what are we studying now
The Pauline Epistles, Ephesians
The Pauline Epistles are a collection of New Testament letters traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul. Written to churches and individuals, they address Christian belief, salvation, worship, spiritual growth, church life, and practical matters. They provide teaching, encouragement, correction, and guidance for early Christian communities. The Pauline Epistles include Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
Book of Ephesians Summary
Ephesians presents a broad teaching about God’s work through Christ and the calling of believers. The letter moves from spiritual blessings and God’s grace to practical instructions for living faithfully. It discusses the church as one body, Christian relationships, spiritual maturity, and standing firm in faith. Its final section uses the imagery of the “armor of God” to encourage believers to remain spiritually prepared.
Who Wrote the Book of Ephesians?
The letter identifies the Apostle Paul as its author, and Christian tradition has long attributed Ephesians to him. Paul was an influential missionary and leader of the early church whose letters became an important part of the New Testament. Some modern scholars have questioned Pauline authorship, but the traditional view identifies Paul as the writer.
Context and Background of Ephesians
Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province of Asia, known for commerce, culture, and religious activity. The Christian community existed within this diverse setting. The letter reflects the circumstances of believers living among different religious and cultural influences and addresses how they should conduct themselves as followers of Christ.
Main Theme and Purpose of Ephesians
The central focus of Ephesians is Christian identity and the unity of the church. The letter explains the blessings believers have in Christ and calls them to put their faith into practice. Its purpose is to encourage spiritual maturity, strengthen relationships within the Christian community, and provide practical guidance for living faithfully.
What Are We Studying Now
The Book of Jonn. The apostle John is believed to be the author of this gospel, though some Bible scholars have debated the author’s identity and proposed others—is it Lazarus, Thomas, John Mark, or some other unnamed disciple perhaps? The author never identifies himself by name, but he does give us several details that can be used to piece it together.
Who is the Teacher
Mark is the primary leader of the class. We also rely on class participation to help teach each other through the sharing of personal experiences. It is not required that everyone participate but we encourage everyone to do so.
What we StudyOur lessons almost always are directly from the Bible. Our workbook is the Bible. We welcome anyone to our class who wants to study God’s word. Once we pick a book of the Bible to study we go through each chapter picking out information that we can use to make us better Christians and to learn more about God. We also help each other use the information we glean to help us in today’s world.
Who is the Class Designed for?We welcome anyone who wants to study the Bible along with us. We are a diverse co-ed group. We have found that the more diverse the class is the more interesting it will be so we encourage everyone to join us. God’s gift is for everyone. We can learn from each other.
Class Location
Class Location First Baptist Church - 1407 East Main Street - Bray Building Room #108 – Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 - Sundays 9:15 am to 10:15 am (See map)