Ephesians – 1St Century Background and 21St Century Applications: For Individuals and Small Groups at All Points in Their Faith in Christ

By Trafford Publishing

For many, the Bible is a mysterious and closed book. However, Ephesians 1st Century Background and 21st Century Applications seeks to open this great New Testament letter.

Ephesians 1st Century Background and 21st Century Applications give the reader or a study group the tools for understanding the historical, linguistic, geographical, literary, and theological foundations of the six chapters of Ephesians.

Though some may view Bible study as merely increasing one?s head knowledge with little or no change in lifestyle, attitudes, or behavior, Ephesians 1st Century Background and 21st Century Applications shows practical ways that one?s lifestyle, attitude, and behavior may be shaped by the Scriptures.

The Biblical text for Ephesians 1st Century Background and 21st Century Applications is a paraphrase created by the author and built upon the original Greek text plus several English and French translations.

Ephesians 1st Century Background and 21st Century Applications provides opportunities for you to change around:

God?s grace, love, and reconciliation through Christ?s death and resurrection.
The church is not a building or a bureaucracy, but it exists wherever people are committed to Jesus and one another.
How Christ wants to be at home in every aspect of life.
Building a strong marriage and family life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Feb 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781466969261

Book preview

Ephesians—

1st Century Background and

21st Century Applications

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"This is a letter from Paul. And these are some study guides,

maps, and workbooks I’ve made available on a no-risk, ten-day trial offer."

For Individuals and Small Groups at All Points

in Their Faith in Christ

George Gilchrist

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© Copyright 2013 George Gilchrist.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4669-6925-4 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-6924-7 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-6926-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012921909

Trafford rev. 01/23/2013

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Contents

Background/Application Topics on Ephesians 1:1-23

Background/Application Topics on Ephesians 2:1-22

Background/Application Topics on Ephesians 3:1-21

Background/Application Topics on Ephesians 4:1-32

Background/Application Topics on Ephesians 5:1-33

Background/Application Topics on Ephesians 6:1-24

Ephesians—1st Century Background and

21st Century Applications

This guide for background and application topics for Paul’s New Testament Letter to the Ephesians has three parts for each of the six chapters. They include…

•   A paraphrase of the particular Ephesians text based on the original Greek text with input from various English and French translations.

•   Background on the text such as historical, theological or grammatical info that sheds light on the text and subsequent Application Questions

•   Application Questions designed for interaction in a small group or for personal application. They are designed to help you more fully allow Christ and His Word shape your life-style, attitudes and behavior.

Background info for your discovery in Ephesians. The letter was…

•   Written to rank and file believers in Jesus living in Ephesus, the most important city in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The city boasted of having a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana (Greek, Artemis); cf. Acts 19:23-31.

•   Designed to be a circular letter to be passed among the house churches and gatherings of Jesus followers throughout the region.

•   Transcribed while Paul was in prison in Rome in the early 60s.

•   Reminiscent of Paul’s three year visit in Ephesus from 54-57 AD (See Acts 19) where large crowds were curious about the Jesus whom Paul proclaimed.

The key points in the letter to the Ephesians are…

•   Unlike Paul’s other letters, Ephesians does not address a particular error or heresy.

•   Paul wrote to expand the horizons of the readers that they might understand God’s eternal purpose. (Ch. 1)

•   The central theme in the first three chapters is God’s grace, love and reconciliation because of Christ’s death.

•   The church is not a building, but exists wherever people are committed to Jesus and one another. It is the key player in carrying out God’s purposes. (1:21-23; 3:10; 5:23-32)

•   We are not isolated followers of Jesus, but together represent the body of Christ—His physical presence in the modern world and are to care for one another. (1:23; 4:1-6, 22-32)

•   Christ desires to be at home in every aspect of our life. (3:16-21)

•   Pastors and teachers are gifted—not to do ministry alone, but to equip other believers for ministry. (4:12, 13)

•   There are many influences, which will pull one away from the influence of Christ. We are to keep our attention on Him. (5:1-20)

•   Christ is to influence all of our relationships including marriage, the family and the workplace. (5:21-31; 6:1-9)

•   We are in a spiritual battle that requires we put on God’s armor. (6:10-17)

Paul used several images to refer to us—believers and followers of Jesus such as…

•   The church of which Jesus is the Head (1:23);

•   A building in which Jesus is the cornerstone (2:20);

•   A couple in which the church is the bride of Christ (5:23).