Best Resources on Ephesians
Ephesians gives a cosmic view of God’s plans for the world, explaining the mystery of the gospel. Because of Jesus’ death, all people can receive the gift of forgiveness for their trespasses against God and others (Eph 1:3–10; 2:1–8). Through the sacrifice of Christ, God has brought believers in Jesus—Jews and non-Jews alike—together as one new humanity (2:11–18). God shows no partiality (6:9).
—Faithlife Study Bible, Lexham Press
Everything You Need to Study & Teach Ephesians
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Best Commentaries on Ephesians
Harold W. Hoehner, Baker, 2002, 960 pp.
Pastors, students, and scholars looking for a comprehensive treatment on Ephesians will be interested in this commentary. Hoehner’s interaction with the latest scholarship combined with his detailed exegesis will make this new commentary the only resource they will need to consult.
- Level: Advanced
- Type: Technical
Andrew T. Lincoln, Word Biblical Commentary (WBC), Thomas Nelson, 1990, 592 pp.
Focus on the power of Paul’s persuasive rhetoric and message in this commentary from Andrew T. Lincoln. Situating the epistle in its historical context, evaluating competing claims of authorship, and examining textual history of the book, Lincoln offers a fresh reading of this challenging epistle that expresses Paul’s vision for ecclesiastical and domestic life.
- Level: Advanced
- Type: Technical
F. F. Bruce, New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT), Eerdmans, 1984, 470 pp.
In this scholarly work, F. F. Bruce gives a section-by-section commentary on Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. Based on an in-depth study of the Greek texts, he starts with an introduction that covers the beginnings of the three books and gives particular emphasis to the geography of Asia Minor. Bruce compellingly argues for analyzing these three letters together as he discusses the Jewish community and the theological issues brought out in each book. Bruce’s commentary is a well-thought-out addition to the series of The New International Commentary on the New Testament.
- Level: Intermediate
- Type: Expository
Klyne Snodgrass, NIV Application Commentary (NIVAC), Zondervan, 1996, 384 pp.
Exploring the links between the Bible and our own times, Klyne Snodgrass shares perspectives on the book of Ephesians that reveal its enduring relevance for our twenty-first-century lives.
- Level: Intermediate
- Type: Devotional
Francis Foulkes, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC), InterVarsity Press, 1989, 187 pp.
Unlike Paul's letters to the Galatians or the Corinthians, the letter to the Ephesians contains almost no clues about the situation and issues its recipients faced. Nevertheless, the letter vividly depicts how God's will revealed in Christ reorients believers' lives toward unity, mutual respect, submission and love—in short, new life in Christ. Francis Foulkes expounds with clarity and ease the letter's central themes and emphases.
- Level: Basic
- Type: Devotional
Best Books on Ephesians
Lexham Research Commentary: Ephesians
Paul opens the letter to the Ephesians with a celebration of God’s blessings: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). In many ways, this single sentence summarizes the message of Paul’s letter: God is to be praised for his work in Christ which, by God’s grace, is “for us.”
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Ephesians: A Handbook on the Greek Text
In this volume, William Larkin provides students with a reliable guide through the intricacies of the Greek text of Ephesians, introducing them to consensus views on matters of syntax, semantics, and textual criticism. In addition, the annotations contain references to current debates relating to the language of Ephesians. Larkin’s annotations demonstrate that linguistically informed analyses—which have appeared in the last couple of decades—frequently shed light on old questions.
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An Exegetical Summary of Ephesians, 2nd ed.
How can the task of biblical exegesis be fruitful and meaningful when commentaries and lexicons provide contradictory interpretations and seem to support opposing translations? The Exegetical Summaries Series asks important exegetical and interpretive questions—phrase by phrase—and summarizes and organizes the content from every major Bible commentary and dozens of lexicons. You can instantly identify exegetical challenges, discover a text’s interpretive history, and survey the scope of everything written about each verse and phrase.
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Sheffield New Testament Guides: Ephesians
In the first section of this guide, Dr. Best examines in detail the normal questions of authorship and destination. He then offers a survey of the content of the letter, drawing out its main points while concentrating on the epistle’s theology. He offers a concise treatment of its teaching about the Church and behavior and how these two areas of life are reflected in the Christian community.
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No Longer Living as the Gentiles: Differentiation And Shared Ethical Values In Ephesians 4:17-6:9
The starting point of this work is an observed tension in recent scholarly discussion of the ethical content of Ephesians 4.17–6.9. The household code in Ephesians 5.21–6.9, which is grammatically and conceptually linked to the preceding ethical instruction (4.17–5.21), transforms conventional household morality into group-specific ethics to enhance mutuality among the readers in their households. Thus, the readers are encouraged neither to separate from society nor to integrate further into it but to live and function within society as members of the "household of God" in one accord.
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Mobile Ed: NT343 Book Study: Paul's Letter to the Ephesians (8 hour course)
Learn from New Testament and Pauline studies expert Dr. Lynn Cohick as she guides you through each chapter and theological concept in Ephesians, including salvation, the Trinity, and the Church. She devotes additional time to exploring God’s vision for marriage and the institution of slavery. She also explains various interpretive theories—like the new perspective on Paul—and how these theories compare with traditional ideas.
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Mobile Ed: CM382 Preaching Ephesians (6 hour course)
In Preaching Ephesians (CM382), Dr. Constantine Campbell teaches how to interpret and preach the concepts communicated by Paul to the church in Ephesus. Dr. Campbell divides the book into logical sections and highlights the key themes and focal points of each passage, concluding each section with practical suggestions on how to preach the text. He also demonstrates how Paul, throughout the book of Ephesians, magnifies the glory of Christ and shows the central importance of our union with him for salvation, for the Church, and for the Christian life.
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Mobile Ed: NT276 Pauline Theology (11 hour course)
In NT276 Pauline Theology, Dr. Douglas J. Moo organizes Paul’s theology within the new realm of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the lives of Jesus’ followers. After comparing the new realm to the old realm of the law, Dr. Moo takes you on a journey from the inauguration of the new realm to its culmination, stopping to discuss the people of the new realm and how Jesus’ followers enter into, live within, and enjoy this new realm. This course provides you with a foundation to read, study, teach, and preach the message of the apostle Paul.
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Mobile Ed: NT101 Introducing New Testament: Its Structure and Story (6 hour course)
Gain a better understanding of the New Testament's structure and themes with New Testament scholar Dr. Lynn Cohick. You'll examine elements such as historical context, writing techniques of the Gospels' authors, developments in the early Church, the settings of the Epistles, the genre of the book of Revelation, and the life of Jesus.
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