Wednesday: Ephesians in Its Time
How does Paul begin and end his letter to the believers in Ephesus? What do we learn about his deepest desires for them? See Ephesians 1:1-2; Ephesians 6:21-24.
At the outset of the letter, Paul identifies himself as the author (Ephesians 1:1). Near the middle of the letter, Paul again identifies himself by name, labeling himself “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles” (Ephesians 3:1, NKJV), which introduces a personal reflection on his work as an apostle (Ephesians 3:1-13).
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Near the end of the letter, he again refers to his imprisonment (Ephesians 6:20) and concludes with personal words (Ephesians 6:21-22). While some scholars deny that the letter was written by Paul, it is important to note that the epistle clearly lays claim to Paul as its author. Most Christians accept, and rightly so, Paul as the author.
How does Paul worry about the effect his imprisonment will have on believers in Ephesus? See Ephesians 3:13.
Ephesians seems to share the same general timing and circumstances with other letters Paul writes from prison, Colossians (see esp. Colossians 4:7-8) and Philemon. Also, considerable time seems to have passed since Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:15; Ephesians 3:1-2). Paul probably composed Ephesians in a prison in Rome about A.D. 62.
In Ephesians, Paul offers few specifics about the situation of his audience in Ephesus. The scope of his attention is wide. He deals with a grand span of time, beginning with God’s decisions made “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), and reflects broadly on grand themes of God’s salvation offered in Christ. In doing so, the letter exhibits an exalted, literary style, with long sentences, repetitive expressions, and developed metaphors. Paul can use such a style elsewhere (e.g., Romans 8:31-39), but it is concentrated in Ephesians, which features a great deal of praise, prayer, and worship language (Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 3:14-21) and offers carefully crafted, highly rhetorical passages (e.g., Ephesians 4:1-16, Ephesians 5:21-33, Ephesians 6:10-20).
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In science we have a principle called "entanglement". It is a quantum physics phenomenon where two subatomic particles become linked together so that their states cannot be described separately. This means that irrespective of the distance between them, the quantum state of one particle is reflected by entanglement in the other particle. Their states are dependent on each other. The actual science involved here is difficult to describe in a short paragraph or two. I actually asked Chatgpt for a short description and ended up with a page of about 5 paragraphs - a bit too long for an illustration.
Paul in the book of Ephesians demonstrates spiritual "Entanglement" In spite of the distance in space and circumstance between Paul and the Christians at Ephesus, He clearly described the "entanglement" that they both had in Jesus.
I have read the whole letter now in "The Message" and I came away from the reading with this notion that "spiritual entanglement" was something that Paul was demonstrating.
Perhaps the message we need to get from this is that our Christian community is essentially an "entanglement". That does not mean that we are all the same, but rather that we work together as one.
Take a moment to focus on the attitude of Paul as he was imprisoned. He did not dwell on what he was going through. Paul was definitely suffering and it was a cause of much discomfort. Paul’s attitude in prison was positive. Preaching the gospel was the only thing which mattered to him. Are you willing to be imprisoned because of the gospel? Are you ready to live for God? Are you ready to die for God? Paul said he is a prisoner of the Lord and not a prisoner of Nero or a prisoner of Rome. His identity was not defined by his circumstances.Whatever difficult times and situations you will face, have this assurance that God is in control. Lets Him establish your identity and do not let circumstances establish your identity
Ephesus, for a time, became the most important city for Christianity at the end of the first century. When Paul wrote this letter, Jerusalem would soon be destroyed. Rome's influence was still in the future. Ephesus was situated rather in the center of an area in which Christianity was thriving, and was also an important city in its own right.
It was important this church to be strong for Ephesus was a prime site for evangelizing the whole province. (See Acts 19:10)
Paul spent more time in Ephesus than he did in any other city, approximately three years. Priscilla and Aquilla, two of Paul’s closest companions, helped start the church, at risk of their own necks (Romans 16:3-4). Apollos, preached there before Paul's three year tenure. 12 disciples of Apollos became missionaries after listening to Paul and receiving the Holy Spirit. John the apostle lived and witnessed there for several years after Paul's death.
This was a very influential city for the early church.
Thus this letter is unique as it focuses on strengthening and grounding the church in its grasp and understanding of the grace and salvation in God; to know God, not just for themselves but as a light to the whole area around.
It is also an important letter for the church today, entrusted with this message to share with the whole world.
To encourage the church, the living body of Christ, the Ekklesia, Paul is moved to speak out and help the Ephesians understand the eternal value of the ‘Good News’.
Pressures to discourage them and to return to the old ways of life abound; he needs to let them know that they are part of the great ‘enterprise’ God has commenced before time began and which He is now fulfilling in Jesus Christ - “God will bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ – Eph.1:9-10.
What the new converts in Ephesus needed most was to be convinced that their new Faith in the God of heaven and earth and His Son Jesus Christ was substantive enough to survive the test of time. Though Paul himself was experiencing the wrath of the opposition to the new Faith, he needed to let them know that this should not dicourage them, but that they needed to remain faithful to the Son of their all-powerful God – Eph.1:3-14.
Maurice provides the word ‘entanglement’ to describe the synergy, the working together to establish that which is greater than any one thing by itself. The oneness of the believers in Christ forms the living body of Christ to impact its parts/itself and everything in its proximity.
It is not the 'unionizing' of believers in itself which accomplishes this feat, it is the working of God's power of Grace and Mercy made manifest through the Holy Spirit which touches the hearts and minds of man as they experience the goodness of God in the transformation of man-kind – Eph.1:15-23.
Paul experienced firsthand the powers of the Son of God which converts the heart and mind of those who are seeking to love the right God. He himself was on the side of the persecutors of the Faith when he was ignorant, only to become one of the most outspoken supporters of the powers vested in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He could truly empathize with every new believer, knowing what it means to 'being awakened', to understand that the believer has a living Father and son/daughter relationship with His God. Praise God for His loving Justice - Grace and Mercy!