The Book of Ephesians: An Introduction
I would like to study another one of Paul's four prison epistles with you, this time looking into the book of Ephesians. All four books present some of the most sublime and enriching truths for believers to glory in. There are many unique words and special phrases found in Ephesians and nowhere else.
The key themes are Christ as the Head of the invisible Church, the Church as the grand mystery of God not revealed until Christ's ascension, and the living Temple of the Holy Spirit in contrast to pagan temples made of expensive stones and given lavish beauty.
We know a lot about the culture of Ephesus and the materials that remain add greatly to our understanding of what Paul encountered when he reached this amazing city.
However, in order to study the book, we need to go back to the book of Acts to read how this church began.
The Holy Ghost forbid Paul from preaching in Asia.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
We know that Paul and Luke attempted to enter the province of Asia where Ephesus was located but they were "forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia." God sent the gospel into Europe by sending Paul to Philippi at that particular time. God's timing is always perfect and He was glorified in those events. It was not until Paul was traveling on another missionary journey that he came to Ephesus.
Paul passed through Ephesus and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:19-21 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20) When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21) But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
Paul had a pattern when on a missionary trip. He always sought out the Jewish people first, to bring them the good new of salvation through faith in Christ. However, if the Jews rejected the truth then he invariably turned to the Gentiles with the gospel.
Paul entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. The word "reasoned" means to ponder carefully, revolving in your mind what you have heard and having a discourse seeking a greater understanding. The word "reasoned" expresses a transient action because Paul had been forbidden to preach in Asia, but since he was passing through, he took advantage of the opportunity to share Christ with the Jews.
The Jews wanted to learn and hear more from Paul but he refused to stay, citing a need to return to Jerusalem as quickly as possible. However, Paul did promise to return if God willed it.
Paul's official visit to Ephesus begins well.
Acts 19:1-7 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7) And all the men were about twelve.
Paul traveled through the upper coasts and arrived at Ephesus. Right away, God demonstrated that Paul was in the right place at the right time. The apostle found "certain disciples" and he engaged them in conversation.
Paul listened to their words and determined that they were probably like another young believer that he knew from Corinth. Apollos was a disciple who like these "certain disciples," only knew of John's baptism of repentance. They needed someone like Paul to come alongside them to point them to Jesus Christ, just as Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos under their wings (See Acts 18:24-28).
Paul did just that by telling the disciples at Ephesus that John declared they must believe on Him who should come after, namely on Jesus Christ. They responded with repentant faith in Christ and when Paul baptized them and laid his hand on them, the twelve men spoke in tongues, as at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
This was Paul's first "official visit" to Ephesus and it was a productive one. He was used of God to lead twelve men into the kingdom of God. We can say that God showed Paul he would have an effective ministry at this pagan city.
Paul boldly preached the gospel but encountered resistance.
Acts 19:8-10 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9) But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10) And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
For three months Paul spoke in the Jewish synagogue. The words "spake boldly" means that Paul spoke with growing confidence as he freely expounded the gospel to the Jews. The word "disputed" means Paul had a logical discourse with his audience. The word "persuading" means he used words to persuade them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to live for the kingdom of God.
Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
After a while, some of the Jews began to push back on Paul's preaching. The word "hardened" means they were obstinate and stubborn in their refusal to hear and heed the word of God spoken by the apostle. Unbelief was the reason that their hearts were hardened.
The texts from Hebrews are all connected to the unbelief of the Jewish people and the subsequent hardening of their hearts. This is a spiritually perilous condition for anyone to fall into. Many times Jehovah pleaded with His people to not harden their hearts, but they were stubborn and rebellious.
What did the Jews with hardened hearts do at Ephesus? They spoke evil of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, people today can and do say many foolish things, but do not ever speak evil of the Son of God, because His Father will hold you to account for reviling Christ Jesus, who died to save you from your sins.
The situation with the unbelieving Jews deteriorated so much that Paul separated the Jews who did believe and they removed themselves from the rebellious crowd at the synagogue.
Instead, Paul preached in a public venue known as the school of Tyrannus. The school of Tyrannus refers to a lecture hall where various philosophizers and others were permitted to speak. Thus, Paul spoke every day, dialoguing with his audience as he shared Christ with them. Paul had great freedom to preach and since Ephesus was a large port city, large multitudes of people heard him preach Christ.
God showed Paul that it was His will for him to stay on for more than two years at Ephesus, faithfully preaching Christ. Even more remarkable is that the Holy spirit caused Luke to note that all the people in Asia, both Jews and Gentiles, heard the word of the Lord Jesus.
It is estimated that Ephesus was home to more than two hundred thousand inhabitants, in addition to the throngs of religious pilgrims and commercial travelers who arrived there daily. The Spirit of God tells us that Paul was used to reach all these people with the gospel of Christ. What a remarkable work of God in a time before mass communication, the internet and people connecting by portable devices like today.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Paul began his ministry to Ephesus and helped establish an important church in a very important city of the Roman empire.
Paul allowed the Spirit of God to set his agenda and when He said "No" to preaching in Asia, Paul and Luke went to Europe and preached at Philippi. Later, Paul witnessed to some Jews at Ephesus while on his journey to Jerusalem.
The Spirit of God said "Yes" to Paul preaching when he finally returned to that great city. He allowed Paul to stay and preach the gospel in the heart of a pagan culture for more than two years.
Are we ready to reason with people about faith in Christ, like Paul did?
Are we going to speak gospel truth boldly like Paul did?
Or have we hardened our hearts somewhere along the way, by saying "No" to God's will and "Yes" to self rule? A hardened heart is a perilous condition that believers must avoid at all costs, because it always leads to disappointment and judgment.
I pray that God will give each of us the spirit of Paul, so that we are ready to preach the gospel, ready to stand and not give in to its detractors, and ready to use what ever means God gives us to share eternal truth with lost people. Oh, may we hear and heed what God is saying today.
Bob
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