Reading time: 20 minutes
Short of time? Just read 1.1–14; 4.1–32; 6.10–24

Epistle

One of the passages that a number of people find challenging is 5.21–6.9, which talks about how husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and slaves should relate to one another. The challenge is to work out how much of this applies to the original context (i.e. the Ephesians) and how much to us today.
Notice that there is a very similar passage in the companion letter, Colossians

The letter is attributed to Paul in 1.1.
Ever since the eighteenth century, New Testament scholars have questioned whether its different tone, style and vocabulary might suggest that Ephesians might have been written by a later member of the Pauline community, using Paul’s theology as a base.
There is no absolute agreement on this, however, so as you read it, see whether you think it sounds and feels like the rest of Paul’s letters or not.

What do we know about him?

Paul is probably the best–known of all the early Christians. Before encountering Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, he was a zealous Pharisee who sought to maintain the purity of Judaism. After his experience on the Damascus road, he turned his zeal to proclaiming Jesus Christ among the Gentiles. This brought him into conflict with some other early Christians, not least Peter, who thought that followers of Jesus should convert to Judaism. He travelled around the Roman Empire (though primarily in Asia Minor – modern-day Turkey – and Greece) proclaiming the good news and founding communities of Christians as he went. He also wrote a large number of letters, 13 of which are preserved in the New Testament. Ephesians is traditionally be thought to be one of these.

Ephesians is thought to have been written while Paul was in prison. If Paul was the author of the letter, this would date it to the late AD 50s or early 60s. Those who do not think that Paul wrote it think that it comes from a much later date, sometime between AD 75 and AD 95. This is because the themes of Ephesians could be seen to reflect the needs and concerns of a later Christian community.

What were people feeling?

The theme of Ephesians – Christian unity in Christ – is a common one both in the first century and today. The challenge, then as now, is how to live out the gospel’s message of unity with those who are very different from you.

An epistle, or letter – both Ephesians and Colossians are letters which offer a vision of how to live out the Christian faith. In both, the theology of the first half of the letter is applied in the second half to everyday living.

1.1–2 Introduction and greeting
1.3–3.21 A theological reflection on unity in Christ
4.1–6.20 Guidelines as to how to live out this unity in practice
6.21–24 Final greeting

One of the interesting features of Ephesians is the way in which it lays out some complex theology (in chapters 1–3), which it then uses to reflect on how Christians should live out their faith (chapters 4–6). Notice how this doctrine shapes the way people are expected to behave.
Ephesians, like Colossians, talks a lot about how the mysteries of God have been revealed in Jesus. Look out for the twin themes of mystery and revelation in the book.
Right at the heart of Ephesians lies the belief that reconciliation has already taken place in Christ and now needs to be reflected in the lives of those who are 'in him'. Trace the thread of reconciliation through the book, both at the start in the theological chapters (1–3) and later on in the practical application chapters (4–6).

Ephesians lays out a clear vision of what kind of behaviour is expected from Christians. How much of this do you think is still relevant today?

• Were there any parts of the book that you particularly liked or that inspired you?
• Were there any parts of the book that you disliked or that troubled you?
• What did you think the book was about?
• Why do you think that Christians struggle so much to live out unity and reconciliation? Do you think we are better or worse at it than the Ephesians were?
• Many people find the instructions about the relationship between husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and slaves difficult in the modern world. Talk about this passage (5.21–6.9). What is your view of what is said here? (If you’ve already talked about Colossians you may not want to do discuss this again here!)
• Did you read anything in the book that touched you, expanded your faith or made you think more deeply about your life and how you live it?