The Book Of Ephesians/ Study Guide

This letter was written by Paul (1:1). There has been some discussion to debate this but it is unfounded. He probably wrote this epistle during his two-yar imprisonment in Rome (around A.D. 60). With the exception of Philippians and Philemon, Paul's friend and companion Tychicus carried this letter to it's destination, Ephesians 6:21, Col. 4:7-9, Philemon 10-12.
There are believed to be four espistles written by Paul from a prison cell; they are Ephesians, Colossians, Philipians, and Philemon, we call the "the prison epistles". A careful reading of Ephesians suggests that Ephesians and Colossians were written about the same time. There are many examples to prove this, we will get into this at a later time.
Paul did serve a prison term in Caserera, scholors seem to think these letters were probably written from Rome, where he was given liberty to preach the gospel in his "own house" for  two years ( Acts 28).
We believe this letter is a "circular letter", written to a number of churches in Asia Minor. In at least two of the oldest Greek manuscripts, the words, "at Ephesus are not found. This may account for the general, almost formal tone of the epistle. There are no special "greetings", or references of specific problems or situations as we find in many of his other letters.
Paul ministered in Ephesus for three years, planted churches, enjoyed friends and friendships, surely he would have been more personal. This is why we feel this epistle was written to a large group of Saints from churches throughout the geographical community surrounding Ephesus.
This epistle is theologically as well as devotional in it's great and marvelous reach of New e 3:10, into harmony and unity with Him! (5:22-6:9).
OUTLINE
Salutation (1:1-2)
The Foundation of god's Plan (1:3-14)
A. God and the son (1:3-6)
Our choice in the sonship
B.Christ and salvation 1:7-12
(The historical Redemptive work of Christ)
C. The Holy Spirit and Promise (1:13-14)
(The guarantee Relationship of Believers)
11. The character of the Plan (1:15 to 3::21)
A. Paul's prayer for growth in understanding (1:15- 19a)
1Why he wrote the prayer (the ocassion)
2General nature of the growth (1:17-18a)
3. Special objects of knowledge (1:18b-19a)
a.The hope of his calling (1:18b)
b. (The glory of his inheritance among the Saints (1:18c)
c. The Surpassing Greatness of His power (1:19a)
B. The grounds of the Plan (1:19bto 2:22)
1. The exaltation of Christ (1:19b-23)
Chapter 2
2. The mutual (jew and Gentile) past experiences of God's Grace (2:1-10)
3.The unifying of Jew and Gentile in Christ (2:11-22)
a. The Former state of Gentiles 2:11-12)
b.New Relationship in Christ (2:13-18)c. the new Citizenship Restated (2:19-22)
Chapter 3
C. Paul's Own Mission In The Plan (3:1-9)
D. The Mission of the Church (3:10-13)E. Paul's Prayer for His Readers (3:14-21)
Chapter 4
111 The Development of the New Life-Style of the Christian (4:1-6)
A. A stirring Call to Unity (4;1-6)
B. Diversity of Gifts (4:7-16)
C. A Plea for Abandonment of the Old Life-Style (4:7-24)
1. The Old Life-Style (4:17-19)
2. The New Life-Style (4:20-24)
D. Teaching Against Sins that Divide The Church (4:25 to 5:14)
Chapter 5
Exhortation To Walk Carefully and Avoid Drunkenness (5:15-21)
F. The Unity o the Family Life (5;22 to 6:9)
Chapter 6
G. The Christian Armor (6:10-20)
H. Benediction (6:21-24