ps. 3:9-4:1.
They are admonished, moreover, to let the word of Christ dwell in them
richly for their mutual edification (chap. 3:16); to be single-hearted
in their aim to please Christ (verse 17); to be prayerful and vigilant
(chap. 4:2-4); and wise in their intercourse with unbelievers (verses 5,
6). The epistle closes with notices of a personal character intermingled
with salutations (verses 7-18).

In chap. 4:16 the apostle directs that this epistle be read also
in the church of the Laodiceans, and that the Colossians
likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. What was this epistle
from Laodicea? (1) Some think it was a letter written by the
church of Laodicea to Paul, and forwarded by him to the
Colossians. (2) Others understand it of an epistle of Paul to
the Laodiceans (perhaps forwarded along with the three epistles
now under consideration) and which the Colossians were to obtain
_from_ Laodicea. This is the most probable supposition. On the
attempt to identify this epistle with our canonical epistle to
the Ephesians see below.

24. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.--Ephesus, the metropolis of Proconsular
Asia, which comprehended the western provinces of Asia Minor, lay on the
coast of the AEgean sea between Smyrna on the north and Miletus on the
south. In the apostolic age it was a flourishing city, and renowned for
the temple of the heathen goddess Diana. Two visits of the apostle to
Ephesus are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, the latter of which
was prolonged through most of three years. Acts 18:19-21; chaps. 19;
20:31. The _occasion_ of writing this epistle seems to have been of a
very general nature. The apostle was sending a letter by Tychicus to the
Colossians, and embraced the opportunity to write to the Ephesians also.
In entire accordance with this supposition is the _general character_ of
the epistle. The apostle has no particular error to combat, as he had in
the case of the Colossians. He proceeds, therefore, in a placid and
contemplative frame of mind to unfold the great work of Christ's
redemption; and then makes a practical application of it, as in the
epistle to the Colossians, but with more fulness, and with some
important additions.

It has seemed surprising to many that the apostle should have
written in so general a strain to a church on which he had
bestowed so much labor, and where he had so many personal
friends; particularly th