I N D E X
We learn from Colossians 4:16 that Paul had written a letter to the
Laodiceans, and Marcion (a heretic of the second century) believed it to be the
same as the epistle to the Ephesians.  It has been suggested that Colossians was
a similar letter to be sent round the other churches (Col. 4:16), but it must be
remembered that this epistle contains the words:
`To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse' (Col.
1:2),
and that the authority for this designation has never been questioned.
Ephesians consequently could have been a circular letter, and yet retain the
words `at Ephesus'.
There is a passage in Basil (Patriarch of the Greek Church a.d. 350),
which shows that the words `at Ephesus' were omitted from the epistle as he read
it, for he says that Paul spoke of the saints `who exist' (tois ousin) and his
comment is that these saints were
`As truly united by knowledge to the Existing One (to onti), denominated
them in a singular manner (idiazontos), as existing (ontas), speaking to them
thus, "To the Saints" who exist (tois ousin), and faithful in Christ Jesus'
.
Origen, a.d. 185-254, compiler of the Hexapla* and was the first textual
critic, had observed earlier:
`We found this expression "to the saints that exist", used only in the
case of the Ephesians'.
Jerome (who translated the Hebrew Old Testament
into Latin, called `The Vulgate'), speaks of Origen's explanation (he goes back
to Exod. 3:14) as too subtle, and he affirms that other expositors are of the
opinion that the true reading here is not `to those who are', but `to those who
are holy and faithful at Ephesus'.
Bishop Wordsworth says:
`Origen, who, as far as we know, was the first person who made the remark
above cited, recognizes the epistle as addressed to the Ephesians, even
when he is making the remark, and comments upon it as such'.
Regarding the reference to Marcion, Tertullian (who died about a.d. 215, a
Christian apologist), tells us that Marcion, the heretic, desired to alter the
title of the epistle so as to read `to the Laodiceans'.  This however implies
that the words `at Ephesus' were in use, otherwise they could not be altered.
Tertullian adds:
`According to the verity of the church, we have this epistle addressed to
the Ephesians, and not to the Laodiceans'.
The words `at Ephesus' are not found in the text of the Vatican
manuscript, but have been added in the margin by a later hand.  The same is the
case with the Sinaiticus, and the words have been erased from one cursive
manuscript.
Over against this entirely negative evidence we must place the following:
(1)
`No copies now in existence have any other name than that of
Ephesus; and all the extant Manuscripts, including the Vatican
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