Author and Audience:
Ephesians was written by Paul and addressed to the Saints at Ephesus, an important city in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Ephesus, located at an intersection of major trade routes, was a center for commercial trade. Paul used this select location as a central point for his ministry for about three years.
The book of Ephesians was written to gentile converts who were baptized members of the Church, not people who were converts from Judaism and who had once lived under the law of Moses. The Epistle is written in a general manner and lacks personal references, so it was probably sent to several congregations in the area.
Historical Background:
During Paul’s third missionary journey, he spent about three years in Ephesus. This city was the site of a famous temple for the fertility goddess Diana. Paul’s mission had been so successful at turning people from idol worship to the worship of Jesus Christ that the craftsmen of the city who sold pagan statues created an uproar about the threat to their trade. Paul probably wrote the book of Ephesians during his first Roman imprisonment around A.D. 60–62.
Unique Features:
The book of Ephesians addresses vital gospel principles. Among these are foreordination, the latter-day Restoration, and the Holy Spirit of Promise. Ephesians also addresses the importance of prophets and apostles, Church organization, and family relationships.
Theme:
Much like today, the Church members of Paul’s day came from a variety of backgrounds. Paul reminded them of the uniting force of the gospel organization built on prophets and apostles, with Jesus Christ as the foundation. He counseled the members to be one in doctrine, righteousness, and family life.
Jesus Christ gives us rich gospel blessings to show His great love for us. The doctrines of foreordination, the grace of Jesus Christ, and gospel fellowship are a few examples of this love.
Ephesians 1
The Veil of forgetfulness: (separates premortal life from earth life)
Suppose you can step through the veil and recall premortal experiences.
• What would you want to learn about yourself?
Although we may not know many details about our individual premortal existence, there is one important doctrine we do know about: Foreordination.
Insight from the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council”. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 365)
As we serve faithfully in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Heavenly Father will place us where we need to be in order to fulfill our foreordained callings.
Testimony and counsel from President James E. Faust of the First Presidency:
“In this great hall and listening this evening are thousands of future leaders of the Church who have been called out of the world and chosen by the Lord before the foundations of the world, as described by Abraham. . . . I believe the Lord has brought forth special spirits who were reserved from before the world was to be strong and valiant in this difficult time of the world’s history. . . .
“With all my heart I urge you . . . to be worthy and true”.
(in Conference Report, Sep.–Oct. 1995, 63–64; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 47)
Ephesians 2
• Which elements are necessary for us to receive eternal life? (All of them.)
• Which of the elements did man provide? (Our first parents, Adam and Eve, provided the Fall in accordance with God’s plan.)
• Which elements are available because of the Savior?
All the elements of salvation are provided through Jesus Christ. We cannot progress to eternal life without the Savior.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God … Ephesians 2:4–8
Grace
A word that occurs frequently in the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul. The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.
It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts. Bible Dictionary (p. 697)
• What must we do to receive the full benefits of grace?
(Exercise faith, repent, do our best to keep the commandments.)
Grace is a gift. The Lord provides gifts for us that we cannot provide for ourselves.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God … Ephesians 2:8
And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits. Helaman 14:13
• What does the Book of Mormon add to our understanding of being saved by grace
through faith?
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
• What good works has God ordained that we should do?
The Savior does so much for us each day.
Without Jesus Christ we could not become like Heavenly Father.
We may express gratitude to Him by daily recognizing His hand in our lives.
“I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, no. 193)
Ephians 3
The Book of Mormon prophet Moroni closed his record with the invitation, “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness”. Paul’s counsel in the second half of Ephesians is similar. He taught that Saints could come unto Christ and be perfected in Him by being one in the Savior’s doctrines, obeying divinely called leaders, following the example of Jesus Christ in our families, and using God-given armor as protection from the attacks of Satan.
Ephesians 4
• Why are there so many keys on a piano keyboard.
• Why does emphasis on just one key fail to make pleasing music?
• Which keys could we do away with?
All the keys are important but may be used in different songs.
The gospel is like the keyboard. Baptism is one key, faith in Christ is another, a correct understanding of the Godhead is another. The full keyboard provides the harmony of gospel principles necessary for exaltation.
• Which of these leaders could we do without?
Just as we need all the piano keys, we need all the Church leaders spoken of by Paul.
The organization of the Lord’s Church assists us in becoming perfect and Christlike.
Ephesians 5-6