An Apostle’s Take on the Church – Ephesians 1:1,2

Have you ever wished you could speak to your church about how it presents itself as a whole to the world? Perhaps you were concerned that your church doesn’t seem very loving. Perhaps you feel your church doesn’t really focus enough on Jesus and his leadership in the church. Maybe your church doesn’t have a big enough picture of its responsibility in the world. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians addresses all these issues. They were issues then as they are now. And who better to speak to them than the apostle.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1,2, ESV)

Paul has a somewhat formulaic opening or greeting in his letters to the churches. It is kind of like our “Dear So-And-So” but with a Christian flair. It was important to validate the letter, and that, in part, was done by the person who delivered it. That person was vouching for the sender, but the sender was also identifying him or herself at the opening of the letter, as Paul does here.

This letter is somewhat different than others Paul sent because it appears that it might be a circular letter to several churches in what is today Turkey. Because of that there are not really any personal remarks to individuals made in this letter. Normally Paul is mentioning specific people to greet in the church and people from where he is writing who are greeting the church as well. This letter may be the one mentioned in Colossians 4:16, And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

If Ephesians is the letter from Laodicea, a region evangelized most likely by evangelists from Ephesus, it explains the general nature of the letter. It deals with basic themes pertinent to all churches, a kind of theology of church by the apostle. Paul had spent several years ministering in Ephesus and Acts 19:10 says that as a result of Paul’s ministry there “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.“

As usual, Paul sends grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows God is offering these gifts and that, because Jesus is equal to the Father in the trinitarian relationship, that his offering of grace and peace can be combined with the Father’s.

As an apostle by the will of God, and the first one to preach the gospel to this area of what was then called Asia, Paul is uniquely positioned to communicate the Savior’s will for the church. Are you ready to learn God’s heart for His people?

Discussion Questions

1. Describe your experience of local church life, positive and negative.
2. What evidence have you seen of God’s grace and peace extended to your church?
3. If you could have the apostle Paul as a guest speaker at your church, what would you want him to say to your church?
4. Has your church had an impact beyond its own community, and if so, what?
5. How would you measure your commitment to your local church?