Final answer:
The major subject matter of Ephesians includes the spread of Christianity, themes of unity, spiritual blessings, ethical living, and the role of the church in God's divine plan, as well as the importance of personal salvation as seen through Paul's teachings and early Christian art and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Epistle to the Ephesians is an integral part of the New Testament that addresses the spread of Christianity to various parts of the Greco-Roman world. Ephesians particularly emphasizes the themes of unity in the body of Christ and the spiritual blessings endowed to believers.
It is here that Paul, having encountered a range of religious and cultural experiences in places like Ephesus, shares his understanding of Christ's teachings, focusing on the idea of the church as a vehicle for the fulfillment of God's plan. The book also delves into ethical living and the armor of God as metaphors for maintaining faith in the face of spiritual adversity.
Art and culture often mirrored these early Christian ideologies, as seen in the depiction of the Maiestas Domini (Christ in Majesty), which draws from the narrative of the Book of Revelation, and is a literal representation of Christ's dominion and the divine plan.
Additionally, themes of personal salvation are prominent in early Christian art, reflecting the major emphasis on being saved from sin, as the Gospel narratives suggest. Figures and descriptive imagery in apse decorations further support the stories of Christian heritage and doctrinal ideals.
This epistle outlines a clear expectation of Christian behavior, establishing a foundational piece for the theological and cultural development that characterized early Christianity, from doctrinal debates to the eventual East-West schism within the Christian Church.