Ephesians Course

Study Method 2

Download all the Lessons and Questions

An Introduction to the Course

The Nature of the Course

Welcome to this Bible Exposition Course. In order to follow the Course we will have to recognise that, although the 66 books of the Bible all form one wonderful unity, each book has been written at a particular time, in certain circumstances, and by different authors. Books such as I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles have been put together from certain sources. Most of us who take up the Bible see the name of a book and its author and for us the matter is simple. Older versions used to have Paul as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, but the old manuscripts do not have his name there. So it has been debated whether Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians, and it does not hurt us to see the various arguments about the authorship. Likewise various commentators have differing ideas of what the writer may have meant in a particular text.

In our Introduction (Lesson One) we will take up a few of these matters. You are expected to read the material under the headings 'The Name of the Epistle', 'Is it a Pauline Letter?' but you do not have to write anything on this material. We start our first Lesson with 'The Primary Drive of the Epistle', and need to deal with this, and 'The Teaching Elements of the Epistle'.

We have also included a Bibliography-a list of books you could read if you wished. Do not immediately try to obtain all these books, as they are expensive and not essential for the Course. We have printed the most advisable to use in bold print, but, again, do not feel you should read all these books. Many of these can be accessed at our Resource Centre, and some of them can be borrowed from libraries, especially libraries of Theological or Bible Colleges. It is best to first read Introductions, and Bible and Theological Dictionaries. It is good to purchase a good Bible Dictionary and a good one volume Bible Commentary.

Do not try to get through your work as quickly as possible. Try to soak yourself in the material of the Lessons, read what other background material is available and then begin to write your assignment or answers. In this way you will enjoy doing the Course and at the same time you will absorb the magnificent material of this wonderful Epistle.

There are sixteen lessons in all. When you complete your first lesson and answer the questions set for that lesson, you should immediately send your answers to us. We will then send you the next two lessons. Between the time of your sending the work and receiving those two lessons, you will be able to proceed with the second lesson. When you have completed your third lesson we will then send you the fourth and fifth lessons. This means that you will never be without a lesson at hand.

The Method of Study

Compulsory listening to Audio Cassettes ETS 23:1-8

Study Method II requires direct answers to the set of questions. This method does not require written essays and long paragraphs. As a learning process, the questions are designed to lead you through the essentials of the subject matter of each lesson. The answers are to be in the form of statements, sentences and short paragraphs. Sometimes only one word will be required.