Ephesians 1:1 - 13 comments

1. Ephesus had been part of the Roman Empire for over a century.
2. It was a city second only to Rome in size, almost 500,000 inhabitants.
3. The large temple of Artemis generated jobs for local statue makers and Paul caused some controversy among them Acts 19:23-41)
4. There is no report of a dispute between Paul and the church of the Ephesians.
5. Paul’s use of the word “saints” refers to all Christians
6. The question of predestination has caused much mystery, disagreement among scholars, and profound unintended consequences.
7. One controversial question is whether predestination is of a corporate church, or individual believers. Some believe the election is of the Church. Others hold that the blessings are individual hence the predestination is for individuals. God chooses his faithful from all humankind.
8. The question resolves around the idea that God knew who among us would become his faithful and who would not, before the world was even made. Why would God ask us to preach to those who could not be saved?
9. The individual response is to hear the word of God and to believe.
10. Our obligation, then is to make sure that all have heard the Gospel, and then have the opportunity to believe.