[TL]

Whenever starting a new study on a book or letter of the Bible it is good to take a look at the who, what, when, and where information.  Our aim is to make an attempt to transform ourselves back to the time it was written and sit at the feet of the messenger who read the letter to the people.  As well, as we dig deeper we want to try to insert ourselves into the mind of the author in the hopes of rightly hearing what he or she was attempting to share or instruct.

It is noteworthy to see that none of the NT writers introduced themselves or others with titles such as ‘Apostle Paul or Teacher Priscilla’.  It is always Paul ‘an apostle’, James ‘a servant of God’,  or Phoebe ‘a deacon’, or nothing at all  as in several of the OT prophets and historical accountings.  The only exception to this I can think of at the moment is Eccleasiastics, who uses the title “The Preacher” as a sort of anonymity, leaving readers to guess at his identity.

I like to think that the NT writers avoided titles because of what Jesus said in Matt. 20:25-28 , which was repeated in Mark 10:42-45.  And also because of what Jesus said in Matt. 23:8-12.

Matt. 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”


Matt. 23: 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The place of the recipients of this letter is Ephesus.  At the time of the writing Ephesus was a commercial center of Asia Minor.  It was also a religious center for the temple of Diana (Roman name) also known as the temple of Artemis (Greek name).  Acts 19:35 refers to Ephesus as the “temple guardian of the great goddess Diana (Artemis).  If we want to place ourselves in the time period of the Ephesians, we must take into consideration the historical influences of their time.  The influence of this temple upon the people was great.

The time of the writing of this letter was thought to be during Paul’s first prison time in Rome around A.D. 60-62.   It was the third of the four letters he wrote while in prison.  Some people think Paul just dashed these letters off, but it is more likely that he wrote (and possibly rewrote) them very carefully and with much prayer. 

The tone of Ephesians is to seek after righteousness allowing God to recreate us in Him.  We must set aside our old natures and walk in that which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in (2:8-10).  For we have been saved by God’s wonderful grace, and not our own works (4:1-3)


Everyone..... please feel free to add information to this before we go on and start reading the first chapter.

[TL]

I'm adding an attachement of a chronological chart of Paul's NT writings.  If anyone has a better one, please post it.

[Don]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Artemis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpretatio_graeca

The Artemis at Ephesus was distinct from the Artemis of the Greeks and Diana of the Romans, altho the latter 2 did assimilate her via syncretism which makes it confusing. 

In other words, if one takes a Greek perspective, then they are considered the same as this is also the case with the Romans, but if one takes an Ephesian perspective, then they are different.  Given that the letter is to Ephesus, I think the reader should take the Ephesian perspective.  This is why she is called "Artemis of the Ephesians" and not just Artemis.  In other words, there was a name collision which the Greeks to advantage of to claim Artemis of the Ephesians was the same as their Artemis, but the Ephesians would beg to differ.

[Don]

The order of the writing of Paul's letters is debated some.  It is clear that Ephesians could not have been written before Paul visited there and could not be written by him after he died.

And it makes a difference in some cases as to how they might be interpreted because of how they map to Acts and because of the temple destruction in 70AD.    The biggest question that I have heard of is whether Galatians was written before or after Acts 15 Jerusalem council.

[Don]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Artemis_Ephesus.jpg

[TL]

Thanks for the info on Artemis.  will have to look at that more.

I'm aware that there is a lot of debate as to dates of NT writings.  That was the only list I could find at the moment though.  Do you know of another?

[Don]

Unless there is some reason to date it more precisely, I would just say that the date of authorship is not specified, altho I accept Paul as the author.

[TL]

I usually say that the precise date is not obtainable, and the dates we have are approximations......  our best guesses.

[Don]

The official prot way of saying things like this is that it is NOT necessary to be a part of one's faith, since it is not specified.  There are a lot of things like that in the Bible and when it is the case, I think it is best to admit it.

[TL]

Will be leaving for lunch out shortly.  Here's another bit of information:

The name Paul, from Wuest’s Word Studies:

“The name “Paul” is from the Latin, meaning “small.” Hebrew parents often gave their sons a Gentile name in addition to a Jewish one. From the meaning of this name and from I Corinthians 10:10, “His bodily presence is weak,” it is thought that Paul was of diminutive stature. His Hebrew name was Saul, which word meant “to ask or pray.”

[Don]

And Saul in Greek is Saulos which has a meaning of "walk like a prostitute" so it would be a reason to use the name Paul when among gentiles.

[TL]

And Saul in Greek is Saulos which has a meaning of "walk like a prostitute" so it would be a reason to use the name Paul when among gentiles.

LOL  good point!   

[Marg]

Several Greek manuscripts do not have "en Ephesō" in verse 1 of chapter 1, so some (many?) scholars believe that what we call "the letter to the Ephesians" was not written specifically for the Ephesian Christians but was intended to be circulated among several churches, possibly among the churches in Asia Minor.  There are also no personal greetings at the end of the letter which adds weight to the belief that it was really a circular letter.  Tychicus "of Asia" is the only other person mentioned in Ephesians (Eph 6:21 cf Acts 20:4-5; Col 4:7; 2 Tim 4:12; Titus 3:12). 

I have some info on the Ephesian Artemis here:
http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/1-timothy-212-in-context-2/
and here:
http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/1-timothy-212-in-context-3/
But I do not think that the Ephesian cult of Artemis was a concern of Paul's letter to the Ephesians.  There are, however, hints that he addresses proto-Gnostism in this letter.

I'm not sure about the point about titles.  Here are some of my thoughts:
I think some titles are used in the NT.  For instance, believers are sometimes called "saints".
Paul refers to himself as "prisoner" (desmios) a couple of times in Ephesians and he refers to himself as an apostle (apostolos).  In other letters he refers to himself as a slave (doulos) and minister (diakonos), etc. 
Also, Ephesians 4:11 refers to apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers. 
I'm not sure exactly where the line is between a ministry description and ministry title.

Don, have you got a source for your comment on "Saulos"?  I can't see anything in that name that approximates "prostitute" or "walk"; but Saulos is slightly similar to "salos" which means tottering, rolling or surging.  It is often used in reference to the surging and swelling of the sea. I can imagine that salos might have been used to describe the swagger of a prostitute but I haven't comes across it used that way.  I'd love a source from Greek literature if you've got one (or two.)  But, as I said, salos is only slightly similar to Saulos.

[TL]

The point about titles is that Paul does not do what we do today.  Today, we say soandso is Pastor T, or Apostle J., or Teacher S.  Those are clear titles.  In Scripture people are called or call themselves "an" apostle, 'a' teacher, 'a' deacon.  There is an element of more humility in referring to ourselves as one of many instead of a primary.  I believe that is notable.  And it is an element that is needed in our churches today as it promotes more community and humility.

I read about the lack of 'en EphesO in the first sentence in several manuscripts.  Haven't decided what to do about that.  Probably won't mention it in the Bible Study; don't know that it really matters one way or the other. Most of the letters did get passed around anyway. And I'm not sure that my particular group will benefit by knowing that.  I've a couple people who freak at every possibility that our manuscripts are not absolutely perfect. But I probably should put it in my notes .

However, your point that Paul didn't seem concerned about the cult of Artemis is worth thinking about.  It is my suspicion that because it has been mentioned in Acts that it was just so obvious to them that it didn't need pointing out repeatedly. 

Thank you for the note about Tychicus.  This makes Tychicus a trusted servant likely a deacon or more. I suspect deacons, though meaning only servant, were really far more trusted and gifted in the Lord than many churches consider them today.

[TL]

I need a title for the book of Ephesians to put on the Bulletin board at church.  I seem to have a blank.  I read somewhere that it is called "the crowning jewel of Paul's theology".  Not sure I agree or not yet, as I really liked Romans as his most theological book.  I need something pithy and short.

Any ideas?