Title Ephesians Strong
Content Ephesians Strong
1. Author of the chapel
According to the testimony of this letter, Paul's name is mentioned twice as the author of this book (1:1, 3:1).
And even in the context of church history, no one doubted that the author of the book of Ephesians was Paul.
Above all, we must believe that Paul's writing theory is certain as it is clearly shown in this book 1:1 that a man named Paul is sending a letter.
2. The region of Ephesus
Ephesus was a center of the Roman Empire. As a huge commercial city, its citizens enjoyed a prosperous life, and it is known as a city that enjoyed freedom because the Roman government allowed for a limited amount of self-government. Ancient sports events were held here, and religious idolatry was prevalent, and the majestic Temple of Diana was located here.
What is known historically is that the citizens of Ephesus were very superstitious and many were notorious and cruel. In such circumstances, Paul preached the gospel and planted the Ephesus church, which was his mission headquarters.
Ephesus was exposed to the gospel by Paul during his second missionary journey. After that, the Christians in Ephesus were touched by Apollo's moving sermon, and Paul devoted himself to preaching the gospel and teaching the saints in the Ephesian church for three years on his third trip. Later, Timothy ministered in Ephesus on Paul's behalf.
A number of remarkable things happened during Paul's ministry in Ephesus.
Paul baptized the twelve disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:1-11), preached in the vow of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10), and wonderful miracles (19:1-11) and wonders arose. He was born (Acts 19:8-10), a magician was converted (Acts 19:17-20), and those who served Artemis, the great goddess of Ephesus, returned to Christ. There was a commotion in the city (19:23-41).
On his way back to Jerusalem from his third missionary journey, he gave a moving farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus at Miletus (Acts 20:13-35), and it is thought that it was probably his last greeting with them.
3. Date and place of recording
At the time of writing this epistle, Paul was a prisoner (Ephesians 3:1, 4:1, 6:20). Therefore, this epistle is also called the “Prison Epistle” along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. The date of the writing differs among scholars, but it is estimated that it was written in a Roman prison between AD 59-61.
4. Purpose and characteristics of records
Paul wrote this epistle while he was away from Ephesus to warn that heretics might come in and mislead their faith. The first half consists of a doctrinal part, and the second half deals with the life aspects of the saints in Paul's typical way.
Also, according to Revelation 2:2, the church in Ephesus succeeded in stopping false teachers, but lost their first love while arguing with each other (Revelation 2:4). The purpose is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” In this book, Paul especially emphasizes love. This becomes clear from the fact that the verb form ｢agapao (αγαπαω)｣ of the word “love” occurs nine times in Ephesians. And as a noun, agape is used 10 times in all. And what is encouraging is that the book of Ephesians begins with love (Ephesians 1:4,6) and ends with love (6:23-24). And Ephesus is based on the teaching of God in Christ by both Jews and Gentiles. The spirit that flows through is love.
Perhaps, like John, Paul noticed that the church in Ephesus had lost love and deliberately emphasized love so that they could love each other.
5. Outline
This book is divided into chapters 1-3, which describe God's will for the church and the process of how the church is formed, and chapters 4-6, which presents the life as a member of the church thus constituted. In more detail, the first half contains the church as a spiritual organization (doctrine) in which the Father's plan, the Son's redemption realization, and the Holy Spirit's assurance are fulfilled, and the second half contains the practical life of the saints (practical theology), which is concentrated in love and a life filled with the Holy Spirit. .
6. Content Breakdown
1.Preface,Greetings/1:1-2
2. The Church as the Secret of God/1:3-3:21
1) The Divine Origin of the Church/1:3-23
2) Salvation by grace/2:1-10
3) Christ who made peace/2:11-22
4) The church made up of God's economy/3:1-21
3. The new life of the saints, the church of God/4:1-6:20
1) Unity in Christ/4:1-16
2) New life as a Christian/4:17-5:21
3) Christian social life/5:22-6:9
4) Christian spiritual battles/6:10-20
4. Greetings and blessings /6:21-24
7. Extensive text
Bible: Ephesians 1:1-2
Title: Saints and Faithfulness
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus and the faithful in Christ Jesus
a letter
Ephesians 1:2 Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
entry
We all have families and origins. There is a genealogy.
Likewise, the life of faith has a source and a beginning.
Knowing exactly how we became children of God and led a life of faith is an important part of living by faith.
I need to know right away how I became a child of God, became a pastor, an elder, a priest, and a deacon.
How did you become a child of God, and how did you become a minister and a saint?
What kind of confidence do you have about becoming a child of God and taking on an office in God's precious church?
This conviction will have an absolute influence on the path of God-given mission.
In verse 1 of today's text, Paul tells how he became an apostle.
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…”
1. It is the conviction that an apostle became an apostle by the will of God.
The will of God is the Greek word delema (θελημα), which means “will.”
No matter who or what the fight is, Paul has a firm belief that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ.
As recorded in Acts 9, Paul met the resurrected Jesus on the way to persecute those who believed in Jesus.
Verse 15: “This man is my chosen vessel to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel, says the Lord.”
Paul, who was called as an apostle to the Gentiles by God's will on the road to Damascus, is now writing these verses before his death in prison in Rome.
Looking back on the days of his life, Paul is convinced that it was God's will, God's will, and God's will that he became an apostle of Christ Jesus, no matter what.
With such confidence and faith, Paul did not give up despite many persecutions, setbacks, and trials, and walked the path of an apostle to the end. I couldn't give up.
Since it was God's will, we have to keep doing it until God tells us to stop.
Like Paul, what would we be afraid of if we had such confidence and faith?
It is certainty that we can keep our faith until the end in any difficult situation, resist the temptations of the world, and walk the narrow path.
2. Paul, who became an apostle by the will of God, is telling the people whom God sends the word to.
“To the saints and to those who are faithful in Christ Jesus”
What is a saint? Holy crowd - set apart
The faithful in Christ?
faithful (pistos, πιστος):- reliable, faithful, trustworthy, full of faith
It is sent to those who are set apart and trustworthy in Christ Jesus.
Ex) Eli the priest and Samuel,
Prophet.....
God speaks to those who are faithful in Christ today.
Through the Holy Spirit, through the written Word, through the will of God, He speaks through the workers of this age.
When the word of God falls into the field of my heart, it will bear fruit 30, 60, 100 times.
Only when the living Word of God comes into our soul can we bear spiritual fruit.
I pray that you will all become distinguished and faithful believers who receive the word of God at this hour today as well.
3. From whom do grace and peace come?
Grace (Kalis, ):- Grace, grace,
Grace is when we receive what we cannot receive, and what we receive when we do not deserve it is called grace.
Forgiveness is called grace.
Transition from death to life is called grace.
Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Peace (Eirene):- Peace, prosperity
Come 쫒O God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Individuals, families, workplaces, and nations... Without God's grace, neither peace nor prosperity can be achieved.
Where there is no grace of redemption, there can be no peace.
Without the grace of salvation, true peace of heart and soul cannot exist.
There is no peace, and where there is no peace, prosperity cannot be forgotten unless God sends the early rain and the latter rain.
Even if an individual, family, or business is not prosperous right now and lacks a little, if there is peace from God, prosperity is only a matter of time.
I bless you with the assurance that you have become saints according to God's will, and the grace and peace that come from God and Jesus Christ.