Download Ephesians

Letter to the Ephesians
Historical Background:
Ephesians is the great Pauline letter about the
church. It deals, however, not so much with a
congregation in the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor as
with the worldwide church, the head of which is
Christ (Eph 4:15), the purpose of which is to be the
instrument for making God’s plan of salvation
known throughout the universe (Eph 3:9–10). Yet
this ecclesiology is anchored in God’s saving love,
shown in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:4–10), and the whole
of redemption is rooted in the plan and
accomplishment of the triune God (Eph 1:3–14).
The language is often that of doxology (Eph 1:3–14)
and prayer (cf. Eph 1:15–23; 3:14–19), indeed of
liturgy and hymns (Eph 3:20–21; 5:14).
Ephesians is a letter written to a church suffering
oppression from the outside and confusion and
dissension from within. Some interpreters think
that it was directed to a wider audience than just
the community at Ephesus and was meant to be
circulated to a wider audience. As in the letter to
the Philippians, Colossians and Philemon,
Ephesians is a captivity letter written from prison.
Disputed Authorship: Some of the language is the
same as Paul’s but the theology is more developed.
The address identifies the sender as “Paul, an
apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,” but there
is nothing specific about the community at Ephesus.
Date and Place Written: Probably written after
Paul’s death around 60 A.D.. The reference to
prison could be to connect it to Paul.
Themes of the letter:
-The mystery of the church: unity and world
mission.
-The resolution of the tensions between Jews and
Gentiles called for an adaptation of Paul’s theology
to new times and circumstances.
Ref.: _www.usccb.org/bible/scripture/
New American Bible, Personal Study Edition,
pages 430-431
Ephesians
Selected Inspirational Verses
1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4as he
chose us in him, before the foundation of the
world, to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself
through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of
his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that
he granted us in the beloved.
2:4 -7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of
the great love he had for us, even when we were
dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with
Christ* (by grace you have been saved), 6raised us
up with him, and seated us with him in the
heavens in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come
he might show the immeasurable riches of his
grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through
faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we
are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the
good works that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them
2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and
sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the
holy ones and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the
capstone.
4:1-6 I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to
live in a manner worthy of the call you have
received, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another through love,
3striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace: one body and one
Page 38
Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of
your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one
God and Father of all, who is over all and through
all and in all.
5:8 -9 For you were once darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9for
light produces every kind of goodness and
righteousness and truth.
5:10-14 Try to learn what is pleasing to the
Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of
darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful
even to mention the things done by them in
secret; 13but everything exposed by the light
becomes visible, for everything that becomes
visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O
sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will
give you light.”
5:21 Be subordinate to one another out of
reverence for Christ.
6:1-4 Children, obey your parents [in the Lord],
for this is right. “Honor your father and mother.”
This is the first commandment with a promise,
“that it may go well with you and that you may
have a long life on earth.” Fathers, do not provoke
your children to anger, but bring them up with the
training and instruction of the Lord.
6:10-12 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord
and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of
God so that you may be able to stand firm against
the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with
flesh and blood but with the principalities, with
the powers, with the world rulers of this present
darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
6:18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at
every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be
watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones,
Praise be to you God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
Christ. You chose us in him before the creation
of the world to be holy and blameless in your
sight. We thank you for your glorious grace,
which you freely given us in the One you love, .
Oh God, please keep our faith and trust in your
providential workings in all things, including
those that do not make sense to us. Give us the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so we may grow
to know you more intimately.
We thank you Lord for your love and mercy and
grace alone by which we stand. We look
forward to the eternal life to come when we will
be with you in heaven. Create for us a clean
heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us, from
which lives of obedience and delight will flow.
Help us to love one another from the heart with
the love you have demonstrated for us.
Through Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Group of Ephesians
Polly Dristas, Lily Leung and Cecilia Uyan
(facilitators)
Anoinette Ramis,
Dominador and Imelda Ugalde
Ephesians
Page 39