrested and killed before June 9, 68 A.D., which was the date of Nero’s suicide.
C. The best educated guess for the writing of Ephesians is Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome in the early 60's.
B. Once Rome is assumed to be the place of imprisonment, the question arises, which time? Paul was in jail in the early 60's, which is recorded in Acts, but he was released and wrote the Pastoral letters (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) and was then rearrested and killed before June 9, 68 A.D., which was the date of Nero’s suicide.
C. The best educated guess for the writing of Ephesians is Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome in the early 60's.
The Recipients
A. Many manuscripts (Chester Beatty Papyri, P46; Sinaiticus ; Vaticanus; Origen’s Greek text, and Tertullian's Greek text) omit “in Ephesus” in 1:1. The RSV and Williams translations omit the phrase.
B. The Greek grammar of v. 1 can accommodate a place name. Possibly, as a circular letter, the place name of the church was left blank so it could be supplied when read aloud to the churches.
C. Ephesians was written primarily to Gentiles, 2:1; 4:17, whom Paul had not personally met, 1:15; 3:2. The churches in the Lycus River Valley (Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae) were started not by Paul but by Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:12; Philemon 23).
B. The Greek grammar of v. 1 can accommodate a place name. Possibly, as a circular letter, the place name of the church was left blank so it could be supplied when read aloud to the churches.
C. Ephesians was written primarily to Gentiles, 2:1; 4:17, whom Paul had not personally met, 1:15; 3:2. The churches in the Lycus River Valley (Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae) were started not by Paul but by Epaphras (Colossians 1:7; 4:12; Philemon 23).
The Purpose
A. The theme of the book is found in 1:10 and 4:1 – 10, which emphasizes the unity of all things in Christ. Christ restores the image of God in man and in the world (kosmos).
B. Ephesians is one of Paul’s four prison letters. The outlines of Ephesians and Colossians are very similar. Colossians was written to combat the heresy of incipient Gnosticism in the Lycus River Valley of Asia Minor. Ephesians was written as a circular letter to the same area to prepare the other churches for the coming heresy. Colossians is a terse, hard-hitting letter, while Ephesians is an extended logical presentation of the same truths using very long sentences:
Ephesians 1:3 – 23..."Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly {places} in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him....
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved....
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us....
In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, {that is,} the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth...
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory....
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of {God's own} possession, to the praise of His glory....
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which {exists} among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention {of you} in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him {I pray that} the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe....
{These are} in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly {places,} far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come and He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (NASB)
20 verses...8 sentences!!!!
Ephesians 2:1 – 9..."And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience....
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly {places} in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (NASB)
9 verses...3 sentences!!!!
Ephesians 3:1 – 7..."For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; {to be specific,} that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power." (NASB)
7 verses....2 sentences!!!!
B. Ephesians is one of Paul’s four prison letters. The outlines of Ephesians and Colossians are very similar. Colossians was written to combat the heresy of incipient Gnosticism in the Lycus River Valley of Asia Minor. Ephesians was written as a circular letter to the same area to prepare the other churches for the coming heresy. Colossians is a terse, hard-hitting letter, while Ephesians is an extended logical presentation of the same truths using very long sentences:
Ephesians 1:3 – 23..."Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly {places} in Christ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him....
In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved....
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us....
In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, {that is,} the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth...
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory....
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of {God's own} possession, to the praise of His glory....
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which {exists} among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention {of you} in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him {I pray that} the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe....
{These are} in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly {places,} far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come and He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (NASB)
20 verses...8 sentences!!!!
Ephesians 2:1 – 9..."And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience....
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly {places} in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (NASB)
9 verses...3 sentences!!!!
Ephesians 3:1 – 7..."For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; {to be specific,} that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power." (NASB)
7 verses....2 sentences!!!!
The Philosophical and Theological Background of The False Teachers (Gnosticism)
A. Gnostic beliefs of the first and second centuries:
1. An ontological (eternal) dualism between spirit (God) and matter (physical things).
2. Spirit was good, while matter was evil.
3. A series of angelic levels (eons) between a holy high God and a lesser god who structured evil matter.
4. The path to salvation
a. knowledge of the secret password which allowed movement through the angelic spheres from earth to heaven,
b. a divine spark in all men although all would not understand or receive saving knowledge,
c. knowledge came only to an elite group by special revelation.
5. Ethics
a. totally unrelated to the spiritual life (libertarians, antinomians)
b. crucial to salvation (legalists).
B. Contradictions with historical, biblical Christianity
1. separating the humanity and Deity of Christ (Gnostics said He could not be fully God and fully human)
2. removing His vicarious death as the only way of salvation
3. substituting human knowledge for free divine grace.
1. An ontological (eternal) dualism between spirit (God) and matter (physical things).
2. Spirit was good, while matter was evil.
3. A series of angelic levels (eons) between a holy high God and a lesser god who structured evil matter.
4. The path to salvation
a. knowledge of the secret password which allowed movement through the angelic spheres from earth to heaven,
b. a divine spark in all men although all would not understand or receive saving knowledge,
c. knowledge came only to an elite group by special revelation.
5. Ethics
a. totally unrelated to the spiritual life (libertarians, antinomians)
b. crucial to salvation (legalists).
B. Contradictions with historical, biblical Christianity
1. separating the humanity and Deity of Christ (Gnostics said He could not be fully God and fully human)
2. removing His vicarious death as the only way of salvation
3. substituting human knowledge for free divine grace.
The Outline
I. Salutation 1:1-2
II. The Christian's calling 1:3—3:21
A. Individual calling 1:3—2:10
1. The purpose: glory 1:3-14
2. The means: knowledge 1:15-23
3. The motive: grace 2:1-10
B. Corporate calling 2:11-3:19
1. Present unity 2:11-22
2. Past ignorance 3:1-13
3. Future comprehension 3:14-19
C. Doxology 3:20-21
III. The Christian's conduct 4:1—6:20
A. Spiritual walk 4:1—6:9
1. Walking in unity 4:1-16
2. Walking in holiness 4:17-32
3. Walking in love 5:1-6
4. Walking in light 5:7-14
5. Walking in wisdom 5:15—6:9
B. Spiritual warfare 6:10-20
IV. Conclusion 6:21-24
II. The Christian's calling 1:3—3:21
A. Individual calling 1:3—2:10
1. The purpose: glory 1:3-14
2. The means: knowledge 1:15-23
3. The motive: grace 2:1-10
B. Corporate calling 2:11-3:19
1. Present unity 2:11-22
2. Past ignorance 3:1-13
3. Future comprehension 3:14-19
C. Doxology 3:20-21
III. The Christian's conduct 4:1—6:20
A. Spiritual walk 4:1—6:9
1. Walking in unity 4:1-16
2. Walking in holiness 4:17-32
3. Walking in love 5:1-6
4. Walking in light 5:7-14
5. Walking in wisdom 5:15—6:9
B. Spiritual warfare 6:10-20
IV. Conclusion 6:21-24