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Ephesians The book of Ephesians is believed to have been written by Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul was also known by his Jewish name Saul. (Acts 7:57 -8:3; 9:1-30; 13:1-9). The writing style and time period of this particular book is thought to be somewhat different then that of the traditional writings of Paul; but because of the letter’s similarities to other writings of Paul especially Colossians, Ephesians has been widely accepted as a writing of the Apostle. In Ephesians the word Apostle means someone chosen by God to spread the message of Jesus Christ. Paul worked in Ephesus for approximately 3 years sharing the message. The letter to the Ephesians was not written for any particular reason but became a very significant teaching. According to some scholars this letter summarizes many of the important teachings found in the letters of the apostle Paul throughout the Bible. The people of Ephesus were once known for their major seaport on the Aegean Sea. Unfortunately by the time Paul arrived the seaport dried up. The city itself was known for its beautiful temple: Temple of Artemis. The temple was named for the Greek goddess Artemis, the goddess of hunting, wilderness, and wild animals. According to The Learning Bible, Hundreds of prostitutes worked at the temple and merchants sold trinkets there to honor the goddess. The city also housed large theaters, a stadium for Gladiator contests and libraries. The social setting of the community is not really referenced in this letter. According to my research the ancient manuscripts say that this letter is addressed to “the saints who were in Ephesus” however the oldest manuscripts do not name Ephesians as the intended audience. It is thought that the letter was written to be passed among several churches throughout Asia. “The biggest difficulty among the Ephesians followers was that some members were trying to split up the followers into different groups instead of following the message Paul had taught them, so Paul addresses the problems of unity within the church as one of the main concerns in Ephesians” The letter itself is beautiful and lyrical. It is a tribute to the relationship between God and the church through Jesus Christ. I have always celebrated these words as an instruction manual for basic Christian living. “Reconciliation to God through the death of Christ has broken up the power of evil and specifically the long standing separation between Jews and non-Jews. Paul’s own dignity and vocation as apostle are emphasized; his apostleship includes both his mission to the Gentiles and his stewardship of the mystery of the gospel, which could not be known until its revelation through Jesus Christ. The concluding ethical exhortation stresses unity in the church, love as an imitation of God, and separation from impurity.” What makes this letter special is the language of inclusion and every ones role in kingdom building through spiritual gifts. It begins by first describing how God raised Christ who rules beside God in heaven. Then the letter goes on to talk about Christ brought the Jews and gentiles together by tearing down the walls of hate that once divided them. Then Paul goes on to talk about those who believe being one body in the kingdom which is the church. “This body has “One Lord, one faith, one baptism Ephesians 4:5. According to Paul we are all chosen to have different gifts in the church. “…as apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11. The apostle rallies the church to stop living like godless people whose minds are in the dark and follow the ways of Christ. By the end of the letter we are reminded to always practice a lifestyle of faith by putting on the full amour of God, to withstand evil and dark forces. It is widely believed the writer’s intention for writing this letter was to unite the church through Christ. Perhaps the writer saw a need for hope and encouragement in a broken world, or maybe the intention was to make life lessons and God’s expectation of His people a little clearer. Maybe the letter was written with an eye towards the church of the future. Regardless of why the letter was written or it’s intended audience its message is enduring. The same message intended for the church back then is the same message that should serve to motivate today’s church to action. We are all united as one under God through Christ Jesus. Each one of us has been blessed with spiritual gifts to be uniquely used by God for a divine purpose. It is our responsibility as believers to put our faith in action and stop living like godless people. We are the ones chosen to set the example for not only our fellow believers and laborers in the vineyard, but also to those outside of the church. We are all called to a divine destiny and Ephesians reminds us of that and provides the roadmap essential for finding our way. Works Cited American Bible Society, The Learning Bible: Contemporary English Version (New York: American Bible Society, 1995) 2167 American Bible Society, The Learning Bible: Contemporary English Version (New York: American Bible Society, 1995) 2172 American Bible Society, The Learning Bible: Contemporary English Version (New York: American Bible Society, 1995) 2168 Bruce M. Metzger, and Roland E. Murphy, ed The New Oxford Annotated Bible: with the Apocryphal/ Deuterocanonical Books, New Revised Standard Version (New York: Oxford Press, 1989) 272 Theoi Greek Mythology, ed. Aaron J. Atsma, Auckland, New Zealand. 2000–2008 Aaron Atsma < http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Artemis.html>
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