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The Book of Ephesians
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“The vast majority of the [Ephesian] manuscripts read … (‘to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus’).” However, some manuscripts have no church name at all. This suggest that this letter may have been a circular letter to various churches in the area—as was the Book of Revelation for instance, (“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia.…” Revelation 1:4, NKJV). So, like the Book of Revelation, this letter may also have been sent to a variety of churches in Asia Minor with the church at Ephesus being the first to receive it. They then would have passed on a copy to the next church in the circuit. If so, then both John and Paul, both pastors at Ephesus, sent cyclical letters to Ephesus.
This is a map of the churches the Book of Revelation. Although not necessarily the same churches, this letter to the Ephesians also appears to be sent to several churches in Asia Minor, starting with Ephesus, the first place the boat would land in that area.
“This is consistent with the internal evidence of the letter … little in the contents suggests that it was written to a church where Paul has ministered for the best part of three years. There is no mention of ‘individuals or groups among the people addressed; there are no allusions to features or problems in the local situation’.”
“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31, NKJV)
Since we are aware that Paul ministered in Ephesus for three years, we would here expect greetings to old friends. There are none. Why? Probably because this letter was not limited to the Ephesian church but to a collection of churches in Asia Minor, most or all of which Paul never visited and did not know. Therefore, although addressing problems and greeting friends was common to Paul’s letter writing, here Paul is not addressing a crowd that he knew very well at all. So, as indicated, the great majority of those that would eventually read this letter in the area of Asia were not known to Paul but were converts in areas that Paul personally had not labored. But because no other apostle had labored there either, Paul was now taking them under his theological wings and instructing them in the teachings of the Christian faith.
Therefore, “We conclude that Ephesians was a general epistle sent to mainly Gentile believers in southwestern Asia Minor, and that it was linked with Ephesus at an early stage, perhaps because of its being a strategic church or because it was one of the several cities to which the letter was sent.” Indeed, being located on the coast, it was almost certainly the first church and the most important church that would have received the letter. The Ephesians would have made a copy for themselves and sent it on to other churches in Asia Minor. This copying and forwarding of this letter would have given the letter an extensive audience, most of which never met Paul, or he them.
Also, this letter to Ephesus may be the same letter that Paul calls the epistle from Laodicea.
“Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:16, NKJV)
“Since Paul himself directed the Colossians both to see that his letter to them be read ‘in the church of the Laodiceans’ and that they themselves ‘read also the letter from Laodicea’, some have thought that this so-called ‘letter from Laodicea’ was in fact our ‘Ephesians’, and that he was instructing the churches to exchange the two letters which they had received from him.” One point is important here—Tychicus was the bearer of both letters.
Compare these comments by Paul in both letters.
“But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.” (Ephesians 6:21–22, NKJV)
“Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,” (Colossians 4:7–8, NKJV)
These verses show that Tychicus was the bearer of both letters and that the letter we call Ephesians may in fact be the letter to Laodicea, a church Paul had no prior relationship with, and that this letter first passed through Ephesus on its way to this city.
This is a map of the churches the Book of Revelation. Although not necessarily the same churches, this letter to the Ephesians also appears to be sent to several churches in Asia Minor, starting with Ephesus, the first place the boat would land in that area.
“This is consistent with the internal evidence of the letter … little in the contents suggests that it was written to a church where Paul has ministered for the best part of three years. There is no mention of ‘individuals or groups among the people addressed; there are no allusions to features or problems in the local situation’.”
“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31, NKJV)
Since we are aware that Paul ministered in Ephesus for three years, we would here expect greetings to old friends. There are none. Why? Probably because this letter was not limited to the Ephesian church but to a collection of churches in Asia Minor, most or all of which Paul never visited and did not know. Therefore, although addressing problems and greeting friends was common to Paul’s letter writing, here Paul is not addressing a crowd that he knew very well at all. So, as indicated, the great majority of those that would eventually read this letter in the area of Asia were not known to Paul but were converts in areas that Paul personally had not labored. But because no other apostle had labored there either, Paul was now taking them under his theological wings and instructing them in the teachings of the Christian faith.
Therefore, “We conclude that Ephesians was a general epistle sent to mainly Gentile believers in southwestern Asia Minor, and that it was linked with Ephesus at an early stage, perhaps because of its being a strategic church or because it was one of the several cities to which the letter was sent.” Indeed, being located on the coast, it was almost certainly the first church and the most important church that would have received the letter. The Ephesians would have made a copy for themselves and sent it on to other churches in Asia Minor. This copying and forwarding of this letter would have given the letter an extensive audience, most of which never met Paul, or he them.
Also, this letter to Ephesus may be the same letter that Paul calls the epistle from Laodicea.
“Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” (Colossians 4:16, NKJV)
“Since Paul himself directed the Colossians both to see that his letter to them be read ‘in the church of the Laodiceans’ and that they themselves ‘read also the letter from Laodicea’, some have thought that this so-called ‘letter from Laodicea’ was in fact our ‘Ephesians’, and that he was instructing the churches to exchange the two letters which they had received from him.” One point is important here—Tychicus was the bearer of both letters.
Compare these comments by Paul in both letters.
“But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.” (Ephesians 6:21–22, NKJV)
“Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,” (Colossians 4:7–8, NKJV)
These verses show that Tychicus was the bearer of both letters and that the letter we call Ephesians may in fact be the letter to Laodicea, a church Paul had no prior relationship with, and that this letter first passed through Ephesus on its way to this city.
Commentary on Ephesians Chapters 1-6
