Ok, a bit of background information. Most of it was taken from the ESV Study Bible without changes because this information is important and I didn’t want to mis-communicate the historical information, or re-invent the wheel when the ESV Study Bible explains things very well.
Authorship and Date
The authorship of Ephesians is pretty much uncontested as that of the apostle Paul. For several reasons, 1) Paul claims to be the author in the beginning of the letter, as is common among the other Pauline letters, 2) the writing style and subject matter of Ephesians matches that of the other Pauline epistles, 3) it would be extraordinarily odd for someone to write so forcefully that his readers should “speak the truth” and “put away falsehood” (4:15, 25) in a letter he was deceptively forging! Consequently, it can be affirmed with good confidence that Paul wrote Ephesians.
Paul most likely wrote the letter of Ephesians during his imprisonment in Rome, around A.D. 62.
Theme
There are two main themes of Ephesians: (1) Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and to God, and (2) Christ has united people from all nations to himself and to one another in his church. These great deeds were accomplished through the powerful, sovereign, and free working of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and are recognized and received by faith alone through his grace. In light of these great truths, Christians are to lead lives that are a fitting tribute of gratitude to their great Lord.
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
There was no specific occasion or problem that inspired this letter, though Paul does mention that he desired the Ephesians to know how he was faring in confinement (6:21–22). Ephesians articulates general instruction in the truths of the cosmic redemptive work of God in Christ; the unity of the church among diverse peoples; and proper conduct in the church, the home, and the world. Unity and love in the bond of peace mark the work of the Savior as well as Christians’ grateful response to his free grace in their lives.
Ancient Ephesus forms an appropriate background to the book of Ephesians because of this city’s fascination with magic and the occult (see Acts 19:19, and below). This helps explain Paul’s emphasis on the power of God over all heavenly authorities and on Christ’s triumphant ascension as head over the church and over all things in this age and the next. The Ephesians needed to be reminded of these things in order to remain resolute in their allegiance to Christ as the supreme power in the world and in their lives.
