Which feature suggests Ephesians is a circular letter rather than addressed to a single church?

• A. Opening clearly names a specific church
• B. The letter is a circular by design and addresses multiple communities
• C. Opening contains a local greeting from a pastor
• D. It was written in response to a city-wide crisis of faith

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is whether this letter was meant for several churches rather than just one local congregation. A circular letter is designed to circulate among multiple communities, so it tends to use a broad, non-specific address and avoid focusing on a single locality or pastor. In Ephesians, the opening reads in a general way and, in some manuscript traditions, even omits a precise local addressee. That broad framing fits a multi-community circulation rather than a communication written to a single church with a particular pastor overseeing it. This broader scope, plus the pervasive universal themes about the church and Christ, supports the idea of a circular letter.

Choosing the option that claims the letter is circular by design and addresses multiple communities is the best fit because it directly matches how the opening and purpose align with multiple recipients rather than a single, local church. The other possibilities point to features typical of a letter to one place or to a pastor—such as a locally specific greeting, a personal address to a particular church, or a call tied to a city-wide crisis—which don’t align with Ephesians’ broader, more universal stance.