Ephesians & Colossians Spring 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 ( B.C.) – Greco-Lydian ( B.C.) – Greco-Roman (from 290 B.C. on)

Ephesus Paul first visited Ephesus on the return from his 2 nd 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 3 rd 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 3 rd “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”, 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