Epistle to the Ephesians facts for kids

Ephesians is a book in the Christian Bible. It is the tenth book in the New Testament. Many people believe the Apostle Paul wrote this letter. He wrote it to the people of Ephesus while he was in prison in Rome. This was around 62 A.D..

Some experts think the letter was sent to other churches too. This is because the words "in Ephesus" are not in the oldest copies. Also, the letter does not mention many specific people from Ephesus.

The Church in Ephesus

The Apostle Paul first visited Ephesus for a short time. This story is in the Bible, in Acts Chapter 18, verses 19–21. Other helpers like Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla continued his work there.

Paul returned to Ephesus the next year. He stayed there for about three years. From Ephesus, the Christian message spread widely. It reached almost all of Asia Minor.

Later, Paul traveled to Jerusalem. He stopped at Miletus and met with the church leaders from Ephesus. He said goodbye to them, not expecting to see them again. This is in Acts Chapter 20, verses 18–35.

What the Letter of Ephesians Teaches

The main message of the letter to the Ephesians is about unity. It teaches that all Christians should be together. This is especially true for Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentile) believers. They should not separate from each other.

The letter also explains how people are saved. It says that God's kindness, called "grace", saves people. This happens through their belief, or "faith". It is a gift from God, not something people earn by their actions. This means no one can boast about saving themselves.

In Chapter 6, Paul gives advice for families. He says children should love their parents. Fathers should not make their children angry. Servants should serve their masters well. Masters should also treat their servants fairly. This is because God treats everyone equally.

The letter ends by talking about the "armor of God". This armor includes truth, peace, and salvation. It also includes prayer. This spiritual armor helps Christians stay strong in their faith.

Images for kids

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  Saint Paul, 1740, by Vieira Lusitano. This painting shows Saint Paul preaching. He holds a quote from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

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  German inscription of the text, "One Lord, One faith, One baptism," from Ephesians 4:5.

See also

In Spanish: Epístola a los efesios para niños