EPHESIANS.

 EPHESIANS WAS A LARGE SEAPORT ON THE WESTERN COAST OF ASIA MINOR, A ROMAN PROVINCE. PAUL SPENT TIME THERE DURING HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 18: 19-21), AND MADE IT HIS BASE DURING THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 19 1-20:1), SPENDING ABOUT THREE YEARS THERE. IT IS UNUSUAL THAT THE LETTER CONTAINS ONLY ONE PERSONAL REFERENCE-- TO TYCHICUS, 6;21;
 SEE COLOSSIANS 4:7. INDICATIONS ARE THAT EPHESIANS WAS INITIALLY  A CIRCULAR LETTER DESIGNED FOR A WIDER DISTRIBUTION; THE TITLE, "TO THE EPHESIANS,"  WAS PROBABLY NOT IN THE ORIGINAL  LETTER--IT IS MISSING IN THE MOST RELIABLE MANUSCRIPTS. EPHESIANS IS A LETTER IN FORM ONLY. IT IS ACTUALLY A THEOLOGICAL TREATISE. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, AND OUTLINE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED AND DONE FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE UNIVERSE. THE LAST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH PRACTICE, AND INSTRUCT CHRISTIANS HOW TO RESPOND TO GOD'S INITIATIVE. THE STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT, FOR IT DECLARES THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANKIND.
(NOTE: THE CHURCH TOOK OVER THE WORD FOR "CHURCH" (EKKLYSIA) FROM THE GREEK SECULAR WORLD, AND ENRICHED THE MEANING. IN GREEK COMMUNITIES, THE WORD REFERRED TO THE LOCAL "COUNCIL" WHICH MET TO DISCUSS LOCAL AFFAIRS).  AFTER THE OPENING GREETING AND (1:1,2), chs, 1-3 SET FORTH GOD'S GREAT PLAN HIDDEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD, TO MAKE CHRIST THE HEAD OF A NEW FAMILY OF HUMANITY, ONE WHICH WILL EMBRACE BOTH JEW AND GENTILE.. IN CHAPTERS 3-6, PAUL OUTLINES THE GOOD WORKS GOD'S NEW CREATION, THE CHURCH IS TO PERFORM. THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS  HELP CRYSTALLIZE PAUL' MESSAGE. IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK 1:3-14 IS ONE LONG SENTENCE THAT NEVER REALLY STOPS TO CATCH ITS BREATH. ITS EXPRESSIONS LITERALLY TUMBLE OVER ONE ANOTHER AS THEY SUMMON THREADER TO JOIN IN
PRAISING HIM.  " WHO ACCOMPLISHES ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL" 1:11. ( RSV HAS BROKEN THIS ONE GREEK SENTENCE INTO SIX ENGLISH SENTENCES.) THIS OPENING "OVERTURE" IS MADE UP OF THREE SECTIONS WHICH DEAL IN TURN WITH THE WORK OF THE FATHER (3-6), SON (7:12), AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (13,14). THE FATHER DESIGNED THE PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE. THE SON IS THE ONE THROUGH WHOM HE PUT IT INTO EFFECT. THE SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE THAT GOD'S PEOPLE WILL FINALLY RECEIVE THE ETERNAL INHERITANCE WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GOD'S WORK IN LIBERATING HUMANITY. EACH SECTION CONCLUDES WITH A SUMMONS TO PRAISE, 1:6, 12,14. EPHESIANS TAKES IN THE TOTAL SWEEP OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY. PAUL BEGINS HIS PRESENTATION WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT GOD'S DECISION "BEFORE" THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD(1:4), CARRIES IT FORWARD THROUGH THE FULNESS OF TIME." (1:1O) TO THAT MOMENT WHEN, AT THE END OF OUR PRESENT HISTORY, THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST WILL EMBRACE ALL THINGS.  IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, 1:22. THROUGHOUT HIS LETTER, PAUL BIDS HIS READERS BE ON GUARD AGAINST HAVING A GOD WHO IS TO SMALL. THE KEY THOUGHT THAT OCCURS IN 1:9,10. IN THESE TWO VERSES, THE APOSTLE DECLARES THAT THE UNIVERSE IS NOT SOME RAMSHACKLE STRUCTURE
STUMBLING ALONG ON ITS OWN, AND HISTORY IS NOT JUST ONE FOOL THING THING AFTER ANOTHER. GOD IS AT WORK IN THE UNIVERSE AND HISTORY ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE. HE HAS A PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT.
HIS PLAN IS NO SECRET, FOR HE MADE IT PUBLIC. HE IS AT WORK TO BRING ABOUT AN ULTIMATE UNITY AND HARMONY OF ALL CREATED THINGS IN CHRIST. GOD HAS NOT ONLY TOLD HUMANITY ABOUT HIS PLAN, BUT HAS INVOLVED THEM IN IT, FOR THE CHURCH IS THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH HE IS A WORK TO ACHIEVE  HIS PLAN. THE CHURCH IS TO BE A MICROCOSM, A DISPLAY IN MINIATURE, OF GOD'S PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSE. EVEN "THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES" ARE FINDING WHAT THIS PLAN IS BY LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE  CHURCH, 3:10.  WHEN PAUL REFERS TO THE TRINITY (1:3-14),  HE DOES NOT SIMPLY CONCERN HIMSELF WITH HOW THERE CAN BE THREE PERSONS  IN ONE GODHEAD, BUT HE SUMMONS ALL CREATION TO PRAISE HIM WHO ACTED IN LOVE FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANITY.  GOD'S LOVE IS NOT MOTIVATED BY ANYTHING LOVABLE IN WHAT HE SEES. HE ACTS TO MAKE ALIVE THOSE WHO ARE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS., 2:1. THIS DEATH DOES NOT HAVE TO DO WITH COLD, RIGID BODIES--- FOR HUMAN HEARTS, MINDS AND LIMBS ARE VERY MUCH ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, THIS "LIFE" ACTIVITY IS NOT IN RESPONSE TO GOD'S LOVE AND WILL, BUT IN RESPONSE TO " THE COURSE" OF THIS WORLD," AND "THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR" (2:2)  AND THE PASSIONS OF THE "FLESH."  BEFORE GOD INTERVENES IN OUR LIVES, WE HEED THE WHIMS OF THE BODY AND MIND, AND LIKE THE REST OF HUMANITY ARE SUBJECT TO GOD'S WRATH AND JUDGMENT, 2:2,3. WE ARE SEPARATED  FROM CHRIST, NOT NUMBERED AMONG THE    PEOPLE OF GOD. WITHOUT GOD, WITHOUT HOPE IN THE WORLD, "  FAR OFF," 2:12,13.
 GOD ACTED TO CHANGE ALL THAT. HE HAS BLESSED, CHOSEN RESCUED US, DESTINED US TO BE HIS CHILDREN, LAVISHED HIS GRACE ON US, REVEALED HIS GRACIOUS WILL TO US, AND APPOINTED US TO LIVE FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY, 1:3-14. HE HAS ENLIGHTENED OUR HEARTS (1:18) AND WORKED IN US WITH MIGHTY POWER., 1:19. HE HAS MADE US ALIVE IN CHRIST, 2:5-7. HE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THROUGH CHRIST, AND OFFERS ALL IN CHRIST. PAUL USES EXPRESSIONS LIKE "IN CHRIST" NINE TIMES IN 1: 3-14. HE WANTS TO BE SURE THAT NO ONE MISSES THE POINT!  PAUL WANTS HIS READERS TO REMEMBER THAT PROCURING THEIR SALVATION WAS NO EASY AFFAIR, IT INVOLVED THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD., 1;7 THE ONLY WAY HUMANITY COULD BE SET FREE FROM HATRED OF GOD, AND ITS DEATH IN SIN, WAS BY THE SACRIFICE OF THE ONE DIVINE LIFE. WE ARE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD- THERE ARE NO "IF'S" OR "BUTS" ABOUT THIS "BLOOD LANGUAGE"  BECAUSE IT FAILS TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE, AS THEY ARE BORN INTO THIS WORLD, ARE IN OPEN REVOLT AGAINST THE CREATOR. GOD SENT HIS SON TO CALVARY TO OFFER  FORGIVENESS TO THOSE WHO COULD OFFER ONLY SIN TO HIM. GOD'S GREATEST REDEMPTIVE ACT TOOK PLACE WHEN HE RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. 1;18-20.  THE ACT WAS THE PIVOTAL POINT OF HISTORY, AND A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD'S   LIMITLESS POWER AND MIGHT. AFTER GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, HE "MADE HIM SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES," 1:20,21. THIS MEANS THAT THE FATHER HAS ENTRUSTED TO CHRIST THE TASK OF RUNNING THE UNIVERSE. THROUGHOUT ITS COUNTLESS GALAXIES, ITS MILLION OF SUNS AND PLANETS, CHRIST IS LORD.  HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO RULE ALL THINGS. THE IMAGERY USED IN THIS VERSE,PROBABLY STEMS FROM THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF REPRESENTING A KING SEATED NEXT TO THE GOD OF A CITY OR NATION. TO OCCUPY THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD MEANT THAT THE RULER EXERCISED POWER IN THE NAME OF, AND FOR, HIS god. 1:22, PAUL WRITES, " HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS UNDER. HIS" FEET." THE IMAGERY OF PUTTING ONE'S ENEMIES IS  UNDER ONE'S FEET IS DERIVED FROM THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF HAVING THE FACES OF FIGURES OF A NATION'S VANQUISHED OPPONENTS WOVEN OR ENGRAVED
 ONTO THE FOOTSTOOL OF ITS CONQUERING KING. PAUL USES THIS  PICTURE TO POINT OUT THAT CHRIST IS ALREADY LORD, THAT ALL HIS ENEMIES HAVE BEEN CONQUERED, AND THAT, AS HISTORY PROCEEDS, THEY ARE BEING MADE SUBJECT TO HIM. GOD APPOINTED CHRIST AS HEAD OVER ALL THINGS "FOR THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, " 1:22,23. PAUL USES THE TERM "BODY"  TO DECLARE THAT IN SOME MYSTERIOUS WAY, THE CHURCH IS TO BE AN EXTENSION OF ITS LORD. IT IS TO CARRY ON HIS WORK. IT IS HIS INSTRUMENT TO CARRY OUT HIS MISSION OF GATHERING ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S LORDSHIP. THE CHURCH IS NOT SOMETHING SPIRITUAL AND INVISIBLE THAT HOVERS ABOVE LIFE AND SOCIETY. IT IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF CHRIST WHICH GOD HAS CREATED TO WORK AMONG PEOPLE, WITH ALL THEIR BURDENS, TRAGEDIES AND FRUSTRATIONS.
 "NOTE": IF GOD IS NOT THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE, SATAN IS-- TEMPTING PEOPLE TO USE THE CREATIVE ORDER AND EVERY SITUATION FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT, TO MAKE SELF THE GREAT NUMBER ONE . BOTH JEW AND GENTILE ( THAT IS ALL PEOPLE) ARE NOW TH LOOK FOR DIRECTION IN LIFE TO THE TEACHINGS AND EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. THROUGH CHRIST'S CROSS ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER ONLY IN CHRIST IS THERE HOPE OF PUTTING THE HUMAN RACE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.2"11-19. SATAN IS ON THE PROWL AGAIN ,6:10-18. A FIERCE STRUGGLE RAGES IN THE UNIVERSE BETWEEN SATAN AND HIS POWERS OF DARKNESS, AND THE AUTHORITY OF GOD. TRUE THE OUTCOME OF THE STRUGGLE HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED . CHRIST HAS CONQUERED, CHRIST IS LORD. BUT SATAN THE FATHER OF LIES, REMAINS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND WORKS TO DECEIVE PEOPLE INTO THINKING HE IS STILL LORD. "SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE,"  WAS ONCE MOVED TO CALL "EPHESIANS" "ONE OF THE SUBLIMEST "WONDERFUL" COMPOSITIONS OF MEN," HIS EVALUATION IS ENTIRELY ACCURATE.