1	A Study of Ephesians First Presbyterian Church Rome, Georgia June 3 – August 12
2	Specific Background to Ephesians AUTHOR: The apostle Paul THE RECIPIENTS: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1) Without question it was intended for "the saints ...and faithful in Christ Jesus"
3	"1,800 BC Abraham journeyed from..." 1,800 BC Abraham journeyed from Ur Jacob's children migrated to Egypt
4	"1,200 BC the twelve Tribes..." 1,200 BC the twelve Tribes of Israel arrived in Canaan Judges lead Israel King David and his son Solomon had established a United Kingdom 1,000 BC Israel and Judah went their separate ways 721 BC, Israel was defeated by the Assyrians 587 BC, Judah fell into the hands of the Babylonians Jews returned to Judea
5	332 BC Alexander conquered Jerusalem
6	Period of Hellenization International trade Palestine was a crossroads The language was Common Greek (Koine) Hebrew Scripture translated into Greek Second Temple built in Alexandria, Egypt 2 out of every 3 Jews lived outside of Jerusalem Pagan influences
7	Maccabean Revolt – 167 BC Antiochus IV, Epiphanes was determined to stamp out Jewish religious practice Sacrificed a pig on the temple alter Mattathias resisted, revolt carried on by son Judas Syrian army of 60,000 defeated by 14,000 rebels Jerusalem recaptured, temple cleansed, and rededicated Uneasy peace, Jews allowed to worship God in exchange for political loyalty
8	"63 BC Romans conquered Jerusalem" 63 BC Romans conquered Jerusalem
9	1^st Century Jewish Palestine The Jewish nation had traveled a hard road Disposed to a theocracy, they had been subjugated by pagan rule Roman Emperors demanded god-like worship Many Jews lost their religion The Romans allowed some autonomy
10	1^st Century Jewish Palestine Four religious sects existed among the Palestinian Jews : Sadducees Pharisees Essenes Zealots
11	1^st Century Jewish Palestine Sadducees Influential landed gentry Hereditary Priests who controlled the Temple Strict interpretation of Mosaic Law and temple ceremonies Upper stratum of Jewish Society
12	1^st Century Jewish Palestine Pharisees A more flexible attitude towards Mosaic Law Granted authority to oral tradition and written Scripture Believed in life after death Had the support of the bulk of the Jewish nation
13	1^st Century Jewish Palestine Essenes Established a semi-monastic community near the Dead Sea Believed in the physical resurrection of the body Coming of God's kingdom
14	1^st Century Jewish Palestine Zealots Engaged in acts of resistance to Rome Against paying Roman tax
15	1^st Century Jewish Palestine Sanhedrin ( "sitting together," hence "assembly" or "council") An assembly of 23 judges Biblically required (since Moses) in every city The Great Sanhedrin constituted the supreme court and legislative body of ancient Israel
16	1^st Century Jewish Ideas Two widely recognized ideas in circulation were: A belief in the afterlife The belief in a Messiah, a redeemer chosen by God to liberate Israel from foreign rule In the coming days of the Messiah: Israel would be free The exiles would return The Jews would be blessed with peace, unity, and prosperity
17	Jesus’ Ministry Jesus of Nazareth was born into this mess! Exposed to Hebrew religious-ethical thought, rules, and nationalistic longings Started active ministry on the heels of John the Baptist "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15 )
18	Jesus’ Ministry Preached for moral transformation to enter the Kingdom of God The kingdom was imminent and a new order would soon be established People must purify their hearts and love God and man Like the Hebrew prophets, Jesus saw ethics as the core of Mosaic Law: "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 )
19	Jesus’ Ministry Jesus did not intend to lead his fellow Jews away from their ancestral religion: 'Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them.‘ (Matthew 5:17) He attacked the exaggerated concern with ritual, restrictions, and the fine points of the Law The spirit of Mosaic Law was more important than the letter He urged a moral transformation of the human character
20	Jesus’ Ministry The hopes of Jesus' early followers encompassed: A lower-class dissatisfaction with the aristocratic Sadducees A Pharisaic emphasis on prophetic ideals and the afterlife An Essene preoccupation with the end-of-days, a belief in the nearness of God and the need for repentance A zealot's yearning for a Messiah who would liberate their land from Roman rule and establish God's reign.
21	Jesus’ Ministry Threats to the status quo: Mechanism of forgiveness and the route to salvation not under the control of the Rabbinical hierarchy Temple ritual unimportant Mosaic law misapplied
22	Jesus’ Ministry Jesus’ religious view threatened the Jewish power structure Jesus’ talk of the coming kingdom of God threatened the Roman authority He was convicted by both and crucified
23	Post Crucifixion Initially dispirited, the disciples meet the risen Lord After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 ) Jesus’ transition from earthly teacher to ‘God with us’ …"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4,5) “Go ye into all the earth” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
24	Post Crucifixion Politics To the power structure- ‘Problem Solved’ To the Jew following Jesus- ‘What to Do?’ To the gentile- ‘to be a Jew too?’
25	Gospel Message Through Christ forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you Through Christ everyone who believes is freed from all things from which you could not be freed through the law of Moses. Beware of God’s judgment Christ is returning soon
26	Enter Paul Born in Tarsus approx 10 AD Diasporic (scattered) Jewish Family, his father was probably a Pharisee as was he Converted on the Damascus road Stays in Damascus for 3 years teaching and preaching Moves to Antioch with Barnabus and stays there until his first missionary journey
27	"When the Jews saw the..." When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.‘ " When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. (Acts 13:45-48 [NIV])
28	First Missionary Journey
29	End of 1^st Journey Message well accepted Many converts especially among Gentiles Paul’s view moves beyond Jewish theology Circumcision and food restrictions
30	Post 1^st Journey Politics Trip to Jerusalem Confronts issues peculiar to the Gentiles Conflicts with Peter seemingly resolved Gentiles not required to observe Torah or be circumcised Paul accepted as ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’
31	Second Missionary Journey
32	Specific Background to Ephesians PAUL'S MINISTRY IN THE REGION: Paul first came to Ephesus for a short visit toward the end of his second missionary journey. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21)
33	Ephesus A seaport located on the SW coast of Asia Minor Population around 300,000 A Roman capital A wealthy commercial center Home for the worship of the goddess Diana
34	Third Missionary Journey
35	Specific Background to Ephesians On his third missionary journey Paul made it back to Ephesus for an extended stay of three years. And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. [2] And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." [3] And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." [4] And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." [5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. [7] There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1-7)
36	Specific Background to Ephesians Paul spent 3 months teaching in the local synagogue Resistance forced him to leave About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. (Acts 19:23-26) Able to continue teaching in a nearby school for 2 years The gospel spread from Ephesus throughout Asia Minor.
37	Square Agora Surrounded by arched shops about 40 ft deep City's commercial center Next to the harbor 360 ft square
38	Theater at Ephesus Held 25,000 people Paul attacked here
39	Diana (Artemis)
40	Third Missionary Journey
41	Gospel Message Through Christ forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you Through Christ everyone who believes is freed from all things from which you could not be freed through the law of Moses. Obedience is a response to God’s grace in Christ Gentiles need not observe the Torah neither must the Jew
42	Post 3^rd Journey Politics Paul is in deep trouble with the Jewish power structure in Jerusalem Arrested Claims protection as Roman citizen Long journey through judicial system ending in Roman prison
43	Paul’s Writings 1st Thessalonians 52 AD 2nd Journey Corinth 2nd Thessalonians 52 AD 2nd Journey Corinth 1st Corinthians 57 AD 3^rd Journey Ephesus Galatians ?? 57 AD 3^rd Journey Ephesus 2nd Corinthians 57 AD 3^rd Journey Macedonia Romans 58 AD 3^rd Journey Corinth (3) Ephesians 62 AD in Prison Rome Philippians 62 AD in Prison Rome Colossians 62 AD in Prison Rome Philemon 63 AD in Prison Rome
44	Specific Background to Ephesians AUTHOR: The apostle Paul THE RECIPIENTS: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus (Ephesians. 1:1) General treatise, no specific person or situation Probably designed to be shared with many churches Without question it was intended for "the saints ...and faithful in Christ Jesus"
45	Specific Background to Ephesians Purpose of the Epistle: Does not deal with specific problems in a local congregation Addresses great themes that pertain to the Christian's position in Christ, as a member of the body of Christ, the church It was his desire that they might know: The hope of God's calling The glorious riches of God's inheritance in the saints God's great power toward those who believe Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might… (Ephesians 1:18-19)