Ephesians 1:1, Who Wrote to the Ephesians?

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

//So begins Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Or so we have it today.

The fact is, many scholars dispute that Paul wrote this letter. I agree with them; the doctrine of this epistle differs too radically from the seven undisputedly authentic Pauline letters (1 Thessalonians, Galatians, the two letters to the Corinthians, Philemon, Philippians, and Romans). In fact, we don’t even know who this letter was written to! The best ancient manuscripts lack the words “at Ephesus” in today’s verse. The author simply addresses his letter to “the saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus.” The words “at Ephesus” were added later; we don’t know why or by whom.

Sometimes we forget how much mystery really does surround this ancient collection of writings called the Bible. We just don’t know what we think we know, about even the most basic things.