Ephesians

• DatesAbout AD 60–62 if Paul wrote it; about AD 80–90 if written by a follower (debated)
• GenrePaul’s Letters
• AuthorshipPaul according to the letter; authorship debated
• TimelineEarly Church
• Key textsEphesians 1; Ephesians 2; Ephesians 4–6
• Read the textEphesians in the World English Bible
• Covered in classSession 4

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  The letter names Paul as author and says he is a prisoner. The words “in Ephesus” in 1:1 are missing from some of the earliest manuscripts, which suggests it was a letter for several churches.Eph 1:1; Eph 3:1; Eph 6:20

• Debated

  Many scholars doubt that Paul wrote Ephesians because of its long sentences, its vocabulary, and its close relationship with Colossians. Others hold that Paul wrote it, perhaps using a secretary, and some date it to his imprisonment in Rome.

• Christian conclusion

  Christians read Ephesians as describing the church as the body of Christ, in which Jew and Gentile are united.Eph 2:14–22