Ephesians & ColossiansSpring Quarter 2012

Ephesus• Three miles from the Aegean coast, in the

Cayster River valley.• Three great roads converged here– From the East by way of Colossae and Laodicea– From Galatia via Sardis, trade from Asia Minor– The third road was from to the north

• Three important periods– Archaic (900-950 B.C.) – Greco-Lydian (560-290 B.C.)– Greco-Roman (from 290 B.C. on)

Ephesus

• Paul first visited Ephesus on the return from his 2nd journey about A.D. 53 (Acts 18:19-21)– Priscilla & Aquila remained at Ephesus (18:18-28)– Apollos was taught the way of God more

accurately and went to Corinth (19:1)• Paul’s second visit– On his 3rd journey about A.D. 54• Encountered and taught 12 men who had been

baptized with John’s baptism (19:1-7)• Spoke in synagogue for 3 months (19:8)• Then taught in school of Tyrannus for two years

Ephesus

• Many were healed (19:11-18• Magicians publicly burned their books (19:19)• “So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and

prevailing” (19:22)• Timothy & Erastus were with Paul, but sent on to

Macedonia (19:22)• Disturbance (riot) over Diana of the Ephesians• Paul exhorted the disciples and left for Macedonia

(20:1)

– On the return from Greece he met with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus (20:17-38)

Ephesus

• Key figures:– Timothy– Aquila & Priscilla– Apollos – Erastus– Trophimus – Tychicus– Onesiphorus – John

Ephesus

• The 3rd “ecumenical” council held here in A.D. 431– Theotokos – God-bearer– Latin – Mother of God– The intention of the council was to emphasize the

deity of Christ• It is maintained by Roman Catholics that Mary

came to Ephesus with John. A house, said to have been associated with Mary was discovered in 1891 and is now claimed to be the site of many miracles

Ephesus

• One of the great cities of the Greco-Roman world

• Became an important center for the spread of the gospel about the middle of the first century

• Now in ruins

Ephesians

• Author: Paul, the apostle– Iranaeus (200 A.D.)– Clement of Alexandria (200 A.D.)– Origen (250 A.D.)– Polycarp (125 A.D.)

• Recipients: The church in Ephesus, but other churches as well

• Time & Place of writing: one of the “Prison Epistles”, 61-63 A.D. from Rome

Ephesians

• Purpose:– The hope of God’s calling (1:18)– The glorious riches of God’s inheritance in the saints

(1:18)– God’s great power toward those who believe (1:19)– To remind Christians of their spiritual blessings in

Christ– To exhort Christians to “walk worthy of the calling

to which you were called” (4:1)

Theme of Ephesians

God’s Eternal Purpose In Christ