In the ancient city of Rome, under house arrest, Paul found himself compelled to pen down the revelation of God’s redemptive work through Christ to the Church in Ephesus. He touched on subjects such as; God, Christ, and the proper conduct within the church, home, and society at large. A little about Ephesus. It was a wealthy port city of the Roman province of Asia, what we now know as Turkey. Renowned for its centers of learning and positioned strategically near key land routes, Ephesus was a hub of activity and religious thought.
As we start to explore the Epistle to the Ephesians, it’s important to understand the writing techniques of the ancient world. In an era without printing presses, these techniques were crafted to enhance memory retention. Writers often employed repetition and parallelism, making their words memorable.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the Apostle Paul. God used him to reveal much of the Theology that was previously a mystery. On paper, Paul skillfully adopted the ancient pattern of writing to help people grasp and remember the new revelations from God. In Ephesians, he used what’s known as an “inversion pattern,” structuring his message as AB, then sub b, and back to sub a. Within this framework, he skillfully wrote parallel stories, highlighting key ideas at the conclusion of Section B and sub b.
Understanding that Ephesians was written using this ancient structure is important. Without it, to our modern minds, the text might appear merely as poetry or filler, but in reality, it’s a carefully constructed vessel of profound truths.
Now, let’s look at the 4 parts of Ephesians
Part A – Paul Greetings (Ephesians 1:1-2)
As Paul begins his letter, he offers only a brief greeting before diving swiftly into the core of his message, eager to convey the revelation God placed on his heart.
Part B – Doctrinal/Theological Revelation (Ephesians 1:3 – 3:31)
In this section, Paul gets into the theological depths, unveiling the doctrinal revelations of God. This is the mystery of the Gospel that was never revealed by God until now. As we journey through this passage, we encounter two distinct but parallel sections, both leading to a significant conclusion. The first section unfolds the purpose of God, while the second illuminates the purpose of Christ. But, it is the object of these two divine purposes that are profound and stand at the heart of Paul’s message to Ephesians.
Path 1: What is the purpose of God?
In this unfolding narrative, we witness the innermost nature of God, a nature that reveals a deep desire to choose and predestine believers in Christ. A nature that wants to give life to children of his own. Paul underscores God’s intent to unify everything under Christ and demonstrate His grace through redemption and forgiveness. This new revelation now inclusively embraces the Gentiles, a revelation never before seen or heard in the history of divine interactions. As believers are marked by the Holy Spirit, a guarantee of their glorious inheritance, we see the alignment of all things with God’s ultimate purpose. It’s a purpose that glorifies Himself and seeks to restore the once-fractured relationship with humanity, a relationship now mended and made whole through His love and grace.
This is followed with a prayer:
In a prayerful moment, Paul expresses his gratitude to the Father for the steadfast faith of a community, praying earnestly for their spiritual enlightenment. He seeks for them an understanding of God’s powerful purpose, similar to the power that resurrected Christ.
Path 2: What is the purpose of Christ?
We jump forward to chapter 3. This section reveals Christ’s purpose: to empower “all” believers to confidently approach God through the atonement of Christ, hence fulfilling His eternal purpose of redemption and unity. Paul adds to the mystery of atonement, this redemption is not only offered to Israel but to the Gentiles as well. Paul, chosen by Christ’s grace, is given the responsibility of revealing this inclusive plan, highlighting Christ’s central role in bridging the divide between Israel and the Gentiles.
This is followed with a second prayer:
In his prayer, Paul earnestly asks the Father to strengthen believers with the Spirit of God, enabling them to grasp the immense love of Christ. He concludes with a tribute, praising God’s endless power and glory manifested in the church and through Christ, throughout all generations.
Emphasis – The object of the Purpose
As we journey along these two divergent paths, we discover the focal point of God’s grand purpose, the very essence that occupies His thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let us travel back to the narrative of Chapter 2, where this truth unfolds.
In this chapter, earthly humanity emerges as the central object of God’s purpose. Our redemption stands at the core of His divine plan. Initially, humanity was enslaved by sin, deserving death, but God, in His boundless grace and not by human deeds, granted salvation, merging Jews and Gentiles into a singular, renewed entity. This salvific act dissolved the long-standing divisions, bringing all into God’s family. Believers, from diverse backgrounds, are now part of a spiritual family with Christ as the cornerstone, collectively establishing the Kingdom of Heaven. This transformation fulfills God’s intent for a unified, redeemed humanity.
Sub B (this parallels Part B but from a practical application point of view) – Practical Application (Ephesians 4:1-6:22)
In this section, Paul dives into the practical application of the previous theological discourse. It follows a similar structure to Part B. Let’s get into it.
Path 1: Our Mindset in the Church
Paul’s message highlights the church as one body with diverse parts, each contributing to its unity and growth. Emphasizing virtues like humility and patience, he stresses the importance of every believer working together under one God. Christ, as the head, equips each part with gifts to strengthen the body. This unity and maturity protect against false teachings. The church, as a collective, grows in love and truth, with each member playing a vital role under Christ’s guidance.
Followed by our “Lifestyle in the World”
In this section, believers are instructed to take off their old self, characterized by ignorance, hardness of heart, indulgence in impure things and greed. Instead, they are to put on a new self, created to be like God’s righteousness and holiness. This change involves renewing their minds, speaking truthfully, working with integrity, and using words to uplift. They are called to live wisely, understand and follow God’s will, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Through spiritual songs and thanksgiving, they are to reflect Christ’s light in every aspect of their lives.
Path 2: Our Mindset in a Household
The text calls for mutual submission in relationships out of reverence for Christ. Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, while husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Children should obey and honor their parents, and fathers are advised to raise their children under Godly guidance. Slaves are instructed to serve their masters with sincerity, as serving Christ, and masters are reminded to treat their slaves justly, recognizing the equality of all under God. This guidance is rooted in fostering love, respect, and honor within the Christian framework.
This is followed by our “Lifestyle in the Spirit”
Paul encourages believers to be strong in the Lord and His power, equipping themselves with the full armor of God to resist the devil’s schemes. This armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, readiness from the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. The struggle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, and principalities of the dark spiritual realm. Believers are advised to stand firm in these virtues and spiritual armor.
Emphasis – We are all Ambassadors
This section parallels section “B”; what is the purpose of all that we strive for? What is the purpose of aligning our thoughts and feelings and our lifestyle to that of Christ? In short, to pray in the spirit on all occasions and to be alert. The narrative brings us to the example of Paul, an ambassador for Christ, even while in chains. Through Paul’s life, we are shown an ideal to aspire to – becoming ambassadors of Christ ourselves, regardless of our situations, just like Apostle Paul, who faithfully represented Christ in every circumstance.
Sub A (Parallels Part A) – Final Greetings (6:21-24)
Paul ends with a very short and final greeting.
In the end, Paul gives Ephesians a model of how to become an ambassador of Christ.
- Set your mind and desires on Christ in the same way God has set His mind and desires on humanity.
- React to those feelings and thoughts by becoming an ambassador of Christ, in the same way that God reacted to His own thoughts and feelings by sending Jesus to Earth.
As we conclude, let’s circle back to the ancient literary framework employed in this text, notably the introversion pattern. This structure, featuring parallel narratives placed side by side, serves to emphasize key points. Apostle Paul masterfully adopts this age-old technique to present us with a compelling model of discipleship. Through this, he skillfully guides us on the path to becoming true ambassadors of Christ.
With Love,
Ephesians Resources
