Introduction to Ephesians

Here's my introduction to Ephesians, and its course.

Ephesians comes to us from the hand of the Apostle Paul. Written in A.D. 60 or 61, it is one of Paul's four "prison epistles" (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon), written during Paul's first Roman imprisonment. This letter was written to a church that Paul knew well, having himself spent three years in the city of Ephesus, doing mission work, prior to his imprisonment. The city of Ephesus was quite well known for its amphitheater, games, and especially the temple of Diana (Artemis) (See Acts 19:27,35), which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Paul's letter to the Ephesians deals, in the first half, with the riches and blessings we have in Christ (ch.1-3) and secondly, it covers lots of practical instruction on how to live out the Christian life, and to maintain a happy and godly family (ch.4-6). May you be blessed as you study this book!

Blessings in Christ!

Ben

Introduction to 2nd Corinthians

Here's the introduction to 2nd Corinthians, and its course.

Some of the Corinthian believers had been swayed against Paul by false teachers, since before the writing of 1st Corinthians (see for example 1st Corinthians 9). The people had been stirred against Paul. They accused Paul of all sorts of things, such as, being proud, fickle, dishonest, and unimpressive in speech and personal appearance. Paul sent Titus to deal with some of those problems. As Titus brought back word to Paul, he was told the good news that many of the Corinthian believers had repented of their ways and accepted Paul’s authority (since having received Paul's 1st letter).Paul then expresses a tone of great thankfulness in chapters 1-9 of 2nd Corinthians, for the repentant majority. However, there was still an unrepentant minority who Paul deals with during the final chapters, 10-13.

Paul wrote 2nd Corinthians with a thankful heart, later in the year A.D. 56, after having received those good words from Titus (This was the same year in which 1st Corinthians had earlier been written). This 2nd letter was most likely written from Philippi (as Paul had moved on from Ephesus to Troas and then into Macedonia, where Philippi was located).

Blessings in Jesus!

Ben

Introduction to 1st Corinthians

Here's the introduction to 1st Corinthians, and its course.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written around the year 56 A.D. from the city of Ephesus (See 1 Cor. 16:5-8). Several years prior to this time, in A.D. 51 and 52 Paul had spent nearly 18 months living in Corinth, raising up a church there through his mission efforts (See Acts 18). By A.D. 56 it had become needful to write to them and to clear up some issues and problems that had arisen within the church there. Besides Corinth (a city of nearly 700,000 inhabitants at the time) being a great international business hub (with it's two sea ports), it was also a famous city for it's sin and immorality. Corinth was home to the temple for the Greek "goddess of love," Aphrodite. With nearly 1000 temple prostitutes promoting this wicked religion from the temple grounds you can just began to imagine the kind of grotesque vice going on around there (though we need not to ponder that, but rather Christ and His holiness). The wicked vices of the city's culture had been creeping into the church and Paul had to check the evils within the church at that time. He wrote strongly and boldly to rebuke their evils and set the church on a path to true holiness and purity. The Corinthian church had the most issues to deal with of any single church that we ever read of Paul writing to, in the New Testament. May you be blessed in your study through this series and see practically how Paul's counsel for the church of Corinth back then gives for us today some extremely important words to live by.

Blessings in Christ!

Ben

Introduction to Galatians

Here's my introduction to Galatians, and its course.

Paul's letter to the Galatians was the only letter of his to actually be addressed to a number of churches within a region (the region of Galatia--around Modern Turkey today) (See 1:2). Because it was not specifically stated in the letter itself, a couple theories have emerged on the exact time and place of where Paul wrote this letter from. There are two primary views. One is that Paul wrote this letter during his third missionary journey from either Ephesus (in A.D. 53-56) or Macedonia (A.D. 56). The other theory is that Paul may have written the letter in A.D. 49, from Syrian Antioch, just before going to the Jerusalem counsel (Acts 15), in which the issues expounded in the book of Galatians (regarding circumcision, etc.) were hotly addressed. Galatians defends the gospel of grace (chs.1 and 2), explaining true righteousness by faith (chs.3 and 4), and applying this gospel message practically for the believer's life (chs.5 and 6).

Blessings in Christ!

Ben

Introduction to Romans

Here's my introduction to the book of Romans, and its course.

Paul's letter to the Romans is one of the most systematic presentations of the gospel (and righteousness by faith) to be found anywhere in the Bible. This letter has been extremely dear to many Christians throughout the ages and was even one of the catalysts for the 16th Century Reformation in Europe (calling people back to living a life more in harmony with God's word--The Bible). Paul wrote this letter near the end of his third missionary journey, in A.D. 57 (Compare Acts 18:23-21:12; and Romans 15:19). It seems to have been written during a three-month stay Paul had in Greece, specifically in Corinth at the house of Gaius (See Acts 20:3-6; Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14).

Paul had never actually visited the church in Rome up to this point, as can be seen from his letter (1:8-15), but he had heard excellent reports of their faith and works at that time. It is believed that some of Paul's converts from other regions had moved to Rome and begun a church there. Some thought it strange that the 16th chapter of Romans gives a greeting to 26 people, by name, at a church Paul had never visited before. However, it is not hard for us to understand that Paul had met so many people in various regions throughout the Roman world, and he would simply be greeting ones he knew, who had moved on to Rome. Such a greeting to common friends and acquaintances would easily bring Paul's letter into a warmer reception among the Roman Christians who for the most part had never met Paul. Interestingly enough, the only other letter of Paul's to give such a list of greetings was his letter to Colosse (also a church he'd never visited before). May you be richly blessed as you study through Paul's letter to the believers in Rome!

Blessings,

Ben

Introduction to Jude

Here's my introduction to the letter or book of Jude, and its course.

In a time when false doctrines or teachings about God are circulating all around us, what should be our approach to "contending for the faith which was once given to the saints"? How can we recognize false teachers and their teachings? And then what should we do about it? How should we treat and speak with those who are erring from the truth? Does the Bible give us solid answers to these questions? It sure does!! We need look no further than the book of Jude to find solid answers to these very questions! Listen to our study of Jude for more answers to your questions.

Blessings,

Ben

Introduction to 3rd John

Here's my introduction to the letter or book of 3rd John, and its course.

The third letter of John is believed to have been written around the year A.D. 90 from Ephesus (the same year in which 2nd John was written). John spent the later years of his ministry (before his exile to the island of Patmos) in Ephesus, where he wrote all three of his letters. This third letter of John was written to a man named Gaius (which was a common name of the time). Evidently, the man lived somewhere in Asia Minor, where John had been doing his mission service.

This letter is known as the shortest letter in the Bible (even a bit shorter textually, though not verse-wise than 2nd John). The letter focuses on the importance of supporting worthy missionaries, understanding the evil doings of a certain local character named Diotrephes who was trying to control a local church in Gaius' area, and the vindication of a righteous man named Demetrius. John also announced his plans of visiting the area. Though short, there are a many practical lessons we can learn from this letter! May the Lord bless as you study it!

Blessings,

Ben