The church at Ephesus had its beginning during Paul’s third missionary journey. He stayed there for two years preaching the gospel not only in Ephesus but through out Asia (Acts 19:10).
Paul left Ephesus and went to Greece. After that he determined to go to Jerusalem. On his way he stops in a port city named Miletus and from there called the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:17). He warns them that false prophets will come in among them, and reveals that this would be the last time he would see them. Then, after praying with them, he continued his journey to Jerusalem where he would be arrested.
After Paul’s arrest he was sent to Rome where he was a prisoner for at least three years. It was during this time that Paul wrote to the Ephesians.
The next we hear of the church at Ephesus is in the book of Revelation when Jesus speaks to the seven churches of Asia. At that time the Ephesians were on guard against false teachers, but Jesus tells them you have “left your fist love.” Apparently their zeal was lacking and Jesus calls them back to the zeal they had when Paul was with them.
The book breaks down into two parts.
I. Our Blessings in Christ, Ephesians 1-3
II. Our Walk in Christ, Ephesians 4-6
Paul begins the book by enumerating our spiritual blessings in Christ (chapter 1). In chapter 2 he reminds the Ephesians of what their life was like before becoming Christians (2:1-8), and how they became Christians (2:8-10). In chapter three Paul speaks of the blessing of revelation that was given to him and encourages the Ephesians not to be dismayed at his imprisonment (3:1-13); he then closes the chapter with a prayer for them.
In chapter 4 Paul encourages the Ephesians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” He enumerates the seven core principles that should unify Christians, and then speaks to them about Christian morality. In chapter five Paul speaks of the church using the marriage relationship to describe the relationship the church has with Christ. Finally, in chapter six Paul gives instructions to children, fathers and slaves. He then closes the book asking for their prayers.
To appreciate the theme of Ephesians one must read and meditate on chapter one where Paul enumerates the seven spiritual blessings we have “in Christ” (by or through the agency of Christ). These include the Savior, divine choice, predestination, redemption, revelation, inheritance (as children of God), and universality (salvation is for Jew and Gentile alike). All that Paul writes in Ephesians grows out of these spiritual blessings.
What a blessing it is to be a child of God!