Ephesians: Summary, Dating, and Authorship (CHART)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman

The book of Ephesians is one of the most widely-read letters in the New Testament, partially because of its content but also due to debates over its authorship. Did Paul really write it as the letter claims, or was it someone else?

In this article I’ll investigate key aspects of the book of Ephesians, summarizing its content, dating, and authorship while also providing a chart to help outline its main themes and messages. Through examining the letter's theological teachings and ethical exhortations, I’ll explain why Ephesians continues to hold significance for scholars and modern Christian communities.

Background

Ephesians is the 10th book of the New Testament, a letter sent to a Christian community. The author claims to be the apostle Paul but the majority of scholars don’t believe Paul wrote the book. Instead, it is one of many biblical books known as pseudepigrapha, books claiming to be written by one person but actually written by another.

Who wrote Ephesians? Traditionally, the letter was thought to have been written by Paul around 62 CE when he was imprisoned in Rome. However, in The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings, Bart Ehrman writes that most scholars have discarded this idea, believing instead that an anonymous author wrote the book long after Paul’s death, probably between the years 80 and 100 CE. However, the author clearly had a high regard for Paul and was probably a member of a Christian community founded by Paul, but likely never met him.

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Another interesting point involves the name of the book. It is called “Ephesians” because most modern English translations of the letter begin with the author’s greeting to “the saints who are in Ephesus (1:1).” Ephesus was a major city in the province of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) where Paul was thought to have established a church. However, Ehrman notes that our earliest and best manuscripts of Ephesians lack the words “in Ephesus,” making it likely that it was not written to a specific Christian community but rather as a kind of general letter intended to circulate to many communities.

Having established a bit of background, I offer here a chart summarizing the book of Ephesians.

Next, I’ll summarize each chapter in a bit more detail. In the Jewish Annotated New Testament, Maxine Grossman points out that Ephesians is generally split into two halves. Chapters 1-3 contain theological teachings as the basis for unity between Jews and Gentiles, and chapters 4-6 contain appeals to the audience to behave righteously in order to manifest that unity.

Ephesians 1 Summary

The first chapter begins with a traditional epistolary greeting from the author claiming to be Paul. As I noted above, most translations say it’s written to a church in Ephesus, but older manuscripts lack this information, instead saying that the letter is intended for “the saints who are faithful.”

The letter next explains the manifold blessings coming to the Gentile audience of the letter through Christ. We know right away that the intended audience consists of Gentiles because the author writes that they were adopted by God and, therefore, not originally God’s chosen people, the Jews. The blessings they receive through this divine adoption include redemption through Jesus’ blood and the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 2 Summary

In chapter 2, the author writes that his audience were “dead” in their sins before they encountered Christ. For this author, living sinfully is a kind of death. However, thanks to Christ’s sacrifice and the faith of these believers, they are now raised from their former death, as Christ was raised, and are, in a way, already seated with Christ in heaven.

This, by the way, is one way scholars know that Paul didn’t write this book. In the SBL Study Bible, J. Paul Sampley notes that in Paul’s authentic letters, the resurrection and glorification of Christians was always a future event, not a current one (see Romans 6:5, 1 Corinthians 15:21-23, Philippians 3:10-11).

In the last section of chapter 2, the author writes that since Gentiles have been adopted by God through Christ, there should be unity between Jewish and Gentile members of the church. Through this adoption process, Gentiles have become “fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” along with Jews.

Ephesians 3 Summary

At the beginning of chapter 3, “Paul” says he is a prisoner for his mission to the Gentiles, a mission for which he was chosen by God. In fact, he says that he is a servant of the gospel message. He emphasizes again that Gentiles are included in God’s plan through Jesus, and exhorts them not to lose faith as they experience suffering for Christ’s sake.

He then says a prayer for these Gentile Christ-followers, asking God to give them strength through Christ who dwells in their hearts. He prays also that they may be grounded in love. He says the love of Christ goes beyond all knowledge, helping Christians to comprehend God at a depth not otherwise possible.

Ephesians 4 Summary

The author begins this chapter by exhorting the audience to live in unity as one single “body of Christ (4:11-12)” by being humble, gentle and patient with each other. Continuing this metaphor, he writes that each person in the community has a different gift, that “some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.” Therefore, each plays a role in the community as body parts all have their own role in a single body. Working together as one, they serve “the head,” who the author says is Christ in this metaphor.

Next, the author says that since they are the body of Christ, the Gentiles who are his primary audience must change their ways, no longer sinning in greed and lust. Ancient Jewish stereotypes of Gentiles often depicted them living sinfully and selfishly (see, for example, Paul’s description in Rom 1:28-32). Instead they must put on holiness and righteousness, as they would put on new clothing, to fit with their new life in Christ. In fact, the final section details how to live this righteous life: don’t lie, steal, gossip, or act in anger. In addition, they should be kind and forgiving of each other.

Ephesians 5 Summary

Expanding further on the theme of righteous behavior, the author continues to equate non-Christian Gentiles with immoral behavior. He lists some of these behaviors, which his audience must now avoid, including sexual impurity and greed, as well as “obscene, silly, and vulgar talk (5:4)” and drunkenness. Steering clear of such behaviors is necessary in order to please God.

The final section of this chapter talks about how a Christian household should be run. The author begins with a statement that is controversial, if not offensive, to modern sensibilities: “Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church (5:22-23).” He goes on to say that husbands should also love their wives.

Ephesians 6 Summary

Chapter 6 continues the theme of the ideal Christian household, beginning with the relationship between parents and children. Children are told to obey their parents, as this is one of the Ten Commandments given to the Jewish people through Moses. Parents are told not to provoke their children to anger but to instruct and discipline them appropriately.

Next comes a discussion of how slaves and masters are to behave. Those of us living today can easily forget that, for the authors of the New Testament, slavery was considered a normal part of life. While there may have been some in the ancient world who criticized slavery as an immoral institution, none of the NT authors did. In Ephesians 6:5, the author simply says that slaves should “obey your earthly masters with respect and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ.” It’s unfortunate, but in reading the Bible, we have to grapple with the uncomfortable and abhorrent realities of the ancient world. Masters, by the way, are told not to threaten their slaves.

The following section of chapter 6 speaks of spiritual warfare against evil, which the author calls “the cosmic powers of this present darkness (6:12).” Referring metaphorically to the armor worn by Roman soldiers in battle, the author writes that Christians must put on a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, a shield of faith, a helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God (6:14-17).”

The letter ends with the author commending someone named Tychicus to his audience, whom he will send as a messenger to them, after which there is a final benediction.

Conclusion

The book of Ephesians was written in Paul’s name by someone living long after Paul had died. Unfortunately, a lack of evidence prohibits us from knowing exactly who wrote Ephesians.

It was apparently written to Gentile Christians, possibly new converts, who are told that since they have been adopted through Christ into the family of God, they must change their behaviors and even their social identities. Accordingly, they must display unity with the Jewish members of their community since they are now all one “body of Christ.”

The letter’s first three chapters emphasize that Jesus’ sacrifice allowed them, the Gentile converts, to become one with God’s chosen people, the Jews. As such, they must follow the moral and ethical standards of the Jews rather than the (stereotypical) Gentile vices which lead to an impurity that is unacceptable to God.

The last three chapters then dictate this proper behavior in more detail. They include commands to maintain sexual purity, generosity, humbleness, and forbearance with each other. In addition, the letter says that through such behaviors, they are engaged in battle with evil forces for which they are metaphorically armed by righteous deeds and the word of God. It also details how spouses, parents and children, and slaves and masters are to treat each other in order to please God.

While most scholars do not believe this letter was written by Paul, it has remained an essential part of the biblical canon and is still widely read within Christian communities.