Ephesians Historical Background
Perry L. Julian
Colorado Christian University
Ephesians Historical Background
We must understand Ephesus if we want to understand the Book of Ephesians. Ephesus was a large prosperous city in Asia Minor. One of the seven wonders of the world was in Ephesus. It was a large temple dedicated to a goddess named Diana (Artemis). The temple and streets were lined with immoral goddess prostitutes. It was a very wicked city and immorality flourished and flooded over into society and families. Paul was clever in using the concepts of holiness, service, and temple to reveal the power of the Gospel in how it creates a new people born of God dedicated to His holy purposes.
While Paul was imprisoned on house arrest around 60-62 AD he wrote what has been called the prison epistles. While imprisoned he wrote Colossians, Philemon, Philippians and Ephesians. In Duvall & Hays (2012) on page 135 it says, “We study the historical-cultural background of the Bible because God chose to speak first to ancient peoples living in cultures that are radically different from our own. As we recapture the original context of God’s Word, we will be able to grasp its meaning and apply that meaning to our lives.
In the NIV Study Bible (2011) on page 1983 it says, “Having explained God’s great goals for the church, Paul proceeds to show the steps toward their fulfillment. First, God has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace (2:1-10). Second, God has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, Christ having broken down the barriers through his own death (2:11-22). But God has done something even beyond this: He has united these reconciled individuals in one body, the church.” Paul’s audience were believers in the church at Ephesus and other Christians in western Asia Minor. Paul summarizes his gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone and describes the nature and role of the church in God’s eternal plan. It also states in the NIV Study Bible (2011) on page 1981, “Unlike several of the other letters Paul wrote, Ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, so that they might understand better the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.
“The witness of the early church for the influence of Ephesians as a letter from Paul is extensive.” (Snodgrass, 1996) The culture in the city of Ephesus revolved greatly around worshiping Diana and the merchants were making money on idols. More and more people were accepting the gospel and this hurt business for one silversmith in particular, Demetrius, started a riot. In Acts 19:23-24 it says, “About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.” Knowing how the culture was it helps us to understand why Ephesians expresses the cord of Christianity and Christian living so precisely.
Holding on to truth is critical to our foundation of Christianity. The first three chapters of Ephesians is doctrinal, it gives us the truths of who Jesus was and what he has done for us, showing us the blessings that belong to the church.
References
Barker, K. L., & Burdick, D. W. (2011). Zondervan NIV study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Duvall, J. S., & Hays, J. D. (2012). Grasping God's word: A hands-on approach to reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Snodgrass, K. (1996). The niv application commentary: Fro biblical text ... to contemporary life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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