1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, 5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, 6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved. 7In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him. 11We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, 12to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. 13In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
15For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which you have toward all the saints, 16don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Saul was born in Tarsus in Asia Minor. His family was of the line of Benjamin and possessed Roman citizenship (Rom 11:1, Acts 25:11) by virtue of his home city. He studied the law under the tutelage of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and learned the trade of tent maker, which he later used to support his ministry (Acts 18:3).
Saul enters the New Testament in a negative light by approving of the stoning of Stephen, having become a zealous Pharisee. After this event “he made havoc of the church,” arresting every Christian man and woman he could find (Acts 8:1-3). The Lord Jesus picked Saul as “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
After Saul’s conversion his name was changed to Paul (Acts 13:9). He went on to become author of thirteen books of the New Testament, the founder of many churches in Asia Minor and Greece, a missionary to Rome and a witness of Christ to many rulers, including the “household of Caesar.” During this time he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned and even shipwrecked. After being arrested in Jerusalem, he appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome. After arriving in Rome, he was imprisoned again and put under house arrest, finally being released until he was arrested in the persecution of Nero. Tradition says he was beheaded by Nero and buried outside the walls of Rome.
In 2009 the Vatican announced that excavations carried out in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls had discovered a first or second century tomb containing bone fragments, incense and fragments of linen, which might be those of Paul.
The writings of Paul have probably influenced Christian doctrine more than any other person after Christ. His letter to the church of Rome is the first systematic presentation of theology written. Other letters include instructions for church order, familial relations, qualifications for pastors and deacons, teachings against legalism and antinomianism, and an incipient form of later Gnosticism in the second century. His letters affirm the doctrines of salvation by grace through faith and election. His life of service to the Gospel also stands as an example for all Christians.