Ephesians 1 v 1 - 2

Paul wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus whilst he was in prison and it has many similarities with his letter to the church at Colossae. It is also likely that Paul wrote this letter either as a round robin or to the church at Laodicea and not to Ephesus! In the first manuscripts in Greek, there is nothing to say 'Ephesus' in verse one and Paul writes this letter as if he hardly knew the recipients-there are no personal greetings- yet he had spent three years living in Ephesus and building up the fellowship there. As with every ancient writer of letters, Paul gives his credentials at the start. He is an apostle and that gives him great authority in the Church, very few could legitimately state that. How was he an apostle? In other words, someone who had seen Jesus Christ 'in the flesh'? Paul consistently stated that he had seen the physical risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, not just a vision or apparition. With this in mind, he also states that he has been chosen by God. It would have been difficult for anyone to refute that, as Paul had started on the journey as an ardent persecutor of Christians and had ended it at the house of Ananias as a Christian convert! Paul desires for the recipients of this letter to know grace-the quality which attracts others to Christ-and peace, SHALOM. There is only one true peace in all the world and that is to be found in doing the will of God.