Ephesians 5, Beautiful Bride of Christ

Paul has been discussing the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts and church unity.

Ephesian 5: 1-2, Live a life of love
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Christ is our fragrant incense, our loving sacrifice!

Ephesian 5: 3-5, Practice Kingdom citizenship
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

We should focus on the kingdom of God -- and its citizenship -- living lives that reflect the purity of this (sometimes distant) kingdom.

Ephesian 5: 6-14, Rise into Light!
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Live pleasing to God, as children of Light, living in transparency.

Paul gives a quotation that includes the Messiah shining on the rising sleeper. It is not clear what he is quoting.  He may be summarizing some Old Testament passages, with the Messiah implied.  One such passage is Isaiah 60:1-2.

Ephesian 5:15-17, Keep unity
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Part of kingdom living is to understand God's plan for the kingdom and to seek to act in consistency with that.  Indeed, an early phrase in the brief prayer that Jesus suggested to us is "Your [God's] kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven."  This desire to further God's kingdom requires wisdom and understanding of God, moving out of our past darkness.

Ephesian 5: 18-20, Filled with the Spirit
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is interesting that drunkenness is contrasted with the Holy Spirit.  In each case, one recognizes "I am not myself".  Yet, in each case, there is a tendency to throw off inhibitions and do things we may deeply wish to do.  The Christian, guided by the Holy Spirit, should be doing that in a holy or kingdom-focused direction.  Examples of what that might look like follow the instructions to "be filled with the Spirit."  Those examples also continue in the paragraph below.

Ephesian 5: 21-30, Keep unity
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- for we are members of his body.

So the Church ("Bride of Christ") and Christian marriage (Wives/Husband) are compared.  Which is the metaphor?

As a husband (of 40 years) I suggest that the main emphasis here should be mutual submission....

Ephesian 5: 31-33, Keep unity
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The quote in verse 31 is from Genesis 2:24. Paul returns to the very beginning to give the motivation for Christian marriage -- a unity and identification of two people as one. And then Paul suggests that the marriage metaphor is to describe how the Church (consisting of kingdom citizens walking in the Holy Spirit) should react with Christ.

In the next chapter, Paul gives some practical instructions on living within these relationships.

Ephesians 4, Unity in the Spirit

Paul has just finished a second prayer in the letter, that the Gentiles may be established in faith and love.

Ephesian 4:1-3, Humility, gentleness, unity

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Paul alludes again to his imprisonment and uses it as a plea for patience, love and forgiveness.

Ephesian 4: 4-6, One
There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

There is a unity in the Church (at least in theory!) and in God and those of his kingdom.  Let's us work to strengthen this unity, not disrupt it!

Ephesian 4:7-10, Captives of Christ
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?   He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

The quote in verse 9 is from Psalm 68:18 but I find the passage unclear. The image is of one rising out of the "lower regions" (or "depths of the earth") raising all the prisoners into the light. The Christ has reached into dark dungeons and released people so that they can fly, can ascend into the heavens with Him.  This might have been a particularly important image for Paul in his imprisonment.

Ephesian 4:11-16, One body, different callings
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

If there is unity in the church, it develops out of people with different callings and different services.

Ephesian 4:17-24, Contrasting lives
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We Gentiles, now enlightened by the Jewish Messiah, are to live new lives devoted to God.

Ephesian 4:25-28, Speak truth, without anger
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Some basic instructions for good living.  Keep anger under control -- it is occasionally, but rarely, appropriate -- and keep it short.  (Good guidance for a healthy marriage.)   Be useful, supportive of your community.

The quote in verse 26 is from Psalm 4:4.

Ephesian 4:29-32, Build; don't grieve!
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Our words should be supportive, encouraging, loving. We should act in kindness, with grace and compassion.

The New Testament says little about "profanity", our modern focus on certain short words that are considered obscene.  Instead the focus in on lifting each other up.  I recommend the song Words by Hawk Nelson.  

Ephesian 3, Free Gift to the Gentiles

Paul has just finished writing about God's welcome to Gentiles, making them part of His "building", the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 3:1, Prisoner for the Gentiles
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--

This is one of two places in this letter where Paul references being a prisoner, presumably in Rome, as described by Luke at the end of the book of Acts.  

Paul's ministry, as described in the book of Acts, had become a ministry to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and so it is for there sake that he is now in prison.

Ephesians 3:2-6, Gentiles heirs of the kingdom, with Israel!
Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,  that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Although a devout Jew, Paul has now seen that God has opened up salvation and the kingdom of God to the Gentiles, allowing them full standing in this new world.

Ephesians 3:7-12, Paul's mission -- preach to the Gentiles

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Paul's life mission is to reach out to the Gentiles. Because of Christ, we Gentiles can go to God in confidence, without guilt or fear.

Ephesians 3:13, I am not discouraged!
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Circling back to the initial statement in this section, Paul assures the readers of his letter that it is OK that he is in chains.

Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul's prayer for the Gentiles
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

The NIV footnotes point out that in verse 14 the Greek words for "father" and "family" have the same derivation: pater and patria.

This is the second prayer that appears in the letter.  It is similar in some ways to the prayer in chapter 1, asking that the readers gain in knowledge and understanding of Jesus and then that that knowledge lead to consistency in faith and love.

Ephesians 2, Peace with God

Paul is describing the position Christians have been given by Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-3, Objects of wrath

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Everyone, regardless of religious upbringing, has a selfish "sinful nature", opposed to the plans of God.

Ephesians 2:4-7, Lifted up to heaven

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

But the Gospel is all about lifting up these strange selfish human creatures (like me!) to the riches of God. This passage has a lot to say about God's longterm plan -- there are ages to come in which we are involved in these "incomparable riches".

Ephesians 2:8-10, Saved by grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Salvation (relationship with God) is a gift made possible through the Messiah, Jesus.

Ephesians 2:11-13, Even Gentiles!

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)--  remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Even the pagan non-Jews, the Gentiles, can have this gift!  Most of the recipients of Paul's letter are in that category.

Ephesians 2:14-16, Peace, destroying hostility

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

The old human (going back to Adam), controlled by the flesh (and the law) has been redeemed and restored, turned into a new man.  The old hostility with Go and been replaced by peace.

Ephesians 2:17-18, Access to God

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

And now, with that peace, comes free access to God and the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22, Fellow citizens and members of God's household

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

A new building, a new kingdom is being built, with Jesus as the foundation stone. We are part of it!

Paul's Letter to the Church in Ephesus

Paul letter to the church in Ephesus was most likely a letter sent to a number of churches in the region around Ephesus.  (Indeed, some ancient manuscripts do not include Ephesus in the greeting.) Some have argued that issues discussed here fit better with the church in Laodicea and it is possible that this letter circulated in western Asia Minor (now western Turkey, near the Aegean Sea) to cities such as Ephesus and Laodicea.  In addition, unlike other letters of Paul, there are no personal greetings or instructions, as if he does not have a particular congregation in mind.  He mentions, at the end of the letter, that he is sending Tychicus with the letter, but that is the only personal note in the letter.

Tradition has it that the letter to Ephesus, like the letter to the church in Colossae, was written while Paul was in prison in Rome, awaiting trial.  (In chapter 3, Paul calls himself a "prisoner for Christ"; towards the end of the letter, he mentions that he is "in chains".)

Wikipedia has a good entry here.  One theme of the letter is instructions on how Gentile believers should live as members of the kingdom of God.

OverviewBible.com has a good summary of the letter here.

There is, of course, a nice summary, including a summary video at the Bible Project. That 9-minute video is easy to watch and carries lots of information.

The letter of Ephesians naturally breaks into two parts. Much like the letter to the Romans, the first half (chapters 1-3) is theory and the second half (chapters 4-6) is application of the theory to daily living.

Ephesians 1, Powerful God, Powerful Savior

We continue in the letters of Paul, in particular his letter to the church in Ephesus. This letter appears to take many of the ideas of the letter to Colossians and expands on them.

Ephesians 1: 1-2, Greetings!

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A standard greeting. Some ancient manuscripts do not include the destination, Ephesus.  It is possible (indeed likely) that this letter was meant to be circulated to a number of churches in the region, including Ephesus.  Some have argued that issues discussed here fit better with the church in Laodicea and it is possible that this letter circulated in western Asia Minor (now western Turkey, near the Aegean Sea) to cities such as Ephesus and Laodicea.

Ephesians 1: 3-6, Chosen by God
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Apparently God has planned us out long before even creation began!  All of this is part of a plan for which we are to praise Him.  Contrary to secret societies where one gained more knowledge and power as one rose within the ranks, Christians are immediately "blessed" with "every spiritual blessing".

Ephesians 1: 7-14, Redeemed and sealed
 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

If our lives were planned out before God's creation, then apparently our spiritual development was also!  This includes a "security deposit", the gift of the Holy Spirit, as promised by Old Testament prophets.

Predestination leads to lots of questions. For example, I have a number of good friends who, through sexual activity outside of marriage, suddenly discovered that a baby was on the way, even as the relationship began to break up.  So, one might ask, was this sexual relationship "ordained" long ago? (Indeed, in Old Testament times, we see the lineage of David going through the child of Judah (after he visits the Tamar, who plays a prostitute) and the child Solomon after David's affair with Bathsheba.

Certainly both the Old and the New Testament show that God redeems (turns into good) bad situations but any question about predestination quickly becomes complicated.

Ephesians 1: 15-23, Paul's prayer
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

A strong prayer -- worth reviewing and praying through, for ourselves and others.  It includes a request for wisdom and spiritual power and returns to describing the attributes of the Messiah.

Philemon, Reconciling a Former Slave

As we end our study of Paul's letter to the church in Colossae, it is appropriate that we look at another letter of Paul's, sent to Colossae, but sent to an individual names Philemon.  The letter was apparently written about the same time as Paul's letter to the Colossians as the carrier (and subject) of this letter is the same individual, Onesimus, who carries Paul's letter to Colossae.

The letter to Philemon usually appears in the New Testament at the end of a sequence of personal letters of Paul addressed to individuals, after the letters to Timothy and Titus.  

This is an interesting letter, steeped in the first century culture, indicative of Paul's emphasis on the gospel over all things, but making clear his wishes regarding a certain escaped slave. (Wikipedia has an interesting article on this letter.)

Philemon 1-3, Greeting
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Archippus is mentioned in the letter to Colossae; presumably the church mentioned here is the church in Colossae.  If so, one might note that these churches were relatively small at the time.

Philemon 4-7, May your faith continue to grow!
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

This paragraph is one of both prayer and confidence, typical of Paul.

Philemon 8-10, An appeal to Philemon
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul--an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus--  I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

Onesimus apparently means "useful".  But it is most likely a proper name here.

Philemon 1-3, Greeting
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.  I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.  But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.

Paul is playing on the word "Onesimus" or "useful."  Now Onesimus, a Messiah-follower and hopefully soon freed, is useful.  Formerly as a slave and pagan he was not.

Philemon 15-16, Please recognize Onesimus as a (free) brother!
Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good-- no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

Paul's request is clear.  But it is a request, not a command.

Philemon 17-18, Restitution
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

To press his case, Paul offers to cover any debts (financial or otherwise) carried by Onesimus.

Philemon 19-21, Greeting
I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back--not to mention that you owe me your very self.

I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

In most of his letters, Paul has a scribe (amaneusis) write out his letters.  Then, towards the end of the letter, he signs it, writing in his own hand.  If Paul had eye problems, he presumably wrote this part rather largely on the expensive papyrus page. Most likely Timothy is the scribe here.

Philemon 22, Allow me to stay with you
And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

Paul presses his case even further by asking to stay in Philemon's house.  

Philemon 23-25, Other greetings
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Here is more evidence that this letter is traveling with the more general letter to Colossae: the same people are mentioned at the end of both letters.

One might wonder how Paul's strong request was received.  Did Philemon, recipient of both a personal letter and the more general letter to the Colossian church, agree to Paul's requests?  I am not aware of any documented response but the very existence of these letters today, recopied in the church in Colossae and passed on to history, would indicate that Philemon was eager to agree to Paul and happy to pass on these letters to others.

Scot McKnight has a commentary on this very brief New Testament book. OverviewBible.com has a summary of the short letter here, emphasizing how Paul acts out, in difficult practical situations, his understanding of the gospel. There is a nice summary at the Bible Project, including a a 6-1/2 minute video that explains the setting for the letter.