Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, written during his first Roman imprisonment, is addressed to a predominantly Gentile community of believers in the bustling city of Ephesus, though its leadership had strong Jewish roots. Unable to return to the city after riots over the worship of Artemis made him unwelcome, Paul entrusted the care of the church to Timothy, while other key figures like Apollos, Priscilla, Aquila, and eventually John also played roles in the region. By greeting them as “saints” and “faithful in Christ Jesus,” Paul identifies these disciples as holy ones—set apart by their allegiance to Messiah Jesus, marked by loyalty, obedience, and devotion to His kingship.

Ephesians 2 teaches that though humanity was once dead in sin and enslaved to worldly desires, God—rich in mercy—made us alive together with Christ by grace, not by works. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, believers are reconciled to God and to one another, breaking down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. We are now one new humanity, created in Christ for good works that God prepared in advance for us to do, built together into a dwelling place for God’s Spirit.

Ephesians 3 reveals Paul’s calling to proclaim the mystery that had been hidden for ages — that Gentiles are now fellow heirs and members of the same body through Christ. He explains that this grace was given to him to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make known God’s plan of unity for all creation. Paul prays that believers would be strengthened through the Spirit, rooted in love, and able to grasp the vastness of Christ’s love, being filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 4 calls believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling by walking in humility, gentleness, patience, and unity through the Spirit. Paul emphasizes that there is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. Christ has given various gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers—to equip the saints for ministry and to build up the body of Christ. Believers are urged to grow in maturity, speak the truth in love, and put off the old self corrupted by deceitful desires, being renewed in spirit to live in righteousness and holiness.