Bible Book Summaries

Pauline Epistles · New Testament

Ephesians

c. AD 60–62

Section
Pauline Epistles · New Testament
Events span
c. AD 60–62
Written
c. AD 60–62, from Roman imprisonment (in Rome, modern-day Italy)
Author
Paul the Apostle

Written from prison, Ephesians unfolds God's grand plan to unite all things in Christ. The first half celebrates our spiritual blessings and salvation by grace through faith; the second calls the church to live worthy of that calling, in unity, holiness, marriage, and the armor of God.

Historical setting: Written from Roman imprisonment; the Second Temple still standing, with Jew and Gentile now made one in the church.

Key themes

  • Salvation by grace
  • Unity of the church
  • In Christ
  • The new life
  • The armor of God

The letter's message

  • God chose and blessed believers with every spiritual blessing in Christ Eph 1c. AD 60
  • "By grace are ye saved through faith" — dead in sin, made alive in Christ Eph 2c. AD 60
  • Jew and Gentile are made one new body, reconciled through the cross Eph 2–3c. AD 60
  • A call to walk worthily, in unity and maturity, each using their gifts Eph 4c. AD 60
  • Instructions for the new life: husbands, wives, children, and servants Eph 5–6c. AD 60
  • Put on the whole armor of God to stand against spiritual forces of evil Eph 6c. AD 60

Key lessons

  • In Christ, God has given believers “every spiritual blessing” and a secure identity as his chosen, adopted, and sealed children. Eph 1:3–5
  • We were spiritually dead and helpless, and salvation is God’s gift of grace from first to last, not a reward for our works, so no one can boast. Eph 2:4–9
  • The cross makes enemies into one family; in Christ the deepest human divisions are torn down and reconciled into a single new people. Eph 2:14–16
  • The Christian life is a spiritual battle; believers stand firm not by their own strength but by putting on the whole armor God provides. Eph 6:11–12
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV
Critical scholarship view

Where mainstream critical scholarship dates or attributes this book differently from the traditional view above.

Written
Disputed; possibly a later disciple, c. AD 80–90
Author
Paul or a later disciple (authorship disputed)