The Letter to the Ephesians 
Background

The Keys to the Kingdom

We are about to study a new book of the Bible - a very important book because it is written to the Church, and it not only tells us who we are in Christ, the mysteries (or secrets), but lays them out for us who belong to the Kingdom of God.  These secrets are given to us as blessings and instructions that we, as New Covenant believers, need to get to know strong in our heart.   Ephesians is my most favorite book in the Bible and by the time we finish with this teaching on this book, it will probably be your favorite as well, and when it does, it will change your life.  This is probably the most powerful book in the Bible for believers in Christ Jesus.

As always, before I begin any new book study of the Bible, I like to research the "who, what, when, where, why, and how" of every book.  The Book (or Letter) of Ephesians is especially true here, because there is so much for us to know about the revelations that the Apostle received from the Lord.  In addition, it  is also important to understand the history of the city of Ephesus where the Apostle traveled to on his 2nd missionary journey as it not only applied to the Ephesian believers then, the information is important for us to understand even today.  A short journey into the 1st century Ephesus gives us a bird's eye look at what life was like during the three years that the Apostle Paul ministered to the people while in that city.  Let's begin by looking at the life of the Apostle Paul.

Saul of Tarsus

Saul of Tarsus was bound for a thriving future as a Pharisee in Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah.  He was trained under Gamelial - the top rabbi in Israel of that day.  As such, he knew the Mosaic Law to perfection, along with the traditional Oral Law.  He also knew all the books of the Scriptures (Old Testament) almost from memory.  He was highly skilled in the Scriptures and in the traditions of the Oral Law, and would have become a highly skilled and recognized Pharisee on the Sandhedrin Council had not Jesus reached him where he was converted to Christ.  

As a new Pharisee, under the influence of his rabbi, he had the assignment from the Sanhedrin Council to stand guard over the first Christian martyr named Stephen, as listed in Acts, chapters 6 and 7.  While Saul loved God in his own religious way, he was also eager to advance himself in Phariseeism, which involved the persecution of the believers and followers of this Jesus Who was recently crucified as a heretic against Judaism.  Jesus' death, however, only caused the multiplication of new believers coming to this man Who called Himself the Son of God - the redeemer for all of mankind.  Saul was even so brazen as to go house-to-house arresting these believers in this Jesus.  Persecution of the believers, however, continued to where they eventually scattered outside of Jerusalem, with many fleeing as far as Damascus - a city about 135 miles north of Jerusalem. 

Along with a letter of permission in hand from the Sanhedrin Council to bring Christians back to Jerusalem in chains to be imprisoned, the Pharisee Saul, escorted by soldiers, traveled the 135 mile road to Damascus ready to gather every believer he could find to put them in chains and drag them back to Jerusalem for imprisonment.

Shortly before arriving in Damascus, however, a huge bright light, light a bolt of lightning, from the sky came upon Saul and he was knocked to the ground and became blind. There Saul had an open vision encounter with Jesus as Jesus spoke to him.  "Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"  Trembling and astonished where only he alone could hear, he responded back, "Lord, Who are You?  Jesus then responded back, " I am Jesus, Whom you have been persecuting.  Arise and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."  From that point on, Saul had to be led by hand into the city to where he was to stay -probably an inn like a hotel where he was scheduled to stay.

• In a moment of time, Saul went from being a hater of Jesus to one that was about to change his allegience to that of love for Jesus as the Son of God.

There in the house on Straight Street in Damascus, Saul laid alone in the darkness of his blindness for three days pondering over his experience while Jesus ministered His truth to him. 

• Jesus had to reach this strong minded man who had loved God in his own religious way, but had killed many who had become a believer in Jesus.  He was deceived, and the Lord had to reach his heart.
• Now, knowing the truth, Saul laid there alone blind, being faced with the reality of those whom he had killed - Stephen, all those whom he had gone from house to house to imprison and even killed, and now he knew that Jesus was real.  What had he done!  Jesus IS the Son of God - his Messiah and in the name of God, he had killed many people and ruined the lives of many others.
• Remembering that Saul knew the Scriptures almost from memory, we can be certain that during these three days God was revealing those Scripture passages that pointed out that Jesus, Whom he had met on the Damascus road in his vision, was the true Jewish Messiah, but when He came, God's people had rejected Him - Saul being one of the worst of the worst. 
• His life was being deprogrammed and reprogrammed to God's true ways, very similiar to how God spoke to Moses in his burning bush experiencing, being confronted by a holy God.    
• Saul had seen Jesus - His Messiah - and his life would be forever changed.    
• In a spirit of repentance, God was now able to reach Saul to change him from being an unbeliever in Christ to a believer in Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of the world.  

What all went on in his mind is unknown to us, but this we know, God did a dramatic change in Saul's life, as God not only came to him in a vision on the road to Damascus, but blinded him to where he was forced to be alone in the darkness of his mind for God to reach the deception of his soul and bring repentance to Saul.

During this time, the Lord told a disciple of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias to go this place on Straight Street to lay hands on this Saul of the Pharisees - for he has had an encounter with Jesus. 

• While Ananias heard from God, he was afraid, not wanting to go, but he loved the Lord, so he chose to be obedient to His voice.  
• With fear and trembling, Ananias went to Straight Street where Saul was laying there blind.

 

The two men met, Ananias laid hands on Saul, and Saul received his sight, was converted to Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and was baptized in water in the name of Jesus, claiming Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. 

• Saul was totally converted, He was now a committed believer in Jesus Christ as His Messiah.
• He was in all essence - a "fulfilled Jew," for his Messiah had come.
• There was no turning back. 

Saul, now, instead of persecuting the believers in Damascus, joined them in their cause to spread the Gospel of Jesus to others in Damascus.  He preached Jesus in the synagogue, and while many received Jesus, the people feared him. 

• He was not received well among the people.  After many days, the Jews from the synagogue plotted to kill him, so the Jewish disciples of Jesus lowered him down the city wall in a basket at night to avoid capture for him to escape.

Before we close for today, people forget about Ananias at this point.  But we must remember the important role he played in the changing of history.

• Here was simply an ordinary disciple of Jesus.
• In prayer he heard God speak to him to go to Straight Street and lay hands on this horrible persecuter of Christians.
• He was afraid, and we can be certain that he didn't want to go...except he had heard the voice of God asking him to do something so simple, but something very frightening to do, but he made the choice to obey God and go.

God had foreknown that Ananias would be obedient to the voice of God, so He spoke to him in prayer.  Let's think on that for a moment!

• • Do we spend time in prayer to where we are attuned to hearing the voice of God?
  • Then, can God trust us to be obedient to what He is asking of us?

In fear and trembling Ananias did exactly as God had asked.  Because he did, he was used mighty for the Kingdom of God in simply laying hands on a blind man and baptizing him in water. 

• Saul's life was forever changed, but we hear nothing more of Ananias.
• This points out that God will use any believer who is faithful to the Lord.
• Ananias loved the Lord.  He spent time in prayer listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and was obedient to the Lord's calling upon his life.
• That what the Lord wants for each one of us.
• Again, can God trust you to be obedient?

The Apostle's Experience in Arabia

The time was around 37 A.D. - about seventeen years after the death of Christ.  When Saul had regained his sight, baptized in the Holy Spirit and in water, claiming Jesus as his Lord, he joined the other Jewish believers in Damascus.  Many believers were very much afraid of him because they knew he had come to arrest them, and now he claimed he believed in Jesus as the Son of God, and is now joining them.

• Saul preached in the synagogue that next Sabbath, but instead of preaching like a Jewish Pharisee, speaking forth the Law and its oral traditions, he preached Jesus as the Son of God - their Messiah, whom they had crucified.

Over the next few Sabbaths several Jews came to believe in Jesus, accepting Him as their Messiah.  Many, however, rejected his teaching; therefore, rejecting him.  A trap was set with men at the city gates ready to kill him.  The disciples learned of this plot and in the darkness of night, they lowered him down in a basket over the wall of the city so nobody would see him. 

  

After escaping Damascus, Saul went away alone to Arabia for three years to spend time in with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the Book of Galatians, Paul emphasizes that he received the gospel directly from Jesus Christ and not from the other apostles.  Jesus showed Him revelations upon revelations of truth regarding the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 1:11–20: “I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ...God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.”

The apostle claimed that he went away to Arabia for three years to be with the Lord to receive His revelations of truth.  Many biblical scholars claim, of which I support, that Saul traveled all the way to Mt. Sinai in Arabia - the very mountain that Moses climbed to hear from God some 1500 years prior.  While the Bible states Saul went to Arabia, it does not specifically state that he went to Mt. Sinai in Arabia.  But after closer examination of Scripture, it becomes evident where Saul went to be alone with God, and if I were in his shoes, that is exactly where you would go as well to hear from God.

Once we look at Scripture as a whole instead of simply looking at it in sections, we can see a thread weaving throughout the Bible showing that God gives us a His picture of His plan for mankind from beginning to end. 

• We must remember that Saul knew the Scriptures almost from memory.  He was well trained, knowing Genesis through Malachi - every detail that was written. 
• Saul knew that Mount Sinai in Arabia was the mountain where Moses traveled and went up to hear from God to receive the Law, and knew that he often went up into that same mountain to hear from God.  As such, Moses received revelation upon revelation from God.  He learned and taught those same revelations to the people below, which changed the course of history.  
• Saul also knew that 600 years later the Prophet Elijah also went to that same mountain to escape to hear from God.  This mountain had long became known as the "mountain of God."  That was common knowledge among all Jews. 
• Probably by design, just as God directed Moses and Elijah to Mt Sinai to speak to them, God would probably have also directed Saul to travel those 300 plus miles to go to that same "mountain of God" to learn of Jesus.  
• You see, God had directed Elijah, after he was on Mt. Sinai, to go to Damascus and minister in that city.
• So then if Elijah can travel from Mt. Sinai to Damascus, Saul could travel from Damascus to Mt. Sinai.  It was definitely feasible.

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The burnt mountain top of Mt. Sinai has been examined by scientists for volcanic ash, and as been proven that the burnt remains simply came by fire, of which the Bible tells us that God came down by fire on the mountain.

Moses, Elijah and the Apostle Paul

All three men received God's instruction and revelations on that "mountain of God" -  a mountain that even today is burnt on the top from the fire that came down from God to talk to those specific men who came to hear the voice of God.

Because Saul knew the Scriptures (Old Testament) in every detail and because his heart was now right with knowing and believing in Jesus, the Holy Spirit was able to speak to him in ways that no one else could understand.  During those three years set apart with God, Saul was able to receive revelation upon revelation of God's truth, opening up the Scriptures in a way that only he and God would know.  What all was imparted to him is deep because God was able to reveal to him the mysteries of the Kingdom of God even more than Jesus' disciples was able to receive while Jesus lived upon the earth.   

• As such, God was able to use Saul, who later became known as the Apostle Paul, as an instrument to bring those mysteries (or secrets) of the Kingdom of God as he presented the Gospel of Jesus to a dying world.  We today are also recipients of those mysteries through the writings of the Apostle Paul.

God used these three men throughout history to change the world - especially Moses from the Old Covenant and Saul from the New Covenant.  

• Moses wrote the Book of Moses to the Jewish people, meaning the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  In these books are contained the Mosaic Law in which Jews have followed for thousands of years.
• The Apostle Paul wrote 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament, which were primarily Paul's letters to various churches.  In his letters, he gives us the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, which reveals the promises and inheritance that are given to the Church - of which is God explanation of the Old Covenant revealed in the New Covenant. 
• Out of those revelations upon revelations, the Apostle Paul now reveals to us those mysteries, or keys of the Kingdom of God to us through the Book of Ephesians.

Both Moses and the Apostle Paul were highly educated men, being very influential with many people.  Both men had an encounter with the Godhead before revealing to them God's purpose for them. 

• Moses had a burning bush experience where God revealed Himself to him - and his life was changed.
• Saul had an open vision on the road from Jesus of Who He was, and his life was dramatically changed.

Both men were called by God to write down the words of Almighty God to specific groups of people on the earth - Moses to the Jews and the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles.  Both men heard from God from the nation of Arabia - very possibly even the same mountain.

Personal Reflection:

There is a principle here that I needs to say here:   All three men were used by God in mighty ways, yet their lives were filled with chaos around them.  If they didn't come apart for a while to be on the mountaintop with God, they risked coming apart after a while with living in the valley of desert - or wilderness life below.  That same principle holds true for us today.  If we don't come apart for a while to be with the Lord on God's mountaintop, which I call my secret place or prayer closet, we will come apart after a while living in the valley, or wilderness of life below - losing God's plan and purpose for our lives.  Regular times of coming apart to be with the Lord alone in prayer and meditation is critical for believers - then and now.  We need our mountaintop experiences with God to handle the valleys of wilderness life around us that we experience each and every single day.    

Ephesus of the 1st Century

Now that we have learned some important information regarding the life of the Apostle Paul, let's continue on with the "who, what, when, where, why and how."  I want to give you pertinent information on the "historical, sociological, geographical, religious, political, and ethnicity of the city of Ephesus so that we, as modern-day westerners can understand the Jewish eastern point of view from 2000 years ago in a world that is so different from ours today.

Ephesus was the 3rd largest city in the Roman Empire, following after Rome and Athens and pertinent to our Bible study on the Book of Ephesus.  This information will give you an bird's eye view of what the Apostle Paul faced on his missionary journeys as he traveled over 10,000 miles on all of his journeys - all done on foot, except for when he sailed on water.  That would be equal to traveling from New York to Los Angeles back and forth nearly four times. 

• It has been said that "all roads lead to Rome," meaning all roads connected into main roads that connected to the Roman Road network as the apostle traveled across Israel, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy - and all in a matter of just a few years.
• In addition, he traveled much by sea as well.

Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Paul

The Roman Road Network of the ancient Mediterranean world extended from Britain to the Tigris-Euphrates River System and from the Danube River to Spain and northern Africa, covering 50,000 miles of hard-surface with numerous feeder roads.  It joined the ancient Persial Royal Road, which extended its distance even further.  Designed for military purposes, all roads throughout the Roman Empire would lead to Rome through a series of network roads either by land or sea.

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, and an illustrious city in the district of Ionia, as a seaport city on the Aegean Sea.   Ephesus was a very important seaport, having its roots in Greek culture, meaning the worship of many pagan gods.  The inhabitants of Ephesus had brought in their native religion of the goddess of fertility known as the Greek goddess Artemis, the virgin huntress.  In Ephesus, she became known as the goddess Diana - the goddess of fertility.  So when Christianity came to Ephesus, their roots were of both Greek and Roman Empire society.  

The Spread of Christianity

From 36 to 42 A.D., Christians were driven away from Jerusalem by persecution.  The Apostle Paul, known as the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus at that time, however, was very involved in the persecution of Christians until he had his Damascus Road experience with Christ in 36 A.D..  From there he ministered the Gospel in Damascus briefly, and then went away to Arabia to be ministered by the Holy Spirit for three years.  Following that, he had a brief visit in Jerusalem, and then went back to his home city of Tarsus for a number of years until Barnabas, one of Jesus disciples sought him out to help him with the Church at Antioch that was growing expedentially.  It was from that church that Saul and Barnabas were sent out as missionaries for Christ to a pagan world of Greek and Roman Genteelism.  In 45 A.D. Saul, who became known as the Apostle Paul, began his first missionary journey.  He did not minister in Ephesus, however, until his 2nd missionary journey in the year 53 A.D.

The City of Ephesus

At the time of the Apostle Paul's arrival into Ephesus, the city had a population of around 250,000 people, filled with rich, pampered pagan believers, primarily of Roman culture.  

Ephesus was known for its theater at the end of the harbor road, which years after Paul arrived was expanded into a amphitheater, its gymnasium and sports center, which is shown off to the left on the above picture, and of course, its temple dedicated to the Fertility Goddess Diana, which became one of the seven wonders of the world.  The city also had two market places called agoras - one small and one large one as shown on the right) where people met for business, trading, philosophy discussions among philosophers, and a local place where people congregated.

When people got off the ship in the harbor, they would travel the long road up to the city.  All along the harbor road were columns that displayed the gods as well as various Roman emperors, announcing it was a city dedicated to the gods.  As you continued toward the gate of the city, you noticed advertising in the marble blocks under your feet that was pointing the way to various brothels just inside the city gate.

Today, the ruins look like this, still having the sign of the brothels in many stones.  I walked on those stones when in Ephesus, which became evident led to various places once inside the city.

As you entered into the gate of the city, the brothel stones then led you to the various brothels.  If you continued straight, you would end up at the amphitheater.  Today a library stands in the way, being build about 200 years after the Apostle Paul left Ephesus.  The library ruins are still there today.

• How do I know that?  I was privileged to walk those streets in Ephesus a few years ago as I traveled around Turkey, Patmos, Greece, Corinth and Rome as I followed the journeys of the Apostle John and Apostle Paul on their missionary journeys some 2000 years ago.  What I learned on that trip has help me immensely in my biblical studies as I teach what I learned on that trip out to you.  

The amphitheater at the end of the harbor road was massive - used for drama performances, social, political, economic and religious demonstrations, as well as gladiators games. 

Today, this same amphitheater sits against the mountain overlooking the harbor.  I personally sat in those seats high up gazing down the harbor road overlooking the harbor, wondering how it was for the Apostle Paul in his day.

Religion in Ephesus

When the Apostle Paul first arrived in Ephesus, he brought with him a young believer named Timothy whom he had met earlier on this, his 2nd missionary journey in the city of Lystra.   While most people came by ship to this 3rd largest city in the Roman Empire, the Apostle Paul had walked the upper road through the moutains along the Roman Road to end up at the sea port city of Ephesus.  The beauty of Ephesus was breathtaking.  The temple, which became one of the seven wonders of the world, was a magnificient site to behold.

The temple, however, was a pagan temple dedicated to Diana, the goddess of fertility.  In the very entrance was a huge statue of Diana displaying all her many breasts.  Then as you walk into the temple, it was filled with temple prostitutes ready to please any man who would come in.  It was believed that sexual pleasures were a worship to the Goddess Diana, and it was common practice for men to come to the temple to "worship" regularly.  Because Diana was the goddess, it was believed that having sex at the temple meant good sex and fertility would come with the wife back home as a result.

It was the custom in many pagan cities of the 1st century to have all young girls throughout the city to go to the temple to perform as a prostitute to lose her virginity.  That money then went to the temple. That custom was finally outlawed in 682 A.D. after being practiced for 1000 years.

Inside of the temple was also housed a bank, which was convenient for the travelers as they had to pay to have sex with the prostitutes in the temple.  It was definitely a money-making business.

The Ministry of the Apostle Paul

This was the world that that the Apostle Paul arrived into with the intention of presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world of pagan believers.  When first arriving in Ephesus, as he was simply passing through, he gave the promise to the believers there that he would return on his next trip.  So then, on the latter part of his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul met up with some disciples of Jesus who had already been ministering in the city.  There he was able to minister the baptism of the Holy Spirit to these disciples who had never even heard of the Holy Spirit.

As with most cities throughout the Roman Empire, there were Jewish synagogues where a minority of Jews had migrated to.  As was the Apostle Paul's custom, he went to the local synagogue as a Jewish Pharisee, but preached Jesus as the prophesied Messiah.  There in Ephesus, Paul preached for three months until he was asked to leave.  While some accepted his preaching, others rejected it.  Those who accepted his teaching became known as those of "The Way."  The apostle then rented a hall in the heat of the day to teach these new believers the ways of the Lord.

The afternoons were beastly hot to where most people went home to rest to get away from the afternoon heat.  As such, Paul was able to rent space at the Tyrannus Hall from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm because very few people were out during those hours.  Here in the heat of the day, the apostle taught those he led to Christ on how to live the Christian life, teaching on the things that he received from Arabia from God - probably on Mt. Sinai - the "mountain of God."  He was connecting the Old Testament and what we know of today as the New Testament together.  What was concealed in the Old Testament was now being revealed to these new believers.  Out of those who came to believe, he was able to set up a church in Ephesus.  This he did for two years.

In the early evening hours the apostle either went from house to house to minister to the believers in Ephesus, or he could be found in the agora (main marketplace) ministering the Gospel to whomever would listen.  There he found many evangelists of various pagan religions peddling their religion as well - even to the point of offering money to those who would follow after them.  While the competition was tough, the Apostle Paul was able to gain more disciples who would then come to the Tyrannus Hall during the day to learn of the ways of the Lord.  As such, he was able to develop a church in Ephesus.   

In the late evening and into the night-time hours the Apostle Paul practiced his trade of tent making to support himself and his ministry team.  After a few night-time hours of sleep, he would again begin another day.

Come early morning he or one of his ministry team would deliver or pick up new orders to fill.  By 11:00 am, he was then off to the Tyrannus Hall to teach his new disciples the ways of the Lord.   It was also during the course of this time in Ephesus that the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Church at Corinth.

The Apostle Left Ephesus

In time, the apostle's new teaching irritated the artisans throughout Ephesus - one being the jeweler Demetrius, who produced silver statues of the goddess Artemis.  He and others feared they would lose business to where people would no long want to purchase their silver idols.  So they gathered a mob together in the large theatre and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus!"  This mob caused quite an uproar in the city, and even though Paul wanted to face them, his followers refuse to let him do so. Finally, the city officials silenced the protestors, advising them that if they had any complaints they should be officially taken to the city courts. 

Paul knew it was time to leave Ephesus for other destinations on his missionary journey - so he left the city.  Years later, when he was traveling from Macedonia to Jerusalem on another missionary journey, the ship stopped at a port stop in the Ephesus harbor, and there on the shore outside the city, the Apostle Paul met the leaders of the church in Ephesus.  He stayed on the shore fearing a disruption of those who had come against him on his prior missionary journey.  There, on the seashore, the apostle gave his final farewell to those believers whom he had come to love.   

History, along with Scriptural backing shows that the Apostle was arrested in Jerusalem and eventually sent to Rome to stand trial before Emperor Nero where he would eventually write a letter from prison to his beloved believers in Ephesus.

The Writing of the Apostle Paul

It is now the years of 60-61 A.D. and the Apostle Paul is in a house prison in Rome awaiting his trial before Nero.  During his two years of imprisonment, he wrote several prison letters to many of the churches where he began his missionary journeys.  Among them was a letter to the Church at Ephesus.

Now that we have an understanding of the people at Ephesus during the 1st century, and what the Apostle Paul had to face, let's turn our attention to the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus.  This letter was meant to be a circulation letter to be distributed to other churches in the area as well.  It was not a letter of instruction like so many of his other letters, but it was written to explain some of the great mysteries and doctrines of the Christian faith that the apostle had received from God in Arabia of his many revelations of truth regarding the Kingdom of God. 

The Book of Ephesians happens to be my favorite book of the Bible, having studied and taught it so many times over the years, and yet, everytime I teach it, God gives me new revelations of His truth in this most fantastic book.  So with great pleasure, I so desire to share with you what I have learned through the decades in the Epistle or Book of Ephesians.

Let's begin with Ephesians, chapter 1.

Click here for Ephesians, Chapter 1

 

Pastor Joyce Erickson
Believersbibleschool.com