Letter to Ephesians....Is Paul the Author?

Paul’s Letter to Ephesian Church
Few Exegetical and Devotional thoughts on Ephesians

Some one said that Letter to Ephesians is called “Queen of Epistles”. It was Coleridge who said “the Divinest composition of man”. The Letter to Ephesians is the gem of Pauline letters, that sparkles with shining edges of Christology, Ecclesiology and Christian living in the light of those truths. Great truths for practical Christian living from Chapter 4 to 6, Christian life in several sphere like personal life and interaction with others in the community - church (4:17-5:20), Family Life (5:22-6:4), Work Life (6:5 - 9), Spiritual life (6:10-18).

Authorship of the Letter: Many who wrote on the Ephesians dispute that Paul is not the Author. Here are several reasons that they come up with

• Letter is Impersonal - Letter does not have the personal commendations as Corinthians letter ( I Corinthians 16) or Romans (Romans 16).

• Ephesians and Colossians have lot in common: Some say overall structure and even 26.5% percentage of the 2411 words of Ephesians are paralleled with letter to Colossians (Pillar New Testament on Ephesians - Peter O Brian). Some smart follower of Paul has written this, imitating him.

• Language: Some allege that the author has used words that does not match with rest of the Pauline corpus. Some things mentioned here in this letter like, Spiritual blessings in Christ the believers position in Christ (..its Christology). Ecclesiology in Ephesians is at its highest with phrases like Church is fullness of Christ, Christ corner stone of Church, through Church manifold wisdom of Christ is revealed and Mystery of Christ and church - Groom and the bride.

Paul writings are very personal, but just a allegation that it is impersonal does not prove that is not from Paul. But contrary he mentions several personal things about his attachment to Ephesian church without mentioning the names of members of the church as shown in the discussion below. Ephesians and Colossians have lot in common, that is true and lot of Pauline letters have lot in common, like his introduction, his prayers, his calling and defense of his apostleship. Language of this Epistle a little different from others does not prove that it is not Paul’s letter.

Here are some textual proofs and external proofs that it is Paul who wrote this letter,

• Introduction: Paul’s Introduction and his authority in ministry and his calling of God in Christ Jesus shows his authorship, Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ - Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 1 Corinthians 1:1, Paul called by the will (θελήμα ) of God, θελήματος θεοῦ - 1 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1, talks about his authority based on the calling of the Lord. The Preaching, teaching and writing ministry and ministry is not done on his own accord, but because of the θελήμα of God . Very same introduction in Colossians 1:1 - will of God and also 2 Timothy 1:1. Galatians 1:1 - Paul mentions that apostle not through man, but through Jesus Christ. Paul authorship is confirmed because he mentions himself - 3:1, Paul continues the theme of will of God is also mentioned in Ephesians in 1:10, 5:17.

• Prisoner for Christ Jesus: He has personal touch saying that He is the prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles (3:1). A person copying another Paul’s letter like Colossians will not have the boldness to say that he is an ambassador (πρεσβεύω) in Chains (ἅλυσις) (6:20), and again he mentions that in 4:1. He is claiming that He an ambassador of Christ carrying the Gospel to other parts of the world, and is prisoner for that reason, remember his farewell to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. He knew what he would face for the sake of the gospel, so mentioned that he would see them again and it was a sorrowful farewell. He calls himself a minister of the same Gospel (3:7)

• Prayers of Paul: Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 record two profound prayers for the Church of Ephesus, they reflect the devotion of the man of God and his reflect his prayers for other churches in letters like - Philippines 1: 3 and also in Colossians 1:3-14. Prayerful life of the author and similar prayers in other letters prove his authorship.

• Tychicus and Paul: Personal relationship that Paul shows to the Church of Ephesus by sending Tychicus a faithful minister and brother, and Tychicus visit of Paul in his prison some mentioned that, it is occasion of the Letter (6:21) .

• Extra Biblical evidence - Early Church Fathers - Irenaeus writing “Against Heresies” mentions the letter of Ephesians and Also does Bishop Polycarp.

Yes, we conclude that the Letter of Ephesians is infact written by Apostle Paul in prison.

In Christ
Samson S Boodala