WRITER, The Apostle Paul.

DATE. Probably written at Rome between 60 and 64 A.D.
PAUL’S MINISTRY AT EPHESUS: His first visit # Ac 18:18-21

on his second visit, the Holy Spirit is given to believers # Ac 19:2-7

his continuance of the work with remarkable success # Ac 19:9-20

his conflict with the silversmiths # Ac 19:23-41

his address to the Ephesians elders # Ac 20:17-35

HISTORICAL OCCASION OF THE WRITING.
The converted Jews in the early churches were inclined to be exclusive, and separate themselves from their Gentile brethren. This condition of affairs in the church at Ephesus may have led to the writing of this epistle, the keynote of which is Christian Unity.

KEY VERSE
# Eph 4:13

KEY CHAIN, showing the current of thought # Eph 1:10 2:6,14-22 4:3-16

MAIN THEME, the unity of the church, especially between Jew and Gentile believers. This is shown by the recurrence of certain words and phrases, as:

(1) The word, “together”;
gathered TOGETHER # Eph 1:10

quickened TOGETHER  # Eph 2:5

raised up TOGETHER, sitting TOGETHER # Eph 2:6

builded TOGETHER # Eph 2:22

(2) The word, “one,” indicating unity;
ONE new man # Eph 2:15

ONE body  # Eph 2:16

ONE spirit # Eph 2:18

ONE hope # Eph 4:4

ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all # Eph 4:5,6

OTHER RECURRENT WORDS AND PHRASES.
(1) “In Christ” # Eph 1:1,3,6,12,15,20 2:10,13 3:11 4:21

(2) “In heavenly places # Eph 1:3,20 2:6 3:10

(3) “Riches,” of grace # Eph 1:7 2:7
— of glory # Eph 1:18 3:16
— of Christ # Eph 3:8

SYNOPSIS.

PART I. The Church and the Plan of Salvation.
Note. Paul in discussing the plan of salvation in the different epistles, somewhat varies the emphasis. In Romans he especially dwells upon faith apart from works. In Galatians, faith apart from ceremonial observances. In Ephesians he lays great stress upon the UNITY OF BELIEVERS.

Ch. 1.
(1) The salutation # Eph 1:2

(2) The divine origin of the church # Eph 1:3-6

(3) The plan of salvation.
(a) Through the redemptive work of Christ # Eph 1:7,8
(b) Universal in its scope # Eph 1:9,10
(c) Insuring a rich spiritual inheritance # Eph 1:11-14
(d) Prayer that believers might be fully enlightened as to the riches of its provisions # Eph 1:15-23

Ch. 2.
(e) The plan provides for a spiritual resurrection from sin and the exaltation of the believer into heavenly places # Eph 2:1-6
(f) It is wholly of grace and not of works # Eph 2:7-10
(g) It embraces the Gentiles who were far from God, but were brought nigh by the blood of Christ # Eph 2:11-13
(h) It removes all barriers between Jews and Gentiles and unites them into one body for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit # Eph 2:14-22

Ch. 3.
(i) The mysteries of the divine purpose revealed to Paul, and his appointment as apostle to the Gentiles # Eph 3:1-12
(j) Paul’s second prayer for the spiritual fullness of the church and her enlightenment concerning the matchless love of Christ # Eph 3:14-21

PART II. PRACTICAL APPLICATION. What the divine plan calls for, on the part of the church.
Ch. 4.
(1) The unity of believers.
(a) In Spirit # Eph 4:1-3
(b) The seven unities mentioned # Eph 4:4-6
(c) Diversity of gifts but unity in one body of Christ  # Eph 4:7-16

(2) Consistent Christian life, the believers’ walk:
(a) Not as other sinful people # Eph 4:17-21
(b) In newness of life, abandoning the old sins # Eph 4:22-32

Ch. 5.
(c) Walking in love and purity # Eph 5:1-7
(d) Walking in the light # Eph 5:8-14
(e) Walking circumspectly, filled with the Spirit # Eph 5:15-21

(3) The home life.
(a) Duties of husbands and wives # Eph 5:22-33

Ch. 6.
(b) Duties of children, fathers, servants and masters # Eph 6:1-9

(4) The spiritual warfare.
(a) Source of strength # Eph 6:10
(b) The armour and the foes # Eph 6:11-18

(5) Concluding words and benediction # 6:19-24

CHOICE SELECTIONS.
Paul’s prayers for the church # Eph 1:16-23 3:14-21

Christian unity # Eph 4:3-16

The spiritual armour # Eph 6:10-17