Ephesus was the capital of Lesser Asia, and celebrated for the temple of
Diana, to which the most part of the people of the East went frequently
to worship. But St. Paul having preached the Gospel there, for two years
the first time and afterwards for about a year, converted many. He wrote
this Epistle to them when he was a prisoner in Rome; and sent it by
Tychicus. He admonishes them to hold firmly the faith which they had
received and warns them, and also those of the neighbouring cities,
against the sophistry of philosophers and doctrine of false teachers who
were come among them. The matters of faith contained in this Epistle are
exceedingly sublime, and consequently very difficult to be understood.
It was written about twenty-nine years after our Lord's Ascension.