Ephesians - Overview

by Alyce.

Any time you are studying a book – you should try to gather some information about the author, why it may have been written, the audience it is written for, and if the time in which it was written would change a modern interpretation of the text.

STEP 1

Find the answers to the following questions.  Your Bible may have a section that explains or gives a bit of background for each chapter in the Bible.   Definitely read that section.  Try also to search other sources for some answers.  (email your answers to VicarAlyce@GentleSpirit.org) – Yes, I want to hear your answers!!

1. Who wrote the book of Ephesians?
2. Who was the audience?
3. When was it written?
4. Where was the author when he wrote it?
5. Has anyone tried to determine why it might have been written?  (We are roughly 2000 years too late to ask the author that question).
6. How was the letter delivered to the people?  If most people couldn’t read – does it mean someone may had to read this to them?
7. If his was written to be read aloud, has it affected the way it may have been written? Think of the Psalms – they were written to be sung read aloud.  They have a beat/pattern that makes them easy to set to music.  Does Ephesians have anything like that in the text?
8. Does the text reflect or reveal any purpose the author may have had in mind when he wrote it?

You may notice I am using the 5W and 1H method of questioning about this text.  What, Where, Why, When, Who, How – I learned this in journalism class.  If you can gather the answers to these questions – usually it means you have covered the full story.

STEP 2

NOW go behind the story and study the history of the times.

1. What was happening in the area?
2. How did the people live?  They didn’t have super markets, so where did their food come from?  Where did their paper come from?  Did they go to Staples and get their pen and paper to write a letter?
3. What cost is associated to writing a letter at the time?
4. Are there phrases that would apply to the times that don’t apply now?

Come up with a few questions of your own. This is when we research the background of the book.

STEP 3

You should also be reading the book for pleasure and an overview.    Out line the book for yourself.  How would you divide it if it where up to you?  How would you group the topics?  Please outline the book for yourself and share your outlines.  I would love to see them.

This is how you should start all your studies of Bible books with a bit of research.  Have you ever had to do a research paper?  Think of all the skills you used then.  Use some of those skills now.  You should be able to create a “research paper” on Ephesians when you are done with this study.  I will walk you thru the steps.

More next week – keep reading over the book of Ephesians, we are try to get VERY familiar with the book.

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