The book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was a prisoner in Rome. Perhaps at no time in the Apostle's work for Christ was he suffering more intensely for standing true to the Master whom he served, as during this period of imprisonment in Rome. The Ephesian letter written by the Apostle Paul in this time of persecution is setting forth what is so much needed for advanced training in the school of grace by those who have accepted Jesus Christ through faith and, therefore, stand justified by God. They are the Christian men and women who have found Christ through the study of the first great Church book of the seven Church Epistles, known as the Book of Romans, whereby all must receive their standing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this letter to the Ephesians the Apostle sets forth the plan that God had even before the foundation of the world that those who are justified by faith in Romans might realize in the study of Ephesians that they have been saved because God chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world. So three Church Epistles have been placed in the Bible preceding this important one for beginners in Christian education to prepare them for these more advanced lessons as set forth by the Apostle in this Epistle.

In the Book of Romans the Holy Spirit has pictured man in his lost condition, without hope, and therefore, set forth how, through the death of Christ and faith in the risen and ascended Lord, man might be justified by God.

The Corinthian Church to whom Paul wrote two letters did not fully understand the doctrine set forth in the Book of Romans and, therefore, was in need of instruction to correct the errors that had crept into the church. The Corinthian letters were written especially that the practices in the church might be fully in harmony with the doctrine set forth in the Book of Romans.

The Galatian letter was written because the Church of Galatia had also failed to comprehend the fundamentals of religion as set forth in the Book of Romans. In that short letter the Apostle calls attention to the influence the false teachers had in the Galatian Church. The Galatian letter calls attention and reproves the Galatian members for failure in the doctrine. The Apostle had taught them personally while he was traveling through this country of Galatia. There is a marked difference between the letter written to the Galatian Church and the Ephesian letter written by the Apostle Paul while in prison, which gives advanced instruction for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The Philippian and Colossian letters were also written while Paul was in prison and also show Paul's advanced thought and Christian experience. The Apostle calls attention in writing to the Philippian Church that their practice is not fully in harmony with the instruction for practical Christianity as set forth in the Book of Ephesians. The Apostle in writing to the Colossian Church shows clearly that they did not fully understand the doctrine set forth in the Book of Ephesians concerning Christ as the Head, so the Colossian Church needed further instruction concerning doctrine. Therefore, the Ephesian letter is the second text-book set forth by the Apostle Paul to show that Christ is our Head and we dwell in Him in the Heavenlies and that He is in us and we in Him—forming for Himself a Body, the Church, in this age of grace. The Book of Romans, in a measure, shows man's part in securing justification. The Book of Ephesians was written to show God's part in the salvation of man and what He did that we might enjoy Spiritual life.

These text-books for the church are to be studied in the order in which they have been placed in the Bible by the Holy Spirit. It is not possible for us to get the lessons intended for the Christian from the Book of Ephesians without first mastering the lesson presented by the Holy Spirit in the Book of Romans. The Book of Romans is the place where the sinner finds Christ and begins his preparatory work in order that he might be able to appreciate and in a sense comprehend the advanced lessons set forth in Ephesians. This book is especially intended to deepen man's spiritual life, to show his relation to God, and to reveal what God has done that he might enjoy this blessed hope.