Paul's Letter to the Church at Ephesus

Christians are called to live as God’s people, but the question arises as to what that really means? The Bible uses various kinds of figurative language to describe Christians and Christian living. Examples of such language are that Christians are called light, soldiers, the body of Christ, a building, a temple, wise people, children of God, and citizens of God’s Kingdom. The book of Ephesians discusses how the church is the body of Christ. Christians are to be involved in an intimate relationship with God so that their character and spirit will be transformed into Christ-likeness and they will imitate Him in their daily walk and interaction with each other.

Chapter 1:1-2 (salutation):
Author and intended audience

The epistle to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in the church at Ephesus. It was most likely written at the same time as his letter to the Colossians, in about 60 AD, while he was imprisoned in Rome. Paul was personally acquainted with the church in Ephesus because he founded the church there and remained for about 3 years during one of his missionary journeys (Acts 18:19-21; 19:1-20).

Chapter 1:3-14:
Main idea and purpose

The main theme of verses 3-14 is that a person’s identity in Christ is the most significant aspect of who he or she is. This paragraph identifies all the blessings that Christians can have as members of the Body of Christ. First of all, in Him man has all spiritual blessings. Secondly, Christians are adopted as His children who are set apart for God. Through faith in Christ, man is set free from the bonds of slavery to sin. While all mankind has offended God though sins of omission or sins of commission, He forgives even the worst sins that were committed by someone who is truly repentant. The wisdom of God leads to understanding and everything makes sense and has consummate meaning in Christ. Christians are to serve God and live for His glory because He brought them to and keeps them in the one true faith.

Chapter 2:1-7:
Synonymous phrases

God's workmanship: Relationship between salvation apart from works and being saved by grace. Salvation comes through faith alone by the Grace of God not because of anything that people have done themselves, or because it is something that they have somehow earned. Mankind is Christ’s workmanship in that He has made people who they are and it is only through Him that they can be saved. The fact that people sometimes do good works is the result of their faith rather than the cause of it. People are only saved through the righteousness of Christ and it is because of their relationship with Him that they want to be more like Him. Mankind belongs to God rather than to themselves because He made them. The Greek word for “workmanship” comes from the same root word as the English word “poem”. A poem is a thing of beauty which is created by a poet and reflects his personality. Human beings are God’s workmanship in that they are His creation and an image of Him.

Un-circumcision and circumcision. The Jews believed that by being circumcised they were identified as belonging to the family of God. Circumcision is something that is accomplished by actions on the part of man. What Paul is saying is that our salvation is the accomplishment of Christ, rather than something that we can do ourselves.  In Philippians, Paul refers to circumcision as “mutilation” because it is not necessary and doing it to win salvation negates the accomplishments of Christ. In Colossians, Paul says that sin and transgression has been removed from our lives through Christ. Faith in Christ is a circumcision of the heart rather than of the body.  

Chapter 2: 11-22:
Peace vs. enmity

There are several intertwined concepts represented in this passage. First of all, Paul is emphasizing the unity of the Church as one people rather than distinguishing between Jews and Gentiles. The second main idea is that through Christ, people can have direct access to God. The third and most relevant concept is that Christ is the only way for mankind to achieve true reconciliation. In Him, people can have eternal peace because they are no longer separate from God due to their sin.

Chapter 2: 18-22: 
Metaphors of citizenship and household

Apostles and prophets. The use of the phrase “the apostles and prophets,” found in Ephesians 2:20, combines the Old Testament Jewish prophetic tradition with the New Testament apostolic church. It reflects the theme of unity in the church by indicating that the former and the later are, in fact, one in Christ. While Ephesians 4:11-13 also mentions apostles and prophets, the context is clearly different because it relates to the spiritual gifts of the church. These spiritual gifts are said to be used to build up the church and edify its members. Conversely, “the apostles and prophets” mentioned in the earlier passage are referred to as being what the church is built upon rather than with. There were specific requirements for the title of apostle. For this reason, the salutation in several of Paul’s letters includes a defense of his apostleship. Likewise, the Old Testament clearly names those who were known to be prophets. There is a difference between people who are identified as being apostles or prophets and people who have been granted those individual spiritual gifts.

Christ as the cornerstone of the church. In Ephesians 2:20b-22, Paul referred to Christ as “the chief cornerstone” of the church. While this is a reference to the temple in Jerusalem, it also indicates the foundational role Christ plays in the body of His church because without Him, the church could not stand. The term cornerstone can be used to indicate the whole foundation. Colloquially, to call something a “cornerstone” is to say that it is foundational.

In the context of the book of Ephesians, though, there is deeper meaning in the use of the term “cornerstone.” Architecturally, a cornerstone is often used at the base of the intersection of two walls. The Apostle Paul was writing to the people of Ephesus about how Jews and Gentiles are joined together through Christ and made into one church. A related passage, Ephesians 4:15-16, addresses how the church is held together as the body of Christ with Him at its head.

There is another way in which Christ is the head of the church. Just as the head governs the actions of the body, Christ is the driving force and the controlling factor for all the church does. Ephesians 1:22-23 demonstrates this concept. Other biblical passages, such as Colossians 1:15-18, also refer to Christ as the head of the church, but in relation to His supremacy over it.

1 Peter 2:4-9 vs. Ephesians 2: 20b-22. While some of the terminology is similar between these two passages, the context is somewhat different. 1 Peter offers a call to submission to Christ in all things but with the knowledge that those who do put their trust in Christ will not be disappointed because they will have an eternal reward. The theme in 1 Peter 2:4-9 which relates to Ephesians 2:20b-22, is the concept that all who believe in Christ belong to the same church. Christ is the capstone and the foundation and all believers are the living stones with which the church is built.

Workmanship: Nature of the Church.

The text of Ephesians 4:17-32 addresses the way in which Christians should live their lives. Additionally, it pays specific attention to thinking and acting differently from non-believers. A similar passage is Romans 12:1-2, which instructs Christians to give themselves over to God and live in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Colossians 3 also focuses on Christian living. The underlying theme that is found in all three of these passages is that Christians belong to God and this should be reflected in their lives. The purpose of the church is to glorify and worship God. Therefore the lives of individual believers should have the same goal and focus, as well.

Conclusion

From the Old Testament prophets to the New Testament apostles to contemporary churches, Judeo-Christian theology and tradition has provided instruction on godly interpersonal relationships. Paul's Epistle to the church at Ephesus teaches inspired truth that Christians can use to influence their interactions with their families, friends and co-workers through the principles of reciprocity and mutual submission that should characterize the relationship of Christians have with one another.