Text -- Ephesians 4:8 (NET)

4:8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”

Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Eph 4:8

Wherefore he saith ( dio legei ).

As a confirmation of what Paul has said. No subject is expressed in the Greek and commentators argue whether it should be ho theos (God) or hē graphē (Scripture). But it comes to God after all. See note on Act 2:17. The quotation is from Psa 68:18, a Messianic Psalm of victory which Paul adapts and interprets for Christ’ s triumph over death.

Robertson: Eph 4:8

He led captivity captive ( ēichmalōteusen aichmalōsian ).

Cognate accusative of aichmalōsian , late word, in N.T. only here and Rev 13:10. The verb also (aichmalōteuō ) is from the old word aichmalōtos , captive in war (in N.T. only in Luk 4:18), in lxx and only here in N.T.

Vincent: Eph 4:8

Wherefore

Confirming by Scripture what has just been said.

Vincent: Eph 4:8

When He ascended, etc.

Quoted from Psa 68:19 (Sept. 67:18). The Hebrew reads: " Ascending to the height thou didst lead captive captivity, and received gifts in man." So Sept. Paul changes thou didst lead , didst receive , into he lead and he gave . The Psalm is Messianic, a hymn of victory in which God is praised for victory and deliverance. It is freely adapted by Paul, who regards its substance rather than its letter, and uses it as an expression of the divine triumph as fulfilled in Christ's victory over death and sin.

Vincent: Eph 4:8

Ascended

The ascent of Jehovah is realized in Christ's ascent into heaven.

Vincent: Eph 4:8

Captivity

Abstract for the body of captives . See on Luk 4:18. The captives are not the redeemed , but the enemies of Christ's kingdom , Satan, Sin, and Death. Compare on Col 2:15, and 2Co 2:14.

Vincent: Eph 4:8

Gave

In the Hebrew and Septuagint, received or took ; but with the sense received in order to distribute among men . Compare Gen 15:9, take for me: Gen 18:5, I will fetch for you: Exo 27:20, bring thee , i.e., take and present to thee: Act 2:33, " Having received of the Father, etc., He hath shed forth." Thus Paul interprets the received of the Old Testament. His point is the distribution of grace by Christ in varied measure to individuals. He confirms this by Scripture, seeing in the Jehovah of this Old-Testament passage the Christ of the New Testament - one Redeemer under both covenants - and applying the Psalmist's address to Christ who distributes the results of His victory among His loyal subjects. These results are enumerated in Eph 4:11 sqq.

Wesley: Eph 4:8

That is, in reference to which God saith by David, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive - He triumphed over all his enemies, Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world: alluding to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led those they had conquered in chains after them. And, as they also used to give donatives to the people, at their return from victory, so he gave gifts to men - Both the ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit. Psa 68:18.

JFB: Eph 4:8

"For which reason," namely, in order to intimate that Christ, the Head of the Church, is the author of all these different gifts, and that giving of them is an act of His "grace" [ESTIUS].

JFB: Eph 4:8

God, whose word the Scripture is (Psa 68:18).

JFB: Eph 4:8

GOD is meant in the Psalm, represented by the ark, which was being brought up to Zion in triumph by David, after that "the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies" (2Sa. 6:1-7:1; 1Ch. 15:1-29). Paul quotes it of CHRIST ascending to heaven, who is therefore GOD.

JFB: Eph 4:8

That is, a band of captives. In the Psalm, the captive foes of David. In the antitypical meaning, the foes of Christ the Son of David, the devil, death, the curse, and sin (Col 2:15; 2Pe 2:4), led as it were in triumphal procession as a sign of the destruction of the foe.

JFB: Eph 4:8

In the Psalm, "received gifts for men," Hebrew, "among men," that is, "thou hast received gifts" to distribute among men. As a conqueror distributes in token of his triumph the spoils of foes as gifts among his people. The impartation of the gifts and graces of the Spirit depended on Christ's ascension (Joh 7:39; Joh 14:12). Paul stops short in the middle of the verse, and does not quote "that the Lord God might dwell among them." This, it is true, is partly fulfilled in Christians being an "habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). But the Psalm (Psa 68:16) refers to "the Lord dwelling in Zion for ever"; the ascension amidst attendant angels, having as its counterpart the second advent amidst "thousands of angels" (Psa 68:17), accompanied by the restoration of Israel (Psa 68:22), the destruction of God's enemies and the resurrection (Psa 68:20-21, Psa 68:23), the conversion of the kingdoms of the world to the Lord at Jerusalem (Psa 68:29-34).

Clarke: Eph 4:8

Wherefore he saith - The reference seems to be to Psa 68:18, which, however it may speak of the removal of the tabernacle, appears to have been intended to point out the glorious ascension of Christ after his resurrection from the dead. The expositions of various commentators have made the place extremely difficult. I shall not trouble my reader with them; they may be seen in Rosenmuller

Clarke: Eph 4:8

When he ascended up on high - The whole of this verse, as it stands in the psalm, seems to refer to a military triumph. Take the following paraphrase: Thou hast ascended on high: the conqueror was placed in a very elevated chariot. Thou hast led captivity captive: the conquered kings and generals were usually bound behind the chariot of the conqueror, to grace the triumph. Thou host received gifts for (Paul, given gifts unto) men: at such times the conqueror was wont to throw money among the crowd. Even to the rebellious: those who had fought against him now submit unto him, and share his munificence; for it is the property of a hero to be generous. That the Lord God might dwell among them: the conqueror being now come to fix his abode in the conquered provinces, and subdue the people to his laws

All this the apostle applies to the resurrection, ascension, and glory of Christ; though it has been doubted by some learned men whether the psalmist had this in view. I shall not dispute about this; it is enough for me that the apostle, under the inspiration of God, applied the verse in this way; and whatever David might intend, and of whatever event he might have written, we see plainly that the sense in which the apostle uses it was the sense of the Spirit of God; for the Spirit in the Old and New Testaments is the same. I may venture a short criticism on a few words in the original: Thou hast received gifts for men, לקחת מתנות באדם lakachta mattanoth baadam , thou hast taken gifts in man, in Adam. The gifts which Jesus Christ distributes to man he has received in man, in and by virtue of his incarnation; and it is in consequence of his being made man that it may be said, The Lord God dwells among them; for Jesus was called Immanuel, God with us, in consequence of his incarnation. This view of the subject is consistent with the whole economy of grace, and suits well with the apostle’ s application of the words of the psalmist in this place.

Calvin: Eph 4:8

8.Therefore he saith To serve the purpose of his argument, Paul has departed not a little from the true meaning of this quotation. Wicked men charge him with having made an unfair use of Scripture. The Jews go still farther, and, for the sake of giving to their accusations a greater air of plausibility, maliciously pervert the natural meaning of this passage. What is said of God, is applied by them to David or to the people. “David, or the people,” they say, “ascended on high, when, in consequence of many victories, they rose superior to their enemies.” But a careful examination of the Psalm will convince any reader that the words, he ascended up on high, are applied strictly to God alone.

The whole Psalm may be regarded as anἐπίνικιον, a song of triumph, which David sings to God on account of the victories which he had obtained; but, taking occasion from the narrative of his own exploits, he makes a passing survey of the astonishing deliverances which the Lord had formerly wrought for his people. His object is to shew, that we ought to contemplate in the history of the Church the glorious power and goodness of God; and among other things he says, Thou hast ascended on high. (Psa 68:18.) The flesh is apt to imagine that God remains idle and asleep, when he does not openly execute his judgments. To the view of men, when the Church is oppressed, God is in some manner humbled; but, when he stretches out his avenging arm for her deliverance, he then appears to rouse himself, and to ascend his throne of judgment.

“Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts; he put them to a perpetual reproach.”
(Psa 78:65.)

This mode of expression is sufficiently common and familiar; and, in short, the deliverance of the Church is here called the ascension of God.

Perceiving that it is a song of triumph, in which David celebrates all the victories which God had wrought for the salvation of his Church, Paul very properly quoted the account given of God’s ascension, and applied it to the person of Christ. The noblest triumph which God ever gained was when Christ, after subduing sin, conquering death, and putting Satan to flight, rose majestically to heaven, that he might exercise his glorious reign over the Church. Hitherto there is no ground for the objection, that Paul has applied this quotation in a manner inconsistent with the design of the Psalmist. The continued existence of the Church is represented by David to be a manifestation of the Divine glory. But no ascension of God more triumphant or memorable will ever occur, than that which took place when Christ was carried up to the right hand of the Father, that he might rule over all authorities and powers, and might become the everlasting guardian and protector of his people.

He led captivity captive. === Captivity is a collective noun for captive enemies; and the plain meaning is, that God reduced his enemies to subjection, which was more fully accomplished in Christ than in any other way. He has not only gained a complete victory over the devil, and sin, and death, and all the power of hell, — but out of rebels he forms every day “a willing people,” (Psa 110:3,) when he subdues by his word the obstinacy of our flesh. On the other hand, his enemies — to which class all wicked men belong — are held bound by chains of iron, and are restrained by his power from exerting their fury beyond the limits which he shall assign.

===And gave gifts to men There is rather more difficulty in this clause; for the words of the Psalm are, “thou hast received gifts for men,” while the apostle changes this expression into gave gifts, and thus appears to exhibit an opposite meaning. Still there is no absurdity here; for Paul does not always quote the exact words of Scripture, but, after referring to the passage, satisfies himself with conveying the substance of it in his own language. Now, it is clear that the gifts which David mentions were not received by God for himself, but for his people; and accordingly we are told, in an earlier part of the Psalm, that “the spoil” had been “divided” among the families of Israel. (Psa 68:12.) Since therefore the intention of receiving was to give gifts, Paul can hardly be said to have departed from the substance, whatever alteration there may be in the words.

At the same time, I am inclined to a different opinion, that Paul purposely changed the word, and employed it, not as taken out of the Psalm, but as an expression of his own, adapted to the present occasion. Having quoted from the Psalm a few words descriptive of Christ’s ascension, he adds, in his own language, and gave gifts, — for the purpose of drawing a comparison between the greater and the less. Paul intends to shew, that this ascension of God in the person of Christ was far more illustrious than the ancient triumphs of the Church; because it is a more honorable distinction for a conqueror to dispense his bounty largely to all classes, than to gather spoils from the vanquished.

The interpretation given by some, that Christ received from the Father what he would distribute to us, is forced, and utterly at variance with the apostle’s purpose. No solution of the difficulty, in my opinion, is more natural than this. Having made a brief quotation from the Psalm, Paul took the liberty of adding a statement, which, though not contained in the Psalm, is true in reference to Christ — a statement, too, by which the ascension of Christ is proved to be more illustrious, and more worthy of admiration, than those ancient manifestations of the Divine glory which David enumerates.

Defender: Eph 4:8

This quotation is from Psa 68:18, the context of which is apparently describing the Lord among His heavenly hosts of angels, riding as a mighty conqueror returning home with the spoils of battle, the spoils consisting of "captivity" led forth "captive." Evidently this prize of battle had consisted of a band of prisoners that had been held captive in an alien land, but now had in turn been captured from the enemy by the returning king. The latter - none other than the Lord Himself - as he returned to His "holy place," "ascended up on high" to do this, evidently returning from somewhere below (Psa 68:17, Psa 68:18)."

TSK: Eph 4:8

When : Psa 68:18

he led : Jdg 5:12; Col 2:15

captivity : or, a multitude of captives

and : 1Sa 30:26; Est 2:18

Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Eph 4:8

Wherefore he saith - The word "he"is not in the original; and it may mean "the Scripture saith,"or "God saith."The "point"of the argument here is, that Christ, when he ascended to heaven, obtained certain "gifts"for people, and that those gifts are bestowed upon his people in accordance with this. To "prove"that, he adduces this passage from Psa 68:18. Much perplexity has been felt in regard to the "principle"on which Paul quotes this Psalm, and applies it to the ascension of the Redeemer. The Psalm seems to have been composed on the occasion of removing the ark of the covenant from Kirjath-jearim to Mount Zion; 2Sa 6:1 ff it is a song of triumph, celebrating the victories of Yahweh, and particularly the victories which had been achieved when the ark was at the head of the army. It "appears"to have no relation to the Messiah; nor would it probably occur to anyone upon reading it, that it referred to his ascension, unless it had been so quoted by the apostle.

Great difficulty has been felt, therefore, in determining on what principle Paul applied it to the ascension of the Redeemer. Some have supposed that the Psalm had a primary reference to the Messiah; some that it referred to him in only a secondary sense; some that it is applied to him by way of "accommodation;"and some that he merely uses the words as adapted to express his idea, as a man adopts words which are familiar to him, and which will express his thoughts, though not meaning to say that the words had any such reference originally. Storr supposes that the words were used by the Ephesian Christians in their "hymns,"and that Paul quoted them as containing a sentiment which was admitted among them. This is "possible;"but it is mere conjecture. It has been also supposed that the tabernacle was a type of Christ; and that the whole Psalm, therefore, having original reference to the tabernacle, might be applied to Christ as the antitype.

But this is both conjectural and fanciful. On the various modes adopted to account for the difficulty, the reader may consult Rosenmuller in loc. To me it seems plain that the Psalm had original reference to the bringing up the ark to Mount Zion, and is a triumphal song. In the song or Psalm, the poet shows why God was to be praised - on account of his greatness and his benignity to people; Eph 4:1-6. He then recounts the doings of God in former times - particularly his conducting his people through the wilderness, and the fact that his enemies were discomfited before him; Eph 4:7-12. All this refers to the God, the symbols of whose presence were on the tabernacle, and accompanying the ark. He then speaks of the various fortunes that had befallen the ark of the covenant. It had lain among the pots, Eph 4:13, yet it had formerly been white as snow when God scattered kings by it; Eph 4:14.

He then speaks of the hill of God - the Mount Zion to which the ark was about to be removed, and says that it is an "high hill"- "high as the hills of Bashan,"the hill where God desired to dwell forever; Eph 4:16. God is then introduced as ascending that hill, encompassed with thousands of angels, as in Mount Sinai; and the poet says that, in doing it, he had triumphed over his enemies, and had led captivity captive; Eph 4:18. The fact that the ark of God thus ascended the hill of Zion, the place of rest; that it was to remain there as its permanent abode, no more to be carried about at the head of armies; was the proof of its triumph. It had made everything captive. It had subdued every foe; and its ascent there would be the means of obtaining invaluable gifts for people; Mercy and truth would go forth from that mountain; and the true religion would spread abroad, even to the rebellious, as the results of the triumph of God, whose symbol was over the tabernacle and the ark.

The placing the ark there was the proof of permanent victory, and would he connected with most important benefits to people. The "ascending on high,"therefore, in the Psalm, refers, as it seems to me, to the ascent of the symbol of the Divine Presence accompanying the ark on Mount Zion, or to the placing it "on high"above all its foes. The remainder of the Psalm corresponds with this view. This ascent of the ark on Mount Zion; this evidence of its triumph over all the foes of God; this permanent residence of the ark there; and this fact, that its being established there would be followed with the bestowment of invaluable gifts to people, might be regarded as a beautiful emblem of the ascension of the Redeemer to heaven. There were strong points of resemblance. He also ascended on high. His ascent was the proof of victory over his foes. He went there for a permanent abode. And his ascension was connected with the bestowmerit of important blessings to people.

It is as such emblematic language, I suppose, that the apostle makes the quotation. It did not originally refer to this; but the events were so similar in many points, that the one would suggest the other, and the same language would describe both. It was language familiar to the apostle; language that would aptly express his thoughts, and language that was not improbably applied to the ascension of the Redeemer by Christians at that time. The phrase, therefore, "he saith "- λέγει legei - or "it saith,"or "the Scripture saith,"means, "it is said;"or, "this language will properly express the fact under consideration, to wit, that there is grace given to each one of us, or that the means are furnished by the Redeemer for us to lead holy lives."

(For remarks on the subject of accommodation. in connection with quotations from the Old Testament into the New Testament, see the supplementary notes, Heb 1:5, and Heb 2:6, note. The principle of accommodation, if admitted at all, should be used with great caution. Doubtless it is sanctioned by great names both in Europe and America. Yet it must be allowed, that the apostles understood the mind of the Spirit, in the Old Testament, that their inspiration preserved them from every error. When, therefore, they tell us that certain passages have an ultimate reference to the Messiah and his times, through we should never have discovered such reference without their aid, nothing of the kind, it may be, "appearing"in the original places, yet we ate bound to receive it "on their testimony."It is alleged, indeed, that the apostles sometimes use the ordinary forms of quotation, without intending to intimate thereby any prophetic reference in the passages titus introduced, nay, when such reference is obviously inadmissible. This, in the opinion of many, is a very hazardous statement, and introduces into the apostolic writings, and especially into the argumentative part of them, where so great use is made of the Old Testament, no small measure of uncertainty. Let the reader examine the passages in question, keeping in view. at the same time, the typical nature of the ancient economy, and he will have little difficulty in admitting the prophetic reference in most, if not in all of them. See Haldane on Rom 1:17, for a very masterly view of this subject, with remarks on Mat 2:16, and other passages supposed to demand the accommodation theory.

"Nothing can be more dishonorable,"says that prince of English commentators, on the Epistle to the Romans, "to the character of divine revelation, and injurious to the edification of believers, than this method of explaining the quotations in the New Testament from the Old, not as predictions or interpretations, but as mere illustrations, by way of accommodation. In this way, many of the prophecies referred to in the Epistles are set aside from their proper application, and Christians are taught that they do not prove what the apostles adduced them to establish."In reference to the quotation in this place, there seems little difficulty in connection with the view, that though the primary reference be to the bringing up of the ark to Mount Zion, the ultimate one is to the glorious ascension of Jesus into the highest heavens. The Jews rightly interpret part of this psalm Ps. 68 of the Messiah. Nor is it to he believed that the apostle would have applied it to the ascension of Christ unless that application had been admitted by the Jews in his time, and unless himself were persuaded of its propriety.

When he ascended up on high - To heaven. The Psalm is, "Thou hast ascended on high;"compare Eph 1:22-23.

He led captivity captive - The meaning of this in the Psalm is, that he triumphed over his foes. The margin is, "a multitude of captives."But this, I think, is not quite the idea. It is language derived from a conqueror, who not only makes captives, but who makes captives of those who were then prisoners, and who conducts them as a part of his triumphal procession. He not only subdues his enemy, but he leads his captives in triumph. The allusion is to the public triumphs of conquerors, especially as celebrated among the Romans, in which captives were led in chains (Tacitus, Ann. xii. 38), and to the custom in such triumphs of distributing presents among the soldiers; compare also Jdg 5:30, where it appears that this was also an early custom in other nations. Burder, in Res. Alt u. neu Morgenland, in loc. When Christ ascended to heaven, he triumphed ever all his foes. It was a complete victory over the malice of the great enemy of God, and over those who had sought his life. But he did more. He rescued those who were the captives of Satan, and led them in triumph. Man was held by Satan as a prisoner. His chains were around him. Christ rescued the captive prisoner, and designed to make him a part of his triumphal procession into heaven, that thus the victory might be complete - triumphing not only over the great foe himself, but swelling his procession with the attending hosts of those who "had been"the captives of Satan, now rescued and redeemed.

And gave gifts unto men - Such as he specifies in Eph 4:11.

Poole: Eph 4:8

Wherefore he saith the psalmist.

When he Christ, God manifested in the flesh: and then what was spoken by the psalmist prophetically in the second person, is spoken by the apostle historically in the third.

Ascended up on high Christ ascended up on high after his death, both as to place, in his human nature, into heaven; and chiefly as to his state, in his being glorified.

He led captivity captive either led those captive who had taken us captive, or rather led them captive whom he had taken captive;

captivity being here put for captives, as elsewhere poverty for poor, 2Ki 24:14 . This Christ did when, having conquered sin, death, Satan, he triumphed gloriously over them in his ascension, Col 2:15 . It is spoken with allusion to conquering princes or generals, who in their triumphs had their captives attending upon their chariots.

And gave gifts unto men he alludes in this likewise to the custom of conquerors casting money among the people that were the spectators of their triumphs, or giving largesses to their soldiers. Christ upon his ascension sent the Holy Ghost on the disciples, Act 2:1-47 , and continues ever since to furnish his church with gifts and graces: see on Psa 68:18 .

Haydock: Eph 4:8

He led captivity captive. [1] St. Jerome and others expound these words of Christ's delivering the pious souls that had died before his ascension, and which were detained in a place of rest which is called Limbus Patrum [i.e. Limbo of the Fathers; sometimes called Paradise (Luke xxiii. 43.), Abraham‘ bosom (Luke xvi. 22.), or Prison (1 Peter iii. 19.)]. ---

He gave gifts to men. Having delivered men from the captivity of sin, he bestowed upon them his gifts and graces. (Witham) ---

Wherefore he, David, in Psalm lxviii. makes use of these words, in order to shew that these gifts were gratuitous, and that no person had a right to complain that another had received more: after this the apostle proceeds to shew that Christ even descended to the lower parts of the earth, in order to teach us humility; whence he concludes that we ought to be humble and live in union with our brethren, which is the chief subject of the present chapter. (Tirinus)

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

Captivam duxit captivitatem. On which words St. Jerome: (p. 364.) Descendit ad inferna, et sanctas animas, quæ ibi detinebantur, secum ad cœlos victor deduxit. See 1 Peter chap. iii.

Gill: Eph 4:8

Wherefore he saith,.... God in the Scripture, Psa 68:18

when he ascended up on high; which is not to be understood of Moses's ascending up to the firmament at the giving of the law, as some Jewish writers ^q interpret it; for though Moses ascended to the top of Mount Sinai, yet it is never said that he went up to the firmament of heaven; nor of David's going up to the high fortresses of his enemies, as another of those writers ^r would have it; nor of God's ascent from Mount Sinai, when he gave the law, of which there is no mention in Scripture; but of the Messiah's ascension to heaven, which may very well be signified by this phrase, "on high"; see Psa 102:19, and which ascension is to be taken not in a figurative, but literal sense, and as real, local, and visible, as Christ's ascension to heaven was; being from Mount Olivet, attended by angels, in the sight of his apostles, after he had conversed with them from the time of his resurrection forty days; and which ascension of his was in order to fulfil the type of the high priest entering into the most holy place; and to make intercession for his people, and to send down the Spirit with his gifts and graces to them, and to make way and prepare mansions of glory for them, and receive the glory promised and due to him: in the Hebrew text it is, "thou hast ascended"; there the psalmist speaks to the Messiah, here the apostle speaks of him; though the Arabic and Ethiopic read there, "he ascended", as here:

he led captivity captive; which is expressive of Christ's conquests and triumph over sin, Satan, the world, death, and the grave; and indeed, every spiritual enemy of his and his people, especially the devil, who leads men captive at his will, and is therefore called captivity, and his principalities and powers, whom Christ has spoiled and triumphed over; the allusion is to the public triumphs of the Romans, in which captives were led in chains, and exposed to open view ^s:

and gave gifts unto men; meaning the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and particularly such as qualify men for the work of the ministry; these he received באדם, "in man"; in human nature, in that nature in which he ascended to heaven; באדם הידוע למעלה, "in the man that is known above" ^t, as say the Jews; and these he bestows on men, even rebellious ones, that the Lord God might dwell among them, and make them useful to others: wherefore the Jews have no reason to quarrel with the version of the apostle as they do ^u; who, instead of "received gifts for" men, renders it, "gave gifts to men"; since the Messiah received in order to give, and gives in consequence of his having received them; and so Jarchi interprets the words, לת־תאם, "to give them" to the children of men; and besides, as a learned man has observed ^w, one and the same Hebrew word signifies to give and to receive; to which may be added that their own Targum renders it יהבתא, "and hast given gifts to the children of men"; and in like manner the Syriac and Arabic versions of Psa 68:18 render the words; very likely the apostle might use the Syriac version, which is a very ancient one: it was customary at triumphs to give gifts to the soldiers ^x, to which there is an allusion here.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Eph 4:8

¹ tn Grk “he led captive captivity.”

² sn A quotation which is perhaps ultimately derived from Ps 68:18. However, the wording here differs from that of Ps 68 in both the Hebrew text and the LXX in a few places, the most significant of which is reading “gave gifts to” in place of “received gifts from” as in HT and LXX. It has sometimes been suggested that the author of Ephesians modified the text he was citing in order to better support what he wanted to say here. Such modifications are sometimes found in rabbinic exegesis from this and later periods, but it is also possible that the author was simply citing a variant of Ps 68 known to him but which has not survived outside its quotation here (W. H. Harris, The Descent of Christ [AGJU 32], 104). Another possibility is that the words here, which strongly resemble Ps 68:19 HT and LXX (68:18 ET), are actually part of an early Christian hymn quoted by the author.

Geneva Bible: Eph 4:8

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led ^{( g )} captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

^{( g )} A multitude of captives.

Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Eph 4:1-32

1 He exhorts to unity;

7 and declares that God therefore gives divers gifts unto men;

11 that his church might be edified,

16 and grow up in Christ.

18 He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;

24 to put on the new man;

25 to cast off lying;

29 and corrupt communication.

Combined Bible: Eph 4:8

Speaking of the ascension of Christ to the right hand of the Father, Paul recalls Psa 68:18 --"captivity" refers to all those Old Testament saints held in Abraham's Bosom awaiting the Messiah's coming. These, the family of the groom at the wedding of the Lamb to His Bride the Church, are the saved of Israel and not members of the Body of Christ. These are the ones that He led "captive" to Himself when He ascended to the Father.  

  

At the same time, He "gave gifts to men" in order that they might be equipped to serve Him on earth. The gifts are divine enablements for us to minister the Gospel to other men and women. They are not mere talents or skills in the human sense of the term, but always refer to the ministry of His directives to His own, the Word.  

  

  

MHCC: Eph 4:7-16

Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.

Matthew Henry: Eph 4:2-16

Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter: - To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin.

This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Observe,

I. The means of unity: Lowliness and meekness, long-suffering, and forbearing one another in love, Eph 4:2. By lowliness we are to understand humility, entertaining mean thoughts of ourselves, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul which makes men unwilling to provoke others, and not easily to be provoked or offended with their infirmities; and it is opposed to angry resentments and peevishness. Long-suffering implies a patient bearing of injuries, without seeking revenge. Forbearing one another in love signifies bearing their infirmities out of a principle of love, and so as not to cease to love them on the account of these. The best Christians have need to bear one with another, and to make the best one of another, to provoke one another's graces and not their passions. We find much in ourselves which it is hard to forgive ourselves; and therefore we must not think it much if we find that in others which we think hard to forgive them, and yet we must forgive them as we forgive ourselves. Now without these things unity cannot be preserved. The first step towards unity is humility; without this there will be no meekness, no patience, or forbearance; and without these no unity. Pride and passion break the peace, and make all the mischief. Humility and meekness restore the peace, and keep it. Only by pride comes contention; only by humility comes love. The more lowly-mindedness the more like-mindedness. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not meek and lowly of heart: for he by whom we are called, he to whom we are called, was eminent for meekness and lowliness of heart, and has commanded us therein to learn of him.

II. The nature of that unity which the apostle prescribes: it is the unity of the Spirit, Eph 4:3. The seat of Christian unity is in the heart or spirit: it does not lie in one set of thoughts, nor in one form and mode of worship, but in one heart and one soul. This unity of heart and affection may be said to be of the Spirit of God; it is wrought by him, and is one of the fruits of the Spirit. This we should endeavour to keep. Endeavouring is a gospel word. We must do our utmost. If others will quarrel with us, we must take all possible care not to quarrel with them. If others will despise and hate us, we must not despise and hate them. In the bond of peace. Peace is a bond, as it unites persons, and makes them live friendly one with another. A peaceable disposition and conduct bind Christians together, whereas discord and quarrelling disband and disunite their hearts and affections. Many slender twigs, bound together, become strong. The bond of peace is the strength of society. Not that it can be imagined that all good people, and all the members of societies, should be in every thing just of the same length, and the same sentiments, and the same judgment: buy the bond of peace unites them all together, with a non obstante to these. As in a bundle of rods, they may be of different lengths and different strength; but, when they are tied together by one bond, they are stronger than any, even than the thickest and strongest was of itself.

III. The motives proper to promote this Christian unity and concord. The apostle urges several, to persuade us thereto.

1. Consider how many unities there are that are the joy and glory of our Christian profession. There should be one heart; for there is one body, and one spirit, Eph 4:4. Two hearts in one body would be monstrous. If there be but one body, all that belong to that body should have one heart. The Catholic church is one mystical body of Christ, and all good Christians make up but one body, incorporated by one charter, that of the gospel, animated by one Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who by his gifts and graces quickens, enlivens, and governs that body. If we belong to Christ, we are all actuated by one and the same Spirit, and therefore should be one. Even as you are called in one hope of your calling. Hope is here put for its object, the thing hoped for, the heavenly inheritance, to the hope of which we are called. All Christians are called to the same hope of eternal life. There is one Christ that they all hope in, and one heaven that they are all hoping for; and therefore they should be of one heart. One Lord (Eph 4:5), that is, Christ, the head of the church, to whom, by God's appointment, all Christians are immediately subject. One faith, that is, the gospel, containing the doctrine of the Christian faith: or, it is the same grace of faith (faith in Christ) whereby all Christians are saved. One baptism, by which we profess our faith, being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and so the same sacramental covenant, whereby we engage ourselves to the Lord Christ. One God and Father of all, Eph 4:6. One God, who owns all the true members of the church for his children; for he is the Father of all such by special relation, as he is the Father of all men by creation: and he is above all, by his essence, and with respect to the glorious perfections of his nature, and as he has dominion over all creatures and especially over his church, and through all, by his providence upholding and governing them: and in you all, in all believers, in whom he dwells as in his holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace. If then there be so many ones, it is a pity but there should be one more - one heart, or one soul.

2. Consider the variety of gifts that Christ has bestowed among Christians: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Though the members of Christ's church agree in so many things, yet there are some things wherein they differ: but this should breed no difference of affection among them, since they are all derived from the same bountiful author and designed for the same great ends. Unto every one of us Christians is given grace, some gift of grace, in some kind or degree or other, for the mutual help of one another. Unto every one of us ministers is given grace; to some a greater measure of gifts, to others a less measure. The different gifts of Christ's ministers proved a great occasion of contention among the first Christians: one was for Paul, and another for Apollos. The apostle shows that they had no reason to quarrel about them, but all the reason in the world to agree in the joint use of them, for common edification; because all was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ, in such a measure as seemed best to Christ to bestow upon every one. Observe, All the ministers, and all the members of Christ, owe all the gifts and graces that they are possessed of to him; and this is a good reason why we should love one another, because to every one of us is given grace. All to whom Christ has given grace, and on whom he has bestowed his gifts (though they are of different sizes, different names, and different sentiments, yet), ought to love one another. The apostle takes this occasion to specify some of the gifts which Christ bestowed. And that they were bestowed by Christ he makes appear by those words of David wherein he foretold this concerning him (Psa 68:18), Wherefore he saith (Eph 4:8), that is, the Psalmist saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. David prophesied of the ascension of Christ; and the apostle descants upon it here, and in the three following verses. When he ascended up on high. We may understand the apostle both of the place into which he ascended in his human nature, that is, the highest heavens, and particularly of the state to which he was advanced, he being then highly exalted, and eminently glorified, by his Father. Let us set ourselves to think of the ascension of Jesus Christ: that our blessed Redeemer, having risen from the dead, in gone to heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high, which completed the proof of his being the Son of God. As great conquerors, when they rode in their triumphal chariots, used to be attended with the most illustrious of their captives led in chains, and were wont to scatter their largesses and bounty among the soldiers and other spectators of their triumphs, so Christ, when he ascended into heaven, as a triumphant conqueror, led captivity captive. It is a phrase used in the Old Testament to signify a conquest over enemies, especially over such as formerly had led others captive; see Jdg 5:12. Captivity is here put for captives, and signifies all our spiritual enemies, who brought us into captivity before. He conquered those who had conquered us; such as sin, the devil, and death. Indeed, he triumphed over these on the cross; but the triumph was completed at his ascension, when he became Lord over all, and had the keys of death and hades put into his hands. And he gave gifts unto men: in the psalm it is, He received gifts for men. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly, he enriched his disciples with the gift of the Holy Ghost. The apostle, thus speaking of the ascension of Christ, takes notice that he descended first, Eph 4:9. As much as if he had said, "When David speaks of Christ's ascension, he intimates the knowledge he had of Christ's humiliation on earth; for, when it is said that he ascended, this implies that he first descended: for what is it but a proof or demonstration of his having done so?" Into the lower parts of the earth; this may refer either to his incarnation, according to that of David, Psa 139:15, My substance was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth; or, to his burial, according to that of Psa 63:9, Those that seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth. He calls his death (say some of the fathers) his descent into the lower parts of the earth. He descended to the earth in his incarnation. He descended into the earth in his burial. As Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so was the Son of man in the heart of the earth. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens (Eph 4:10), far above the airy and starry (which are the visible) heavens, into the heaven of heavens; that he might fill all things, all the members of his church, with gifts and graces suitable to their several conditions and stations. Observe, Our Lord humbled himself first, and then he was exalted. He descended first, and then ascended. The apostle next tells us what were Christ's gifts at his ascension: He gave some apostles, etc., Eph 4:11. Indeed he sent forth some of these before his ascension, Mat 10:1-5. But one was then added, Act 1:26. And all of them were more solemnly installed, and publicly confirmed, in their office, by his visibly pouring forth the Holy Ghost in an extraordinary manner and measure upon them. Note, The great gift that Christ gave to the church at his ascension was that of the ministry of peace and reconciliation. The gift of the ministry is the fruit of Christ's ascension. And ministers have their various gifts, which are all given them by the Lord Jesus. The officers which Christ gave to his church were of two sorts - extraordinary ones advanced to a higher office in the church: such were apostles, prophets, and evangelists. The apostles were chief. These Christ immediately called, furnished them with extraordinary gifts and the power of working miracles, and with infallibility in delivering his truth; and, they having been the witnesses of his miracles and doctrine, he sent them forth to spread the gospel and to plant and govern churches. The prophets seem to have been such as expounded the writings of the Old Testament, and foretold things to come. The evangelists were ordained persons (2Ti 1:6), whom the apostles took for their companions in travel (Gal 2:1), and sent them out to settle and establish such churches as the apostles themselves had planted (Act 19:22), and, not being fixed to any particular place, they were to continue till recalled, 2Ti 4:9. And then there are ordinary ministers, employed in a lower and narrower sphere; as pastors and teachers. Some take these two names to signify one office, implying the duties of ruling and teaching belonging to it. Others think they design two distinct offices, both ordinary, and of standing use in the church; and then pastors are such as are fixed at the head of particular churches, with design to guide, instruct, and feed them in the manner appointed by Christ; and they are frequently called bishops and elders: and the teachers were those whose work it was also to preach the gospel and to instruct the people by way of exhortation. We see here that it is Christ's prerogative to appoint what officers and offices he pleases in his church. And how rich is the church, that had at first such a variety of officers and has still such a variety of gifts! How kind is Christ to his church! How careful of it and of its edification! When he ascended, he procured the gift of the Holy Ghost; and the gifts of the Holy Ghost are various: some have greater, others have less measures; but all for the good of the body, which brings us to the third argument,

3. Which is taken from Christ's great end and design in giving gifts unto men. The gifts of Christ were intended for the good of his church, and in order to advance his kingdom and interest among men. All these being designed for one common end is a good reason why all Christians should agree in brotherly love, and not envy one another's gifts. All are for the perfecting of the saints (Eph 4:12); that is, according to the import of the original, to bring into an orderly spiritual state and frame those who had been as it were dislocated and disjointed by sin, and then to strengthen, confirm, and advance them therein, that so each, in his proper place and function, might contribute to the good of the whole. - For the work of the ministry, or for the work of dispensation; that is, that they might dispense the doctrines of the gospel, and successfully discharge the several parts of their ministerial function. - For the edifying of the body of Christ; that is, to build up the church, which is Christ's mystical body, by an increase of their graces, and an addition of new members. All are designed to prepare us for heaven: Till we all come, etc., Eph 4:13. The gifts and offices (some of them) which have been spoken of are to continue in the church till the saints be perfected, which will not be till they all come in the unity of the faith (till all true believers meet together, by means of the same precious faith) and of the knowledge of the Son of God, by which we are to understand, not a bare speculative knowledge, or the acknowledging of Christ to be the Son of God and the great Mediator, but such as is attended with appropriation and affection, with all due honour, trust, and obedience. - Unto a perfect man, to our full growth of gifts and graces, free from those childish infirmities that we are subject to in the present world. - Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, so as to be Christians of a full maturity and ripeness in all the graces derived from Christ's fulness: or, according to the measure of that stature which is to make up the fulness of Christ, which is to complete his mystical body. Now we shall never come to the perfect man, till we come to the perfect world. There is a fulness in Christ, and a fulness to be derived from him; and a certain stature of that fulness, and a measure of that stature, are assigned in the counsel of God to every believer, and we never come to that measure till we come to heaven. God's children, as long as they are in this world, are growing. Dr Lightfoot understands the apostle as speaking here of Jews and Gentiles knit in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, so making a perfect man, and the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. The apostle further shows, in the following verses, what was God's design in his sacred institutions, and what effect they ought to have upon us. As, (1.) That we henceforth be no more children, etc. (Eph 4:14); that is, that we may be no longer children in knowledge, weak in the faith, and inconstant in our judgments, easily yielding to every temptation, readily complying with every one's humour, and being at every one's back. Children are easily imposed upon. We must take care of this, and of being tossed to and fro, like ships without ballast, and carried about, like clouds in the air, with such doctrines as have no truth nor solidity in them, but nevertheless spread themselves far and wide, and are therefore compared to wind. By the sleight of men; this is a metaphor taken from gamesters, and signifies the mischievous subtlety of seducers: and cunning craftiness, by which is meant their skilfulness in finding ways to seduce and deceive; for it follows, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, as in an ambush, in order to circumvent the weak, and draw them from the truth. Note, Those must be very wicked and ungodly men who set themselves to seduce and deceive others into false doctrines and errors. The apostle describes them here as base men, using a great deal of devilish art and cunning, in order thereunto. The best method we can take to fortify ourselves against such is to study the sacred oracles, and to pray for the illumination and grace of the Spirit of Christ, that we may know the truth as it is in Jesus, and be established in it. (2.) That we should speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), or follow the truth in love, or be sincere in love to our fellow-christians. While we adhere to the doctrine of Christ, which is the truth, we should live in love one with another. Love is an excellent thing; but we must be careful to preserve truth together with it. Truth is an excellent thing; yet it is requisite that we speak it in love, and not in contention. These two should go together - truth and peace. (3.) That we should grow up into Christ in all things. Into Christ, so as to be more deeply rooted in him. In all things; in knowledge, love, faith, and all the parts of the new man. We should grow up towards maturity, which is opposed to being children. Those are improving Christians who grow up into Christ. The more we grow into an acquaintance with Christ, faith in him, love to him, dependence upon him, the more we shall flourish in every grace. He is the head; and we should thus grow, that we may thereby honour our head. The Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. (4.) We should be assisting and helpful one to another, as members of the same body, Eph 4:16. Here the apostle makes a comparison between the natural body and Christ's mystical body, that body of which Christ is the head: and he observes that as there must be communion and mutual communications of the members of the body among themselves, in order to their growth and improvement, so there must be mutual love and unity, together with the proper fruits of these, among Christians, in order to their spiritual improvement and growth in grace. From whom, says he (that is, from Christ their head, who conveys influence and nourishment to every particular member), the whole body of Christians, fitly joined together and compacted (being orderly and firmly united among themselves, every one in his proper place and station), by that which every joint supplies (by the assistance which every one of the parts, thus united, gives to the whole, or by the Spirit, faith, love, sacraments, etc., which, like the veins and arteries in the body, serve to unite Christians to Christ their head, and to one another as fellow-members), according to the effectual working in the measure of every part (that is, say some, according to the power which the Holy Ghost exerts to make God's appointed means effectual for this great end, in such a measure as Christ judges to be sufficient and proper for every member, according to its respective place and office in the body; or, as others, according to the power of Christ, who, as head, influences and enlivens every member; or, according to the effectual working of every member, in communicating to others of what it has received, nourishment is conveyed to all in their proportions, and according to the state and exigence of every part) makes increase of the body, such an increase as is convenient for the body. Observe, Particular Christians receive their gifts and graces from Christ for the sake and benefit of the whole body. Unto the edifying of itself in love. We may understand this two ways: - Either that all the members of the church may attain a greater measure of love to Christ and to one another; or that they are moved to act in the manner mentioned from love to Christ and to one another. Observe, Mutual love among Christians is a great friend to spiritual growth: it is in love that the body edifies itself; whereas a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

Barclay: Eph 4:7-10

Paul turns to another aspect of his subject. He has been talking about the qualities of the members of Christ's Church; now he is going to talk of their functions in the Church. He begins by laying down what was for him an essential truth--that every good thing a man has is the gift of the grace of Christ.

"And every virtue we possess,

And every victory won,

And every thought of holiness,

Are His alone."

To make his point about Christ the giver of gifts, Paul quotes, with a very significant difference, from Psa 68:18. This Psalm describes a king's conquering return. He ascends on high; that is to say, he climbs the steep road of Mount Zion into the streets of the Holy City. He brings in his captive band of prisoners; that is to say, he marches through the streets with his prisoners in chains behind him to demonstrate his conquering power. Now comes the difference. The Psalm speaks next about the conqueror receiving gifts. Paul changes it to read, "gave gifts to men."

In the Old Testament the conquering king demanded and received gifts from men: in the New Testament the conqueror Christ offers and gives gifts to men. That is the essential difference between the two Testaments. In the Old Testament a jealous God insists on tribute from men; in the New Testament a loving God pours out his love to men. That indeed is the good news.

Then, as so often, Paul's mind goes off at a word. He has used the word ascended, and that makes him think of Jesus. And it makes him say a very wonderful thing. Jesus descended into this world when he entered it as a man; Jesus ascended from this world when he left it to return to his glory. Paul's great thought is that the Christ who ascended and the Christ who descended are one and the same person. What does that mean? It means that the Christ of glory is the same as the Jesus who trod this earth; still he loves all men; still he seeks the sinner; still he heals the sufferer; still he comforts the sorrowing; still he is the friend of outcast men and women. As the Scottish paraphrase has it:

"Though now ascended up on high,

He bends on earth a brother's eye;

Partaker of the human name,

He knows the frailty of our frame.

Our fellow suff'rer yet retains

A fellow-feeling of our pains;

And still remembers in the skies

His tears, His agonies and cries.

In every pang that rends the heart

The Man of sorrows has a part:

He sympathizes with our grief,

And to the suff'rer sends relief."

The ascended Christ is still the lover of the souls of men.

Still another thought strikes Paul. Jesus ascended up on high. But he did not ascend up on high to leave the world; he ascended up on high to fill the world with his presence. When Jesus was here in the flesh, he could only be in one place at one time; he was under all the limitations of the body; but when he laid this body aside and returned to glory, he was liberated from the limitations of the body and was able then to be everywhere in all the world through his Spirit. To Paul the ascension of Jesus meant not a Christ-deserted but a Christ-filled world.

Constable: Eph 4:1--6:21

III. THE CHRISTIAN'S CONDUCT 4:1--6:20

Practical application (chs. 4-6) now follows doctrinal instruction (chs. 1-3).

Constable: Eph 4:1--6:10

A. Spiritual walk 4:1-6:9

Paul had explained the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in the church and had prayed for the realization of that unity in experience (2:11-3:21). He now told how to attain a spiritual walk, namely a life that manifests the Holy Spirit's control.

"The key word in this last half of the book is walk (Eph. 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15), while the key idea in the first half is wealth."

Constable: Eph 4:1-16

1. Walking in unity 4:1-16

He began by stressing the importance of walking (or living) in unity. God will not enforce unity in answer to prayer. Believers have a responsibility to obey Him as well.

Constable: Eph 4:7-16

The preservation of unity 4:7-16

Having described the basis of Christian unity Paul next explained the means by which we can preserve it, namely with the gifts that the Spirit gives.

4:7 Whereas each believer has received grace (unmerited favor and divine enablement) from God (3:2) God does not give each Christian the same measure of grace. Paul spoke of God's gift of grace here as ability to serve God. Though Jews and Gentiles both receive enabling grace from God, God gives this ability to different individuals differently (cf. v. 11; Rom. 12:4-6; 1 Cor. 12:4-6).

"Gifts are not toys to play with. They are tools to build with. And if they are not used in love, they become weapons to fight with . . . (1 Cor. 12-14)."¹⁰⁰

4:8 Paul's paraphrase of Psalm 68:18 confirms his statement that God gives gifts to people. A military victor has the right to give gifts to those identified with him. Christ, the victor over sinful people, has the right to give those people to the church as gifts.¹⁰¹ In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 Paul spoke of gifts given to people (cf. v. 7), but here he spoke of people given to the church as gifts.

"Some have alleged that Paul erred in his citation from Psalm 68:18 on at least two counts: (1) he altered the verb of the psalm from received' to gave,' thus reversing its meaning, and (2) he gave an interpretation to the Old Testament passage that is unwarranted. With regard to the first point, the origin of the reading gave' is not to be found in Ephesians 4:8. Rather, this is a variant reading for Psalm 68:18 that has an ancient pedigree, as may be seen by its presence in both the Aramaic Targum and the Syriac Peshitta. However, Paul was not necessarily quoting with one of these sources in mind; the reading probably had a history not limited to its appearance in these particular sources. It was apparently a variant reading that was well known, especially within Jewish rabbinic circles. Furthermore, Paul must be permitted some latitude in his citation. His purpose was not to provide a formal and exact representation of the Old Testament phraseology, but rather to expound and apply the passage to the work of Christ as Lord of the church. That the apostle used a variant reading of the psalm should not in itself be overly surprising.

"Regarding the second point, it seems clear that Paul used an analogical patterning of Old Testament teaching within the New Testament context. This was common among New Testament writers. Such a practice does not obviate the Old Testament contextual setting, nor does it purport to provide the only fulfillment of the Old Testament passage. When Matthew, for example, related Hosea 11:1 (Out of Egypt have I called My son') to the flight of the holy family, he did not thereby deny that Hosea 11:1 refers to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. He simply drew an analogy between the two events. Likewise in Ephesians 4:8 the application of Psalm 68:18 to Jesus as the bestower of gifts for ministry within the church does not eliminate or contradict the Old Testament application of the words to the victorious Israelite King. In keeping with common Midrash pesher techniques, but in a way that avoids the excesses to which the method was pushed by some nonbiblical writers, Paul made a valid application of Christological significance to the Old Testament passage. On the one hand, according to Psalm 68:18, God ascended Zion as a victorious king worthy of being the recipient of gifts of homage. On the other hand, according to Ephesians 4:8, Jesus also ascended to the heavenly Zion as the victorious Lord who lovingly bestowed on His church the gifts of ministry essential to her future well-being. The one passage provides the pattern for the other."¹⁰²

A slightly different interpretation follows.

". . . Paul apparently followed the Jewish interpretation of the day (the Targum), which paraphrased this verse as follows: You did ascend to the firmament, O Prophet Moses! You led captivity captive; you taught the words of the Law; you gave [not received,' as in the Heb.] gifts to the sons of men.' (This interpretation saw Moses as God's representative.) Paul followed this Jewish exegesis because it explained that the conqueror distributed the gifts to His loyal subjects. The apostle applied that idea to Christ's victory over the forces of evil and His granting spiritual gifts (cf. Eph. 4:11) to those on His side. By this analogy (based more on the Jewish interpretation of the psalm than on the exact Heb. wording) Paul emphasized the greatness of believers' spiritual victory in Christ."¹⁰³

4:9 In verses 9-11 Paul commented on the meaning of "ascended" and "gave" in his citation.

For Christ to have ascended to heaven He first had to descend to "the lower parts of the earth." This is probably a reference to Jesus' grave (genitive of possession)¹⁰⁴ rather than to the earth (genitive of apposition)¹⁰⁵ or to hades (genitive of comparison)¹⁰⁶ in view of the context. In His death Jesus Christ gained the victory over sin, and He redeemed those whom He would give as gifts to the church.

4:10 Paul identified the descended Christ with the ascended Christ who now is in position to rule over all (cf. 1:23). He fills all things with His fullness (cf. Col. 1:18; 2:9; Prov. 30:4).

4:11 This verse explains "gave" (v. 8) and begins a sentence that runs through verse 16 in the Greek text.

After Jesus Christ ascended, He gave gifts to the church that enabled it to function. This order of events is in harmony with the revelation that the church is a new entity that came into existence after Jesus' ascension.¹⁰⁷

Christ gave gifted people to the church as gifts to the church. He gave some individuals to be apostles in the church. "Apostle" means someone sent as an authoritative delegate. Twelve men plus Paul were official apostles who had seen the risen Christ and had received personal appointment from Him (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor. 15:8-9; Gal. 1:1; 2:6-9). However there were other men who while not apostles in this limited sense functioned as apostles. The New Testament writers called them apostles too (1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19; Acts 14:4, 14; 1 Cor. 9:6; Rom. 16:7; cf. 1 Thess. 1:1; 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:6, 9). The duty of the apostles was to establish the church and the churches (2:20; 3:5).

New Testament prophets (Gr. prophetes, one who speaks forth) provided edification, exhortation, and comfort to the church (1 Cor. 14:3). Some of them conveyed new authoritative revelation to the church (2:20; 3:5; Acts 11:28; 21:10-11). Much of this is the revelation that we have in the New Testament books. Most of the prophets, however, simply "spoke forth" truth that God had previously revealed (cf. Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 11:5; 14:26-33).¹⁰⁸

"Christians today do not get their spiritual knowledge immediately from the Holy Spirit, but mediately through the spirit teaching the Word."¹⁰⁹

Evangelists preached the gospel and served as modern missionaries both at home and abroad (Acts 21:8; 8:6-40; 2 Tim. 4:5). Paul did not identify these people as foundational to the church as he did the apostles and prophets (2:20). Nevertheless their ministry was and is essential. They equipped people to minister (vv. 12-13) at least by leading them to faith in Christ.

We might better translate the Greek phrase rendered "pastors and teachers" as "pastor-teachers." The Greek construction suggests that one kind rather than two kinds of people is in view. The Greek article translated "the" occurs only before "pastor." Moreover the Greek conjunction translated "and" between "pastors" and "teachers" is different from the one used elsewhere in the verse (kai rather than de). However, the Greek construction may describe two types of gifted people whose ministries are among settled congregations in contrast to the itinerant ministries of the apostles, prophets, and evangelists. Probably the phrase describes the overseers of local churches who pastor and teach (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3).

4:12 The purpose of all these gifted leaders is to prepare the rest of the saints to minister and so build up the body of Christ, namely the church. "Equipping" (Gr. katartismon) means preparing, mending, or restoring people to their proper use (Gal. 6:1; cf. Matt. 4:21; 2 Cor. 13:11; Heb. 13:21). The role of these leaders is to minister the Word to the saints in the church so the saints can minister the Word in the world. All the saints should participate in service, not just the leaders.¹¹⁰ Every Christian has a gift or gifts with which he or she can serve (4:7; 1 Pet. 4:10).

4:13 The end in view is completeness in Christ. As each believer exercises the gifts (abilities God has given him or her, v. 7), three things happen. First, the body enjoys unity (vv. 3-6). Second, it becomes more spiritually mature (v. 15). Third, it becomes more Christ-like (cf. 1:23; 3:19). Unity of the faith (cf. v. 5), full knowledge (cf. 1:17), and maturity constitute the three-fold goal in view. This equals the fullness of Christ.

"God is not trying to produce successful Christian business people who can impress the world with their money and influence. He is not trying to fashion successful church leaders who can influence people with their organizational and administrative skills. Nor is He trying to fashion great orators who can move people with persuasive words. He wants to reproduce in His followers the character of His son--His love, His kindness, His compassion, His holiness, His humility, His unselfishness, His servant attitude, His willingness to suffer wrongfully, His ability to forgive, and so much more that characterized His life on earth."¹¹¹

4:14 One result of gifted people equipping the saints to serve the Lord and others is that believers may be stable in their faith. Infants are easily swayed and confused, as waves blown by the wind. False teachers create such winds by their teaching and seek to trick people into following them.

4:15 Another result is that believers should maintain truth in love in both speech and conduct. Paul contrasted the deception of heresy with the integrity of the gospel.

"This fundamental concern for the truth is the secret of maturity in the church."¹¹²

The church that stresses both the truth and love will produce spiritually mature Christ-like believers.

Loving, effective confrontation involves speaking the truth in love. The truth may be as medicine to the person who needs it, but love is the sugar that added to the medicine makes it palatable. Remember Mary Poppins' prescription: "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down."

4:16 Jesus Christ is both the One into whom we grow (v. 15) and the One out of whom we grow as a whole church. The whole body grows as each part carries out its proper function. All parts of the body alluded to in this verse are Christians except the Head, Jesus Christ.¹¹³

The church then is a diverse body composed of many different people who must give attention to preserving their unity (vv. 7-16). Paul's emphasis was on body growth more than on individual growth in this passage. Each believer contributes to body growth as he or she exercises his or her particular gifts (abilities) in the service of Christ.

College: Eph 4:1-32

EPHESIANS 4

II. DUTIES: THE CHRISTIAN'S RESPONSE

TO SALVATION (4:1-6:24)

A. THE CHRISTIAN IN CHURCH LIFE (4:1-16)

1. Unity in the Body (4:1-6)

¹ As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Chapter four marks a major turning point in the epistle. Paul now leaves the grand theology of how God gives salvation, to take up the practical application of how man lives it. If a person chooses to be "in Christ" and a part of the covenant people, there are certain obligations which are laid upon him. These duties are for his own good, and they in no way earn him the favor which God has given him. They are simply the lifestyle the Christian should expect to live.

4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then,

As in most of his epistles, Paul eventually comes to the "therefore" or "then" (ou , oun ). This conjunction makes a transition, denoting that what follows is a logical and necessary result from what has preceded. In this case, what has preceded is the explanation of God's work in salvation and reconciliation, climaxing in his indwelling power and presence (3:14-21).

Paul identifies himself as a prisoner for the Lord, or more literally, "in the Lord" (ejn kurivw/ , en kyriô ). Since for Paul the whole sphere of Christian living is "in the Lord," his imprisonment is seen as no exception. And if being "in the Lord" has resulted in his imprisonment, what will it involve for his readers? Paul does not dramatize the fact that he is chained to a soldier, awaiting a verdict of life or death (Acts 28:16). It is a matter of fact, appropriate to the discussion, but mentioned in passing (cf. Eph 6:20). It should remind Paul's readers that he has earned the right to be heard.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

To "urge" (parakalevw , parakaleô ) or "exhort" originally meant to call to one's side. This kind of exhortation is not so much a command to go do something, but an appeal to join forces with the speaker in doing something. It is often a stirring call to action in public or military life.

Paul's call to action is literally "to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called." In an absolute sense, there is no way the Christian can live or walk in a way that is "worthy" of God's call. What Paul is urging is that his readers recognize the purpose to which God has called them, and to conduct themselves accordingly. "Worthy" introduces the high standard to which the Christian's living is expected to conform. Even when this standard seems out of reach, it is still the right goal; to be content with anything less would be unworthy. Paul's exhortation can be stated succinctly: "Be what you are!"

4:2 Be completely humble and gentle;

Lest there be misunderstanding about what it means to walk in harmony with God's redemptive purpose, Paul lists several specifics. Taken together, these comprise a grand appeal to unity in the body of Christ. In order to reach that unity (v. 3), four steps are prerequisite. (See also Phil 2:1-3 and Col 3:12-15.)

The first step in the "worthy walk" toward unity is to be "completely humble" (tapeinofrosuvnh , tapeinophrosynç ). Also translated "lowliness of mind," this word was always used in a bad light in the secular literature of Paul's day, because lowliness was not considered to be much of a virtue. It was associated with contemptible servility, an attitude proper only for slaves. In the Greek version of the O.T., however, the word began to take on a positive connotation: God will bring down the proud and exalt the lowly.

The second step toward unity is to be "gentle" or "meek" (prau?th" , prautçs ). The word does not suggest weakness or pusillanimity, but power held under control (see comments on Gal 5:23). The weak person yields because he is helpless to do anything else; the meek person yields his superior strength because he seeks the well being of others. While the Greeks were willing to admit this was a virtue among friends, harshness was better suited for enemies. Moreover, they cautioned, this gentleness should not lead to self-abasement ("complete humility").

be patient, bearing with one another in love.

The third step, or prerequisite, toward unity is to be "patient" (makroqumiva , makrothymia ). Literally, this means to have a "long temper" in contrast to a short-fused temper. Like gentleness, this also is a fruit of the Spirit (see comments on Gal 5:22). The same divine quality that allows God to be patient with sinners (2 Pet 3:9) enables the Christian to endure the exasperating behavior of others. Perhaps the best way for us to "lengthen" the fuse on our tempers is to remember how much God has had to overlook and forgive in our own lives.

The fourth step is "bearing with" (ajnevcomai , anechomai ) one another in love. Also translated "forbearing," this word is the equivalent of our phrase "putting up with." It is an amplification of what is meant by being patient. "Bearing with others means fully accepting them in their uniqueness, including their weaknesses and faults, and allowing them worth and space." All of this is to be done "in love," because only love can empower the Christian to maintain these attitudes toward others in times of stress.

These four steps must be taken before real unity is possible in the body of Christ. Whenever there are quarrels and disunity, one or more of these virtues can be identified as conspicuously absent. The attitude necessary for unity may be summarized in this way (including "eagerness" from the next verse):

Humility "I may be wrong."

Gentleness "I'm willing to listen, and change."

Patience "I'll give you time to think it through."

Bearing with "I'll put up with you even when we disagree."

Eagerness "I really want this to work."

4:3 Make every effort

Unity cannot be achieved or maintained just by being passive, so the Christian must "make every effort" to see that the body is united. This Greek word (spoudavzw , spoudazô ) means basically to "make haste," "to push on with something quickly, assiduously, zealously." Barth notes that "it is hardly possible to render exactly the urgency contained in the underlying Greek verb. Not only haste and passion, but a full effort of the whole man is meant, involving his will, sentiment, reason, physical strength, and total attitude."

to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

The unity of the Spirit is to be "maintained," not "attained." The oneness of the body of Christ is created by the Spirit; it is kept and preserved by the members of that body. This unity began when "we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body" (1 Cor 12:13) and continues as we are "built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit" (Eph 2:22). The Spirit has made us one; we live together in one body. Therefore we should recognize that we are one, and live together in peace. The "bond of peace" is paralleled in Col 3:14 with love, which "binds together" all the Christian virtues "in perfect unity."

4:4 There is one body

Paul now gives a sevenfold basis for unity. These seven things describe what all Christians have in common. They are centered on the triune Godhead, and are reminiscent of Paul's words in 1 Cor 12:4-6: "the same Spirit . . . the same Lord . . . the same God." While not a formal creed, these seven constitute an irreducible minimum upon which Christians must stand.

The first of these seven facts of unity is the one body. The church, the body of Christ, is made up of all those whom God has accepted into his family. It is the one body of Gentiles and Jews now reconciled to God (Eph 2:15); it is the one family of believers in heaven and on earth (Eph 3:15). Though we are many, yet in Christ we form one body (Rom 12:15). The essential oneness of God is reflected in the oneness of his church. Though represented in many local congregations, yet the universal church is one body.

and one Spirit

Amid a sometimes bewildering diversity of gifts in the early church, there is still "the same Spirit" (1 Cor 12:4). The Holy Spirit is present in every member, activating and energizing the whole body. From day one at Pentecost, the Spirit has been available to all men on the same basis. The Spirit does not divide, but makes us all members of one body (1 Cor 12:13).

- just as you were called to one hope when you were called -

Every member of the one body was "called" to share in the same hope by the message (Eph 6:17) and the convicting (John 16:8) of the Holy Spirit. Thus each part of the triad of this verse is linked together.

The "one hope" which all Christians share is the same "hope to which he has called you" in 1:18. Though we cannot see our final salvation and entrance into eternal life, we have a steadfast expectation of receiving it. We who share this hope are drawn together in unity because our lives are all oriented in the same direction. (See Rom 8:24-25; Tit 1:2; 1 Pet 1:13.) This hope is not something individual and private, but something public and corporate, to "share the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light" (Col 1:13).

4:5 one Lord,

The second triad underlying the unity shared by all Christians is Lord/faith/baptism. As F. F. Bruce notes, "It is not difficult to understand why 'one faith' and 'one baptism' are attached to 'one Lord'; he is the object of his people's faith (Eph 3:12) and it is into him that they have been baptized (Rom 6:3)."

The "one Lord" (kuvrio" , kyrios ) is "the one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live" (1 Cor 8:6). While "Lord" sometimes refers to the Father in the N.T., regularly it refers to Jesus Christ. In addition, God the Father is named separately in the next verse, completing the reference to the triune Godhead. The Father himself made Jesus our Lord (Acts 2:36), and to the Father's glory one day every tongue will acknowledge this fact (Phil 2:11).

one faith,

Sometimes the word "faith" (pivsti" , pistis ) refers to the body of truth and doctrine revealed by God, as in Jude 3. However, in all uses of "faith" in Ephesians Paul has reference to "saving faith," the personal trust and commitment to Jesus which is the basis of our salvation (e.g., 2:8 and 3:17). By faith we embrace the one Lord; by faith we share a common salvation.

one baptism;

Faith and baptism form a natural linkage: "When they believed . . . they were baptized" (Acts 8:12). Accordingly, Barth notes that "in the early church only people who believed were baptized." On the human side, the one baptism in which every Christian had shared was water baptism, the public rite of confession of the one faith in the one Lord. On the divine side, this water baptism was conjoined with the participation of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). In the beginning there was no question about baptism's form, immersion, because that was the clear meaning of the Greek word (baptivzw , baptizô ). There was no question about its purpose, which included forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), bestowal of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 12:13), and union with Christ (Rom 6:1-5; Gal 3:27; Col 2:11-12). All Christians had shared the same baptismal experience, in which the water and the Spirit were both involved.

The "one baptism" cannot be a baptism in the Spirit to the exclusion of water. Nowhere in the N.T. is anyone ever commanded to be baptized in the Spirit. (How could a person obey such a command?) Furthermore, even after Cornelius had received the miraculous outpouring of the Spirit, Peter commanded him to be baptized in water (Acts 10:44-48).

It may be questioned why the Lord's Supper is not also mentioned. While it is linked to unity in 1 Cor 10:17, it is not a ground or condition of that unity, but a subsequent expression of it.

4:6 one God and Father of all,

The first triad (v. 4) is based on the work of the Spirit; the second triad (v. 5) is based on our union with Christ; now the third triad is based on our sharing in the one God. The ascending order (Spirit, Christ, Father) repeats the sequence of 3:16-19 (see also 1 Cor 12:4-6).

The ultimate unity of the church - indeed, of the entire creation - is based on the Fatherhood of God. He is the source of all things and the origin of all existence. His Fatherhood is redemptive in nature, bringing all believers into the heavenly family (1:3, 17; 2:18; 3:14, 15).

who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul expands his mention of God the Father into the third triad by the use of three prepositions: over, through, and in. While these three words accurately express God's relation to every part of creation, they are especially true in his dealing with the church. God is "over" all his children as their transcendent Father. He is "through" all when they are the agents or instruments through whom he works. He is "in" all as they become "the dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:22).

2. Diversity in the Body (4:7-11)

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it ^a says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." ^{b 9} (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

^a 8 Or God ^b 8 Psalm 68:18

4:7 But to each one of us

Within our unity in Christ there is diversity. The sevenfold emphasis on "one" is followed by a contrasting "to each one." While Christians stand together on the seven facts of unity just listed, we each take our own individual positions of service. The individual functions of each member do not destroy the body's unity; indeed, they enhance it.

grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

The ability of each member to perform his assigned service is described in the words "grace has been given." Just as in Paul's own case (Eph 3:2, 7), this "grace" involves a job responsibility. In similar language Paul tells the Romans, "So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us" (Rom 12:5-6). Each Christian uses "whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Pet 4:10). Since Christ is responsible for bestowing his Spirit on believers, it is not inconsistent to credit him in this verse with bestowing the gifts of the Spirit on them as well.

4:8 This is why it says:

Paul turns to Psalm 68:18 to prove his point. After he quotes the passage in this verse, he will show in vv. 9-10 why the quotation should be taken in reference to Christ. Paul's line of argument would have been clear to the first century mind, but is less so to readers today. It is important to notice that the passage has two parts, each with its own function. The first part proves that the fulfillment is in Christ; the second part confirms the theme which Paul is asserting: "He gave gifts to men."

"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train

In the context of Ps 68 the conquering God is seen going up to Mount Zion in victory. From Sinai to the promised land God has made his people victorious over their enemies. A triumphal parade displaying prisoners of war is an emphatic statement of this victory. While the original text is addressed to God and says, "you" led captives, it is an easy transition to use the words to describe God and say "he" led captives.

These words find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. When he ascended into the heavenly Zion, the new Jerusalem, he had conquered the forces of Satan. The principalities and powers were disarmed and defeated by Jesus, who led them as his captives in his triumphal victory parade (Col 2:15).

and gave gifts to men."

Paul's minor shift from "you" to "he" is now followed by a major departure from the standard O.T. text. While Paul quotes the passage as saying "gave gifts to men," the original text (both Hebrew and LXX) has "received gifts from men." Two things help to explain Paul's apparent reversal of the text. First, certain ancient versions (the Peshitta and one of the Targums) do state the Psalm as Paul quotes it. Second, the overall context of this Psalm is a picture of God giving ( vv. 5-6, 10-11, 19, 35). As the last verse of Ps 68 makes clear, the reason God received gifts from defeated pagans was to "give power and strength to his people." Thus, in Ps 68:18 the giving is implied in the receiving. Understood in this light, the verse Paul quotes is interpreted true to its setting and is not being taken out of its proper context.

4:9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended

Paul uses a typical first century line of argument here. He who ascends must first have descended. What goes up must first have come down. And obviously, he who first came down and then ascended is Jesus Christ. Thus, Paul argues, the ancient Psalm is properly applied to Christ. Ascent and descent are connected in John 3:13 in a strikingly similar manner.

to the lower, earthly regions?

Literally, "the lower parts of the earth." Various interpretations of this phrase are possible: (1) A descent into Hades; (2) The descent of the incarnation; (3) A descent in the form of the Spirit, following his ascension. Phil 2:7-8 may be the best commentary on this, showing how Christ stooped to taking on human form - even to the point of dying on the cross.

4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens,

As in the Philippians passage, the lowly descent is followed by glorious exaltation. God lifted him up and "appointed him to be head over everything" (Eph 1:22). Christ has "gone through the heavens" and is presently "exalted above the heavens" (Heb 4:14; 7:26).

in order to fill the whole universe.)

Just as God could say, "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" (Jer 23:24), now the exalted Christ pervades the universe. He who has been made head over everything also "fills everything in every way" (Eph 1:22-23). From his position of superiority over all the universe, Jesus sustains (Heb 1:3) and holds together all things (Col 1:17).

4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles,

Having established his point with the authority of Scripture, Paul returns to the thought of v. 7, the diversity of gifts given through the grace of Christ. While v. 7 concerns the general fact of variety in the giving of grace to all believers, v. 11 focuses on specific examples of this variety. Moreover, while other Scriptures depict the gifts as being the ministries given to certain individuals (1 Cor 12:4-11), in this passage the gifts are the individuals themselves who exercise the ministries. In the words of Andrew Lincoln, "What does the exalted Christ give to the church? He gives people, these particular people who proclaim the word and lead."

The first of four such groups of leaders given to the church are the "apostles" (ajpovstoloi , apostoloi ). These men were handpicked by Jesus to be "sent forth" as his representatives on earth after he ascended into heaven. They were promised inspiration (John 14:26) and their preaching would carry authority (John 20:23). The apostles are named first in Paul's listing because of their priority among other leaders (see 1 Cor 12:28, "first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers"). With the exception of Judas, who was replaced prior to Pentecost, no provision was ever made for the successive replacement of apostles. They served as the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20; cf. Rev 21:14), which is laid but once. They and their close associates produced the New Testament Scriptures, which perpetuate that foundation.

some to be prophets,

Prophets, the second group of leaders, are closely linked with apostles in Eph 2:20 and 3:5. These leaders had the gift which enabled them to speak directly from God (1 Cor 12:10, 28), usually with a prediction concerning the future. Especially in the earliest years of the church, before the New Testament was written and widely circulated, these gifted leaders were vital to the local congregation. Just as with the apostles, the prophets did not arrange to have successors. They were foundational, not a permanent office for every generation (Eph 2:20; 1 Cor 13:8-10). The sufficiency of Scripture makes prophets unnecessary today.

some to be evangelists,

By definition, the "evangelists" (eujaggelisthv" , euangelistçs ) are those who proclaim the "good news" of the gospel. Such a preacher did not have the authority of an apostle, nor the inspiration of a prophet. Hendriksen styles them as "traveling missionaries." One must be careful, however, to make a definition broad enough to include Philip (Acts 21:8) and Timothy (2 Tim 4:5). Both of these leaders appear to be working with an established church, doing considerable "pastoral" service (esp. in the case of Timothy).

Unlike apostles and prophets, evangelists are found in every generation of the church. The work of evangelism has been given to the church "to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20).

and some to be pastors and teachers,

The fourth category of gifted leaders is "the pastors and teachers." A single definite article in Greek links the two terms as describing a single category of leaders. The word "pastor" (poimhvn , poimçn ) is a common Greek word for a shepherd. It is used interchangeably in the N.T. with the terms "elder" and "overseer." (Cf. 1 Pet 5:1-5; Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-7.) Such men were to be "able to teach" (1 Tim 3:2), providing nurture and instruction to new converts. In this way, the work of the evangelist is complemented by the work of the pastor/teacher. Teachers preserved and expounded the message of the apostles and the O.T. They were specialists who served in behalf of the church to inculcate divine truth.

It must not be thought that these four categories of leadership are exhaustive. Other N.T. lists of leaders present additional areas of giftedness (1 Cor 12:4-11, 28-30; Rom 12:6-8; 1 Pet 4:10-11; etc.). Neither are these four categories exclusive of each other. Paul served in all four areas; Timothy served in three. Rather than setting up rigid offices in the church, the N.T. describes the kinds of work that need to be done and recognizes the kinds of leaders who do the work.

3. Maturity in the Body (4:12-16)

¹² to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ 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.

4:12 to prepare God's people for works of service,

Literally, "toward the equipping of the saints unto work of service." The noun "equipping" (katartismov" , katartismos ) occurs only here in the N.T. The verb from which it is derived, however, occurs thirteen times. A survey of these uses will show quite clearly what the leaders are to do for "the saints":

1. To teach (Luke 6:40)

2. To equip with everything good (Heb 13:21)

3. To supply what is lacking (1 Thess 3:10)

4. To prepare for use (Heb 10:5)

5. To form, mold, and shape (Heb 11:3)

6. To mend and repair (Matt 4:21)

7. To correct faults (2 Cor 13:11)

8. To restore a fallen brother (Gal 6:1)

9. To bring into functioning harmony (1 Cor 1:10)

Those who are to be equipped are all God's "holy" people, who have been "set apart" to him. Their shepherd/teachers are to help them get ready to do the work of service. (The translation "ministry" may give a false impression of "clergy" work.) This word for "service" (diakoniva , diakonia ) originally meant serving at a table. In the N.T. this kind of service includes such things as:

1. Providing food (Luke 8:3)

2. Waiting tables (Acts 6:2)

3. Meeting physical needs of those who are hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, or in prison (Matt 25:44)

4. Delivering famine relief money (Rom 15:25)

5. Serving as a deacon (1 Tim 3:10)

6. Proclaiming the Word of God (1 Pet 1:12)

Two-thirds of the sixty-six uses of "service" or "to serve" in the N.T. have to do with meeting physical needs. Therefore, the key to gaining the right focus on ministry is to stop thinking of serving the "church program" and to start thinking about serving the needs of people.

so that the body of Christ may be built up

The body of Christ is comprised of the people in the church. When all the body members are put to work, the body grows and matures (v. 16). People grow to maturity through service. So long as the saints are merely consumers of the program and product of the church, they will remain immature and selfish. Just as Christ came not to be served, but to serve (Matt 20:28), so must his body learn the satisfaction that comes from being concerned about the needs of others.

4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith

In the midst of all the diversity of gifts and variety of ministries among the saints, the body moves toward ultimate unity. Unlike the God-given unity of v. 3, the unity spoken of here is a goal not yet attained. The emphasis on "all" (oiJ pa'nte" , hoi pantes ) confirms that the saints themselves are involved in growing through service; the leaders do not do it all. The "all" also eliminates the possibility of the emergence of an elite class in the church, such as later came to be promoted by the Gnostics.

Unity "in the faith" is not total doctrinal conformity. Men will never agree on every opinion, this side of heaven. As in v. 5, Paul is thinking of "faith" as total trust and commitment to Jesus. Faith unites believers to Jesus Christ, and thereby faith unites believers to one another.

At the same time, faith in the Son of God cannot be detached from historical truth. The church cannot be united in commitment to Jesus while disagreeing about who he is and what he has taught. A united, mature church will "no longer be infants . . . blown here and there by every wind of teaching" (v. 14).

and in the knowledge of the Son of God

The knowledge (ejpivgnwsi" , epignôsis ) which marks the well built-up church is not just the intellectual knowledge of all the facts about Jesus. It is personal involvement with him (Eph 3:19). Paul earnestly sought the "surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus," (Phil 3:10) so he seeks it for the Ephesian readers as well. This intensely personal experience with Christ is also a corporate experience. Unity with the Son necessitates unity with his body.

and become mature,

This third goal of the built-up church is literally "unto a mature man." Paul uses the right word for "man" (ajnhvr , ançr ), the term for the adult male, connoting full maturity of strength. Paul's word for "mature" (tevleio" , teleios ) can mean "perfect," but in application to men it regularly means "full grown" (Phil 3:15). The concept stands in sharp contrast to the helpless "infants" of the next verse.

attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Paul's fourfold goal in this verse for the well built-up church is unity, knowledge, maturity, fullness. This fourth part of the goal is for the church to aim at the standard of the glorified Christ. His fullness is his complete, balanced character; it is to be replicated in the life of the church. Final attainment of this goal will not be achieved by the church on earth, but the believer can be content to aim for nothing less.

4:14 Then we will no longer be infants,

To define the goal of maturity more sharply, Paul describes its opposite: helpless infants. This word (nhvpio" , nçpios ) can mean merely young children in a neutral sense (Gal 4:1-3), but often the term carries with it the value judgment of "infantile and stupid" (1 Cor 3:1-2; 13:11; Heb 5:13). It was necessary, no doubt, for all believers to begin as babies in their faith, but they are to stay at this level "no longer." God wants his people childlike, but not childish.

tossed back and forth by the waves,

The immature church has not come to united faith, knowledge, maturity, and fullness. Lacking the stability of being "rooted and established" (Eph 3:17), the immature church faces the peril of the house built on the sand. The effects of the storm on the unstable person are also seen in James 1:6 and Jude 12-13.

and blown here and there by every wind of teaching

The waves are paralleled by the winds; both represent the unsettling effects of false teaching. Like helpless bits of flotsam and jetsam swirling at the mercy of the waves and the wind, the infantile believer faces confusion, error and lack of direction. Similarly, Heb 13:9 warns, "Do not be carried away by all kinds of false teaching."

and by the cunning and craftiness of men

False teachers may be very clever. Since they are not limited to working with the truth, they can shape their teaching to make it attractive and appealing. Even our translation "cunning and craftiness" probably borders too closely to the kind of cleverness that men admire. Their "cunning" (kubeiva , kybeia or cubeia ) is from the Greek word for the dice used in gambling, where cheating was standard practice. Their "craftiness" (panourgiva , panourgia ) means literally they were "ready to do anything" to take an unfair advantage.

in their deceitful scheming.

Literally, "in deceitful methods of error." "Deceitful" (meqodeiva , methodeia ) means having clever methods or strategies. "Error" (plavnh , planç ) means getting off course. Paul's descriptions tell this sad truth: False teachers cheat; they adulterate the truth; they will do anything they can, use every method at their disposal, to deceive and lead off course. Their father is the father of lies (John 8:44).

Paul had warned the elders from Ephesus in Acts 20:30 that even from their own number "men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Apparently it was now beginning to happen.

4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,

Christians must not remain at the mercy of false teachers. "Instead," they must take action - but what action? Shall they meet clever deception with even more clever scheming? Paul's antidote for cunning lies is truth. The Ephesians must not merely "speak the truth," they must adhere to truth in every respect; they must practice absolute integrity. (The Greek phrase is literally "truthing in love.")

We do not combat the father of lies with guile and subterfuge. We fight in the full armor of God, which begins with truth (Eph 6:14). However, allegiance to truth does not allow us to be blunt and cruel in the pretext of being frank and honest. Paul's command is to be truthful "in love." "Of any proposed action or word we ask not only 'Is it true and right?' but also 'Is it kind and loving?'"

we will in all things grow up

Let us trace the line of thought back through the last four verses. Paul's goal is for the infant (v. 14) to grow to maturity in the fullness of Christ (v. 13). This is the reason the saints (v. 12) are to be equipped by the leaders (v. 11). When all God's people are enlisted in active service in the kingdom, "we all" (v. 13) grow "in every respect."

into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Christ causes the body to live and grow (cf. Col 2:19), and the purpose of all its activity is to accomplish the will of the Head. The flow of attention rises from each individual part upward to the ruling Head (see Eph 1:22 and 5:23-24).

4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,

As branches derive their life and strength from the vine (John 15:1-11), so the church derives its spiritual vitality and energy from the Lord. In an ongoing process, believers are continuing to be built into a growing structure. Coming from every people, tribe, and nation, they are "joined" (sunarmologouvmenon , synarmologoumenon , "harmoniously fit together") and "held together" (sumbibazovmenon , symbibazomenon , "firmly knit together") as the hands and feet are connected by joints and ligaments to the body.

grows and builds itself up in love,

With vitality and direction coming from the Head, the body of Christ "makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love." Since not every kind of cellular growth is productive (e.g., cancer, obesity, deformity), it is important that the body of Christ "grows as God causes it to grow" (Col 2:19). Just as God causes the healthy human body, when properly supported and held together, to experience normal growth, so the church can expect to grow and be built up in love.

as each part does its work.

Literally, "according to the energizing in measure of each individual part." The key to godly growth that accomplishes the purpose of the Head is for every part of the body to function. The leadership (v. 11) cannot do all the ministry, while the saints merely watch. When certain parts of the body have to try to perform roles normally handled by other parts, two things result: (1) those parts must leave off doing their own important function; (2) they perform less efficiently in the new roles for which they are less well suited.

B. THE CHRISTIAN IN PERSONAL LIFE (4:17-5:21)

1. The Old Nature vs. the New (4:17-24)

¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² 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; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord,

Paul now proceeds with the exhortation he began in 4:1 and broke off in 4:3. "So . . ." has resumptive force, focusing again on what it means to live a worthy life. Paul calls for a new standard of conduct, solemnly "insisting on it" (martuvromai , martyromai , to affirm or testify in court).

that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,

These Gentile believers must not allow themselves to live (peripatei'n , peripatein , "to walk") any longer as other Gentiles live. Unlike the Jews, who usually had a higher standard of conduct because they recognized God's law, the Gentiles were morally careless, especially in sexual matters. God's people must add purity to their unity and maturity (4:1-16).

in the futility of their thinking.

"Futility" describes the empty and purposeless lives of people who do not know God. The word implies idle vanity, foolishness, and frustration. In Lystra Paul called the pagans to "turn from these futilities" (Acts 14:15). Peter reminded his readers they had been "redeemed from the futile lifestyle" they had inherited from their fathers (1 Pet 1:18). A more exact parallel is found in what Paul wrote to the Romans:

Romans Ephesians 1:21 their thinking became futile 4:17 in the futility of their thinking 1:21 their foolish hearts were darkened 4:18 darkened in their understanding 1:24 God gave them over . . .to impurity 4:19 have given themselves over to sensuality 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding

Like the person in the darkening twilight who cannot see things very clearly, the Gentiles had allowed their sense of moral distinctions to become blurred. The eyes of their hearts were not enlightened (cf. Eph 1:18), and they suffered from a moral and spiritual black-out. The "understanding" or "thought" (diavnoia , dianoia , as in 2:3) with which they should have wholly loved God (Matt 22:37) did not even know him or his ways.

and separated from the life of God

Although every child enters life in good standing with God (Matt 18:3; 19:14), progressive darkening of the mind finally separates him from God. This alienation was especially true of the Gentiles (Eph 2:12). As Paul also wrote to the nearby Colossians, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior" (Col 1:21). To be cut off from God is also to be cut off from "the life of God," the blessings of his mercy and election.

because of the ignorance that is in them

The Gentile's moral darkness and consequent alienation was a result of "ignorance" (a[gnoia , agnoia ) of God. While the word in secular literature usually means a mere lack of knowledge, in Scripture the word implies a refusal to know. "Not to know the Lord is as much as to ignore him." Ignorance in this context is certainly no excuse; it is sin. They "suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Rom 1:18); they "did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God" (Rom 1:28).

due to the hardening of their hearts.

This phrase worsens the case against the Gentiles. They are not victims of inadvertent ignorance; their ignorance is a willful product of their hard hearts. The word for "hardening" (pwvrwsi" , pôrôsis ) was used for a soft mass or tissue that calcified or turned to stone. The "heart" (kardiva , kardia ), as regularly in classical and biblical literature, is viewed as the seat of the will and understanding, not of the emotions.

4:19 Having lost all sensitivity,

The hardening process finally left them "past feeling; unable to feel pain." A similar idea is found in 1 Tim 4:2, where some have had their consciences "seared as with a hot iron." By their own consent and choice the Gentiles had reached a point where they no longer had the moral discernment or feeling to care about the degrading lives they led.

they have given themselves over to sensuality

Romans 1:24-32 says God "gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts," while in this verse Paul says "they gave themselves." In either case it was the desire of the sinful heart, not the desire of God, that precipitated the action. The word translated "sensuality" (ajsevlgeia , aselgeia ) is the strongest Greek word for depravity, indicating a total disregard for decency (see notes on Gal 5:19). It encompasses riotous and excessive living, frequently with unrestrained sexual behavior in view.

so as to indulge in every kind of impurity,

Like sensuality, "impurity" (ajkaqarsiva , akatharsia ) is a work of the flesh (Gal 5:19). It indicates the kind of moral pollution that makes a man unfit to come before the presence of God. Not content merely to abandon God and sink into sin, the Gentiles wanted to practice "every kind" of impurity.

with a continual lust for more.

In their perverted way of seeing things, each different kind of sin was a delicacy to be desired. They practiced each new sin greedily, "in covetousness" (ejn pleonexiva/ , en pleonexia ). Their insatiable appetite for sin could never be satisfied (cf. 1 Pet 4:3).

4:20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.

But Paul's readers are strongly contrasted with those who are thus alienated from God. While dualism in Greek philosophy taught that the actions of the body had no effect on the inner man, no such folly is taught in Christ. The mind and body are inseparably connected in acts of immorality. "Do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil" (1 John 3:7-8).

4:21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him

Since Paul is addressing an audience larger than just his own original converts in Ephesus, he says "surely you have heard." To "hear" of Christ draws attention primarily to the first stage of hearing the gospel; to be "taught" highlights the further state of formal instruction.

in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

Truth was an important ideal in the life of Jesus, being used twenty-five times in the Gospel of John alone. Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32); "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). "Jesus" without any addition is not found elsewhere in Ephesians, and is rare in any of Paul's epistles.

4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,

The words "You were taught" are added by the NIV to pick up the line of thought from the previous verse. The "former way of life" has been graphically described by Paul in vv. 17-19 and is not acceptable for a Christian. Three infinitives will sum up the new lifestyle that the readers are taught: to put off, to be made new, and to put on.

to put off your old self,

The old "self" (ajnqrwpo" , anthrôpos , "man") is the personality ruined by sinful desires and alienated from God. It is the "old self" that was crucified with Christ and buried in baptism (Rom 6:6). But Paul finds it necessary to instruct those who are already saints (Eph 1:1) that they must still "put off" the old nature, just as they would remove a soiled, worn-out garment. They are already God's holy people; now they must act like it!

which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

The stains that corrupt or defile the old nature are "the desires of deceit." These desires (ejpiqumivai , epithymiai , "lusts") are deceitful because they beguile people into sin and error. They promise fulfillment, but they deliver corruption and destruction.

4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

"To be made new" (ajnaneou'sqai , ananeousthai ) is a present infinitive, drawing attention to the continuing aspect of the action. The renovating of one's life is not an instantaneous thing, but a project still in progress.

The renewal takes place "in the spirit of your minds" by internal transformation. The process begins when the Spirit of Christ re- places the old self at conversion (Gal 2:20), and continues as the Christian is "transformed by the renewing of the mind" (Rom 12:2).

4:24 and to put on the new self,

Once the "old self" is put off like a filthy garment (cf. Isa 64:6), the "new self" can be put on. The verb "put on" (ejnduvsasqai , endysasthai ) is found only in Paul in the N.T. In Gal 3:27 and Rom 13:14 the believer puts on Christ; in Col 3:9-10 and the present verse the believer puts on the new self. "This, however, is only a different way of saying the same thing. Christ ruling in our lives is the new nature."

created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

In the beginning man was created in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27), but man sinned and then continued to fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Now in Christ there is a new beginning! The fallen sinner can be re-created in the image of his Creator. While the believer has been charged to be earnest to change his ethical lifestyle, the word "created" is a reminder that God himself is the primary producer of the change.

"True righteousness and holiness," then, is much more than man's own feeble attempts at self-righteousness. It involves an inner transformation which produces a whole new self.

2. Members of One Body (4:25-32)

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶"In your anger do not sin" ^a : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ 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. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

^a 26 Psalm 4:4

4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor,

As in Col 3:8-14, Paul identifies exactly what it means for the believer to put off the old self and put on the new. To begin with (see Eph 6:14), the believer must put off "the lie" (yeu'do" , pseudos ). What sharper break with the old life could he make than to abandon the ways of the "father of lies" (John 8:44) and to take his stand with God, for whom it is "impossible to lie" (Heb 6:18)?

And the Christian must do more than avoid the outright lie; he must "speak truthfully." The half-truth, which is also half-lie, simply will not do. The "neighbor," in the context of the following clause, is anyone in the body of Christ.

for we are all members of one body.

People lie or withhold truth when they conclude that the other person is not competent to handle the whole truth in some desired manner. To convey a falsehood to a fellow believer, to deem him unworthy of knowing the truth, rips the fabric of unity in the "one body." As members of a "social organism" Christians must be able to share an honest, intimate association with one another.

4:26 "In your anger do not sin":

Anger is specified in both Ephesians and Colossians as a vice which the Christian must put away. Jesus warned that "anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (Matt 5:22). James declares that "man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (James 1:20). Yet in the present verse Paul seems to allow, or even command, the Christian to "be angry" (ojrgivzesqe , orgizesthe ). As Paul quotes these words from Ps 4:4, does he intend the imperative verb as a concession ("if you get angry, as is inevitable") or as a command ("when appropriate, get angry with righteous indignation")? Since in just five more verses Paul forbids anger, it is unlikely that he commands it here. Moreover, as Bruce comments, "There is a subtle temptation to regard my anger as righteous indignation and other people's anger as sheer bad temper."

If feelings of anger are sometimes unavoidable, there are two things the Christian can do to avoid letting his emotions get him into trouble. The first is "do not sin." An action taken in the heat of anger is almost always the wrong action. Only God can properly execute wrath and vengeance (Rom 12:19).

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

The second action the Christian must take is to get rid of anger within the day. Few things have higher priority than seeking reconciliation with a brother (Matt 5:24). Animosity must not be harbored as a growing resentment.

4:27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

When emotions are out of control, the devil steps in to exploit the situation. Whether in an action taken in the heat of passion, or in a smoldering resentment, the devil is given room to operate.

4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer,

The thief (oJ klevptwn , ho kleptôn , "the one stealing") must stop what he is doing, now that he is a believer. While the KJV says "he who stole," the present tense of the participle and the words "steal no longer" indicate a continuing and habitual problem.

but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,

The nobility of manual labor was known among the rabbis, as well: "He who does not teach his son a craft teaches him to be a robber." Paul himself was willing to work with his hands, making tents in Corinth (Acts 18:3; cf. 1 Thess 4:11-12; 2 Thess 3:6-12). It was to the Ephesian elders themselves that Paul said, "You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions" (Acts 20:34).

that he may have something to share with those in need.

Stealing is replaced by hard work. The cured thief learns to do something "useful," and with his newly earned bounty he learns to share. This is not foolish idealism; it is sound common sense. The dignity of labor and the joy of sharing leave no room for the desire to steal.

4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,

"Do not let" could be well translated "Stop it from going on." The "unwholesome" (saprov" , sapros ) talk belongs to the category of "rotten" fruit (Matt 12:33), "decayed" trees (Matt 7:17), and "spoiled" fish (Matt 13:48). What comes "out of a man's mouth" defiles him, for "the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart" (Matt 15:11, 18). In the immediate context of this verse, "rotten words" are those which do not build up.

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,

Bluntly stated, Paul's rule is this: "If you can't build up, shut up!" However, this does not call for constant false flattery. Criticism can be edifying, when offered in the proper spirit by the proper person.

that it may benefit those who listen.

As the penitent thief learns to do "useful" work to share with others, the former slanderer learns to "benefit" others with his upbuilding words. It is not enough to cease doing bad things; the Christian must start replacing them with good things.

4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

Paul's readers must "stop" (as v. 29) grieving the Spirit with their abuse of their fellowman. In the context of the verses which immediately precede and follow this warning, we especially grieve God's Spirit by what we speak. The Spirit who speaks (1 Tim 4:1), teaches (John 14:26), and intercedes (Rom 8:27) has feelings and can be grieved. An impersonal force could be resisted or quenched, but "grieve" is movingly personal (cf. Isa 63:10).

with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Spirit is the seal, or identifying mark, placed on each child of God (Eph 1:13-14). When the Lord returns to claim his own, each of them will be recognized by the Spirit within them (Rom 8:9). Redemption, in one sense, has already taken place at the cross (Eph 1:7). The final realization of redemption, however, will take place at the end of this age "when the sons of God will be revealed" and they receive "the redemption" of their bodies (Rom 8:19, 23).

4:31 Get rid of all bitterness,

"Bitterness" (pikriva , pikria ) is "the temper which cherishes resentful feelings." It is a feeling of animosity or spite, nearly always in the N.T. in connection with speech.

rage and anger,

While "rage and anger" are often overlapping synonyms, the Stoics distinguished "rage" (qumov" , thymos ) as an initial explosion of hot temper and "anger" (ojrghv , orgç ) as a more settled feeling of gnawing hostility. This latter word of pent-up wrath is often used of the "wrath of God" (Rom 1:18 and Eph 5:6). Rage and anger are contrasting expressions of the same vice; Christians should not congratulate themselves for having one, but not the other.

brawling and slander,

"Brawling" (kraughv , kraugç , "clamor") is shouting out in anger. It is characteristic of a mob or assembly that covers up lack of sober arguments with its loudness (Luke 23:23; Acts 19:28; 23:19). "Slander" (blasfhmiva , blasphçmia ) is literally "speaking against. In reference to God it is "blasphemy"; in reference to man it is reviling and cursing, including the use of ominous and obscene words.

along with every form of malice.

All this is summed up in the word "malice" (kakiva , kakia ), which takes in any attitude or action which intends to harm one's neighbor. With this word Paul summarizes his rhetorical climax: "there has been a progression from anger's inner center ( pikria ) through its initial eruption ( thymos ) and steady festering (orgç ) to its external expression (kraugç ) and damaging of others (blasphçmia )." This evil disposition has no place in the new nature of the man newly created after God's own likeness.

4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,

In stunning contrast to what preceded, Paul says, "Be kind." "Kind" (crhstoiv , chrçstoi ) is more than gentle and polite; the word also means "useful" and "serviceable." It has the flavor of action and productivity. God showed his "kindness" to us (Eph 2:7) when he took steps to save us. "Compassionate" (eu[splagcnoi , eusplangchnoi ) originally had reference to the inner organs of the body, especially the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. This area of the body was noticed to produce strong feelings, even pain, when a tragedy was encountered. For this reason these organs were considered the seat of deepest emotion.

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

"Forgiving" (carizovmenoi , charizomenoi ) is literally "extending grace." Those who are re-created in the image of God should reproduce the free grace of his forgiving love. The word family of charizomai includes the ideas of happiness, pleasure, favor and goodwill. Therefore, if we forgive "just as" God in Christ forgave us, we will do it with a smile on our face!

-College Press New Testament Commentary: with the NIV

Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: Eph 4:8

EPHESIANS 4:8 —Does Paul inaccurately quote Psalm 68:18 ?

PROBLEM: Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 saying, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, andgave gifts to men” ( Eph. 4:8 ). Yet the OT Psalm reads, “You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive; you have received gifts among men.” Is there a discrepancy here between these two texts?

SOLUTION: Some say that Paul did not quote from the Septuagint, but from the Aramaic Targum which is used by orthodox Jews to interpret the text. The Septuagint translates the Hebrew as “You have taken,” while the Targum translates the Hebrew “You have given.”

In any event, the idea given by these two translations of the Hebrew is that God received or took gifts so that they could then be distributed to men. Since both ideas are in the text, both renderings are correct. Thus, Paul says, “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” ( Eph. 4:11 ). In other words, Paul quotes this OT passage to show that Christ was victorious over our spiritual enemies, taking from them the spoils of battle and passing on the gifts to believers who in the exercise of these gifts can be victorious over the enemy. Therefore, there are no discrepancies to be found in Paul’s use of this Psalm, since this is precisely what David did when he robbed his enemy of their gifts and gave them to his men.   

Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

The Epistle to the Ephesians

From Rome a.d. 63

By Way of Introduction

There are some problems of a special nature that confront us about the so-called Epistle to the Ephesians.

The Authorship

It is not admitted by all that Paul wrote it, though no other adequate explanation of its origin has ever been given. So far as subject matter and vocabulary and style are concerned, if Colossians is Pauline, there is little or nothing to be said against the Pauline authorship of this Epistle.

Relation to Colossians

As we have seen, the two Epistles were sent at the same time, but clearly Colossians was composed first. Ephesians bears much the same relation to Colossians that Romans does to Galatians, a fuller treatment of the same general theme in a more detached and impersonal manner.

The Destination

The oldest documents (Aleph and B) do not have the words en Ephesōi (in Ephesus) in Eph_1:1 (inserted by a later hand). Origen did not have them in his copy. Marcion calls it the Epistle to the Laodiceans. We have only to put here Col_4:16 " the letter from Laodicea" to find the probable explanation. After writing the stirring Epistle to the Colossians Paul dictated this so-called Epistle to the Ephesians as a general or circular letter for the churches in Asia (Roman province). Perhaps the original copy had no name in Eph_1:1 as seen in Aleph and B and Origen, but only a blank space. Marcion was familiar with the copy in Laodicea. Basil in the fourth century mentions some MSS. with no name in the address. Most MSS. were copies from the one in Ephesus and so it came to be called the Epistle to the Ephesians. The general nature of the letter explains also the absence of names in it, though Paul lived three years in Ephesus.

The Date

The same date must be assigned as for Philemon and Colossians, probably a.d. 63.

The Place of Writing

This would also be the same, that is Rome, though Deissmann and Duncan argue for Ephesus itself as the place of writing. Some scholars even suggest Caesarea.

The Character of the Epistle

The same Gnostic heresy is met as in Colossians, but with this difference. In Colossians the emphasis is on the Dignity of Christ as the Head of the Church, while in Ephesians chief stress is placed upon the Dignity of the Church as the Body of Christ the Head. Paul has written nothing more profound than chapters Ephesians 1-3 of Ephesians. Stalker termed them the profoundest thing ever written. He sounds the depths of truth and reaches the heights. Since Ephesians covers the same ground so largely as Colossians, only the words in Ephesians that differ or are additional will call for discussion.

JFB: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

THE headings (Eph 1:1, and Eph 3:1, show that this Epistle claims to be that of Paul. This claim is confirmed by the testimonies of IRENÆUS, [Against Heresies, 5.2,3; 1.8,5]; CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, [Miscellanies, 4, P. 65, and The Instructor, 1.8]; ORIGEN, [Against Celsus, 4,211]. It is quoted by VALENTINUS, A.D. 120, namely, Eph 3:14-18, as we know from HIPPOLYTUS [The Refutation of All Heresies, p. 193]. POLYCARP [Epistle to the Philippians, 12], testifies to its canonicity. So TERTULLIAN [Against Marcion, 5,17]. IGNATIUS [Epistle to the Ephesians, 12], which alludes to the frequent and affectionate mention made by Paul of the Christian state, privileges, and persons of the Ephesians in his Epistle.

Two theories, besides the ordinary one, have been held on the question, to whom the Epistle is addressed. GROTIUS, after the heretic Marcion, maintains that it was addressed to the Church at Laodicea, and that it is the Epistle to which Paul refers in Col 4:16. But the Epistle to the Colossians was probably written before that to the Ephesians, as appears from the parallel passages in Ephesians bearing marks of being expanded from those in Colossians; and Marcion seems to have drawn his notion, as to our Epistle, from Paul's allusion (Col 4:16) to an Epistle addressed by him to the Laodiceans. ORIGEN and CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, and even TERTULLIAN, who refers to Marcion, give no sanction to his notion. No single manuscript contains the heading, "to the saints that are at Laodicea." The very resemblance of the Epistle to the Ephesians, to that to the Colossians, is against the theory; for if the former were really the one addressed to Laodicea (Col 4:16), Paul would not have deemed it necessary that the churches of Colosse and Laodicea should interchange Epistles. The greetings, moreover (Col 4:15), which he sends through the Colossians to the Laodiceans, are quite incompatible with the idea that Paul wrote an Epistle to the Laodiceans at the same time, and by the same bearer, Tychicus (the bearer of our Epistle to the Ephesians, as well as of that to Colosse, Eph 6:21; Col 4:7); for who, under such circumstances, would not send the greetings directly in the letter to the party saluted? The letter to Laodicea was evidently written some time before that to Colosse, Archbishop USHER has advanced the second theory: That it was an encyclical letter headed, as in Manuscript B., "to the saints that are . . . and to the faithful," the name of each Church being inserted in the copy sent to it; and that its being sent to Ephesus first, occasioned its being entitled, as now, the Epistle to the Ephesians. ALFORD makes the following objections to this theory: (1) It is at variance with the spirit of the Epistle, which is clearly addressed to one set of persons throughout, co-existing in one place, and as one body, and under the same circumstances. (2) The improbability that the apostle, who in two of his Epistles (Second Corinthians and Galatians) has so plainly specified their encyclical character, should have here omitted such specification. (3) The still greater improbability that he should have, as on this hypothesis must be assumed, written a circular Epistle to a district, of which Ephesus was the commercial capital, addressed to various churches within that district, yet from its very contents (as by the opponents' hypothesis) not admitting of application to the Church of that metropolis, in which he had spent so long a time, and to which he was so affectionately bound. (4) The inconsistency of this hypothesis with the address of the Epistle, and the universal testimony of the ancient Church. The absence of personal greetings is not an argument for either of the two theories; for similarly there are none in Galatians, Philippians, First and Second Thessalonians, First Timothy. The better he knows the parties addressed, and the more general and solemn the subject, the less he seems to give of these individual notices. Writing, as he does in this Epistle, on the constitution and prospects of Christ's universal Church, he refers the Ephesians, as to personal matters, to the bearer of the Epistle, Tychicus (Eph 6:21-22). As to the omission of "which are at Ephesus" (Eph 1:1), in Manuscript B., so "in Rome" (Rom 1:7) is omitted in some old manuscripts: it was probably done by churches among whom it was read, in order to generalize the reference of its contents, and especially where the subject of the Epistle is catholic. The words are found in the margin of Manuscript B, from a first hand; and are found in all the oldest manuscripts and versions.

Paul's first visit to Ephesus (on the seacoast of Lydia, near the river Cayster) is related in Act 18:19-21. The work, begun by his disputations with the Jews in his short visit, was carried on by Apollos (Act 18:24-26), and Aquila and Priscilla (Act 18:26). At his second visit, after his journey to Jerusalem, and thence to the east regions of Asia Minor, he remained at Ephesus "three years" (Act 19:10, the "two years" in which verse are only part of the time, and Act 20:31); so that the founding and rearing of this Church occupied an unusually large portion of the apostle's time and care; whence his language in this Epistle shows a warmth of feeling, and a free outpouring of thought, and a union in spiritual privileges and hope between him and them (Eph 1:3, &c.), such as are natural from one so long and so intimately associated with those whom he addresses. On his last journey to Jerusalem, he sailed by Ephesus and summoned the elders of the Ephesian Church to meet him at Miletus, where he delivered his remarkable farewell charge (Acts 20:18-35).

This Epistle was addressed to the Ephesians during the early part of his imprisonment at Rome, immediately after that to the Colossians, to which it bears a close resemblance in many passages, the apostle having in his mind generally the same great truths in writing both. It is an undesigned proof of genuineness that the two Epistles, written about the same date, and under the same circumstances, bear a closer mutual resemblance than those written at distant dates and on different occasions. Compare Eph 1:7 with Col 1:14; Eph 1:10 with Col 1:20; Eph 3:2 with Col 1:25; Eph 5:19 with Col 3:16; Eph 6:22 with Col 4:8; Eph 1:19; Eph 2:5 with Col 2:12-13; Eph 4:2-4 with Col 3:12-15; Eph 4:16 with Col 2:19; Eph 4:32 with Col 3:13; Eph 4:22-24 with Col 3:9-10; Eph 5:6-8 with Col 3:6-8; Eph 5:15-16 with Col 4:5; Eph 6:19-20 with Col 4:3-4; Eph 5:22-33; Eph 6:1-9 with Col 3:18; Eph 4:24-25 with Col 3:9; Eph 5:20-22 with Col 3:17-18. Tychicus and Onesimus were being sent to Colosse, the former bearing the two Epistles to the two churches respectively, the latter furnished with a letter of recommendation to Philemon, his former master, residing at Colosse. The date was probably about four years after his parting with the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20:6-38), about A.D. 62, before his imprisonment had become of the more severe kind, which appears in his Epistle to the Philippians. From Eph 6:19-20 it is plain he had at the time, though a prisoner, some degree of freedom in preaching, which accords with Act 28:23, Act 28:30-31, where he is represented as receiving at his lodgings all inquirers. His imprisonment began in February A.D. 61 and lasted "two whole years" (Act 28:30) at least, and perhaps longer.

The Church of Ephesus was made up of converts partly from the Jews and partly from the Gentiles (Act 19:8-10). Accordingly, the Epistle so addresses a Church constituted (Eph 2:14-22). Ephesus was famed for its idol temple of Artemis or Diana, which, after its having been burnt down by Herostratus on the night that Alexander the Great was born (355 B.C.), was rebuilt at enormous cost and was one of the wonders of the world. Hence, perhaps, have arisen his images in this Epistle drawn from a beautiful temple: the Church being in true inner beauty that which the temple of the idol tried to realize in outward show (Eph 2:19-22). The Epistle (Eph 4:17; Eph 5:1-13) implies the profligacy for which the Ephesian heathen were notorious. Many of the same expressions occur in the Epistle as in Paul's address to the Ephesian elders. Compare Eph 1:6-7; Eph 2:7, as to "grace," with Act 20:24, Act 20:32 : this may well be called "the Epistle of the grace of God" [ALFORD]. Also, as to his "bonds," Eph 3:1, and Eph 4:1 with Act 20:22-23. Also Eph 1:11, as to "the counsel of God," with Act 20:27. Also Eph 1:14, as to "the redemption of the purchased possession," with Act 20:28. Also Eph 1:14, Eph 1:18; Eph 2:20; Eph 5:5, as to "building up" the "inheritance," with Act 20:32.

The object of the Epistle is "to set forth the ground, the course, and the aim and end of THE CHURCH OF THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST. He speaks to the Ephesians as a type or sample of the Church universal" [ALFORD]. Hence, "the Church" throughout the Epistle is spoken of in the singular, not in the plural, "churches." The Church's foundation, its course, and its end, are his theme alike in the larger and smaller divisions of the whole Epistle. "Everywhere the foundation of the Church is in the will of the Father; the course of the Church is by the satisfaction of the Son; the end of the Church is the life in the Holy Spirit" [ALFORD]. Compare respectively Eph 1:11; Eph 2:5; Eph 3:16. This having been laid down as a matter of doctrine (this part closing with a sublime doxology, Eph 3:14-21), is then made the ground of practical exhortations. In these latter also (from Eph 4:1, onward), the same threefold division prevails, for the Church is represented as founded on the counsel of "God the Father, who is above all, through all, and in all," reared by the "one Lord," Jesus Christ, through the "one Spirit" (Eph 4:4-6, &c.), who give their respective graces to the several members. These last are therefore to exercise all these graces in the several relations of life, as husbands, wives, servants, children, &c. The conclusion is that we must put on "the whole armor of God" (Eph 6:13).

The sublimity of the STYLE and LANGUAGE corresponds to the sublimity of the subjects and exceeds almost that of any part of his Epistles. It is appropriate that those to whom he so wrote were Christians long grounded in the faith. The very sublimity is the cause of the difficulty of the style, and of the presence of peculiar expressions occurring, not found elsewhere.

JFB: Ephesians (Outline)

• INSCRIPTION: ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH IN THE FATHER'S ETERNAL COUNSEL, AND THE SON'S BLOODSHEDDING: THE SEALING OF IT BY THE SPIRIT. THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER THAT THEY MAY FULLY KNOW GOD'S GRACIOUS POWER IN CHRIST TOWARDS THE SAINTS. (Eph. 1:1-23)
• GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE IN QUICKENING US, ONCE DEAD, THROUGH CHRIST. HIS PURPOSE IN DOING SO: EXHORTATION BASED ON OUR PRIVILEGES AS BUILT TOGETHER, AN HOLY TEMPLE, IN CHRIST, THROUGH THE SPIRIT. (Eph. 2:1-22)
• HIS APOSTOLIC OFFICE TO MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT: PRAYER THAT BY THE SAME SPIRIT THEY MAY COMPREHEND THE VAST LOVE OF CHRIST: DOXOLOGY ENDING THIS DIVISION OF THE EPISTLE. (Eph. 3:1-21)
• EXHORTATIONS TO CHRISTIAN DUTIES RESTING ON OUR CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES, AS UNITED IN ONE BODY, THOUGH VARYING IN THE GRACES GIVEN TO THE SEVERAL MEMBERS, THAT WE MAY COME UNTO A PERFECT MAN IN CHRIST. (Eph. 4:1-32) Translate, according to the Greek order, "I beseech you, therefore (seeing that such is your calling of grace, the first through third chapters) I the prisoner in the Lord (that is, imprisoned in the Lord's cause)." What the world counted ignominy, he counts the highest honor, and he glories in his bonds for Christ, more than a king in his diadem [THEODORET]. His bonds, too, are an argument which should enforce his exhortation.
• EXHORTATIONS TO LOVE: AND AGAINST CARNAL LUSTS AND COMMUNICATIONS. CIRCUMSPECTION IN WALK: REDEEMING THE TIME: BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT: SINGING TO THE LORD WITH THANKFULNESS: THE WIFE'S DUTY TO THE HUSBAND RESTS ON THAT OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. (Eph. 5:1-33)
• MUTUAL DUTIES OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN: MASTERS AND SERVANTS: OUR LIFE A WARFARE: THE SPIRITUAL ARMOUR NEEDED AGAINST SPIRITUAL FOES. CONCLUSION. (Eph. 6:1-24)

TSK: Ephesians 4 (Chapter Introduction)

Overview

Eph 4:1, He exhorts to unity; Eph 4:7, and declares that God therefore gives divers gifts unto men; Eph 4:11, that his church might be edified, Eph 4:16. and grow up in Christ; Eph 4:18, He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles; Eph 4:24, to put on the new man; Eph 4:25, to cast off lying; Eph 4:29, and corrupt communication.

Poole: Ephesians 4 (Chapter Introduction)

CHAPTER 4

MHCC: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

This epistle was written when St. Paul was a prisoner at Rome. The design appears to be to strengthen the Ephesians in the faith of Christ, and to give exalted views of the love of God, and of the dignity and excellence of Christ, fortifying their minds against the scandal of the cross. He shows that they were saved by grace, and that however wretched they once were, they now had equal privileges with the Jews. He encourages them to persevere in their Christian calling, and urges them to walk in a manner becoming their profession, faithfully discharging the general and common duties of religion, and the special duties of particular relations.

MHCC: Ephesians 4 (Chapter Introduction)

(Eph 4:1-6) Exhortations to mutual forbearance and union.

(Eph 4:7-16) To a due use of spiritual gifts and graces.

(Eph 4:17-24) To purity and holiness.

(Eph 4:25-32) And to take heed of the sins practised among the heathen.

Matthew Henry: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians

Some think that this epistle to the Ephesians was a circular letter sent to several churches, and that the copy directed to the Ephesians happened to be taken into the canon, and so it came to bear that particular inscription. And they have been induced the rather to think this because it is the only one of all Paul's epistles that has nothing in it peculiarly adapted to the state or case of that particular church; but it has much of common concernment to all Christians, and especially to all who, having been Gentiles in times past, were converted to Christianity. But then it may be observed, on the other hand, that the epistle is expressly inscribed (Eph 1:1) to the saints which are at Ephesus; and in the close of it he tells them that he had sent Tychicus unto them, whom, in 2Ti 4:12, he says he had sent to Ephesus. It is an epistle that bears date out of a prison: and some have observed that what this apostle wrote when he was a prisoner had the greatest relish and savour in it of the things of God. When his tribulations did abound, his consolations and experiences did much more abound, whence we may observe that the afflictive exercises of God's people, and particularly of his ministers, often tend to the advantage of others as well as to their own. The apostle's design is to settle and establish the Ephesians in the truth, and further to acquaint them with the mystery of the gospel, in order to it. In the former part he represents the great privilege of the Ephesians, who, having been in time past idolatrous heathens, were now converted to Christianity and received into covenant with God, which he illustrates from a view of their deplorable state before their conversion, ch. 1-3. In the latter part (which we have in the Eph 4:1, Eph 5:1, and Eph 6:1 chapters) he instructs them in the principal duties of religion, both personal and relative, and exhorts and quickens them to the faithful discharge of them. Zanchy observes that we have here an epitome of the whole Christian doctrine, and of almost all the chief heads of divinity.

Matthew Henry: Ephesians 4 (Chapter Introduction)

We have gone through the former part of this epistle, which consists of several important doctrinal truths, contained in the three preceding chapters. We enter now on the latter part of it, in which we have the most weighty and serious exhortations that can be given. We may observe that in this, as in most others of Paul's epistles, the former part is doctrinal, and fitted to inform the minds of men in the great truths and doctrines of the gospel, the latter is practical, and designed for the direction of their lives and manners, all Christians being bound to endeavour after soundness in the faith, and regularity in life and practice. In what has gone before we have heard of Christian privileges, which are the matter of our comfort. In what follows we shall hear of Christian duties, and what the Lord our God requires of us in consideration of such privileges vouchsafed to us. The best way to understand the mysteries and partake of the privileges of which we have read before is conscientiously to practise the duties prescribed to us in what follows: as, on the other hand, a serious consideration and belief of the doctrines that have been taught us in the foregoing chapters will be a good foundation on which to build the practice of the duties prescribed in those which are yet before us. Christian faith and Christian practice mutually befriend each other. In this chapter we have divers exhortations to important duties. I. One that is more general (Eph 4:1). II. An exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them (Eph 4:2-16). III. An exhortation to Christian purity and holiness of life; and that both more general (Eph 4:17-24) and in several particular instances (Eph 4:25 to the end).

Barclay: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL

The Letters Of Paul

There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letters of Paul. That is because of all forms of literature a letter is most personal. Demetrius, one of the old Greek literary critics, once wrote, "Every one reveals his own soul in his letters. In every other form of composition it is possible to discern the writercharacter, but in none so clearly as the epistolary." (Demetrius, On Style, 227.) It is just because he left us so many letters that we feel we know Paul so well. In them he opened his mind and heart to the folk he loved so much; and in them, to this day, we can see that great mind grappling with the problems of the early church and feel that great heart throbbing with love for men, even when they were misguided and mistaken.

The Difficulty Of Letters

At the same time there is often nothing so difficult to understand as a letter. Demetrius (On Style, 223) quotes a saying of Artemon, who edited the letters of Aristotle. Artemon said that a letter ought to be written in the same manner as a dialogue, because it was one of the two sides of a dialogue. In other words, to read a letter is like listening to one side of a telephone conversation. So when we read the letters of Paul we are often in a difficulty. We do not possess the letter which he was answering; we do not fully know the circumstances with which he was dealing; it is only from the letter itself that we can deduce the situation which prompted it. Before we can hope to understand fully any letter Paul wrote, we must try to reconstruct the situation which produced it.

The Ancient Letters

It is a great pity that Paulletters were ever called epistles. They are in the most literal sense letters. One of the great lights shed on the interpretation of the New Testament has been the discovery and the publication of the papyri. In the ancient world, papyrus was the substance on which most documents were written. It was composed of strips of the pith of a certain bulrush that grew on the banks of the Nile. These strips were laid one on top of the other to form a substance very like brown paper. The sands of the Egyptian desert were ideal for preservation, for papyrus, although very brittle, will last forever so long as moisture does not get at it. As a result, from the Egyptian rubbish heaps, archaeologists have rescued hundreds of documents, marriage contracts, legal agreements, government forms, and, most interesting of all, private letters. When we read these private letters we find that there was a pattern to which nearly all conformed; and we find that Paulletters reproduce exactly that pattern. Here is one of these ancient letters. It is from a soldier, called Apion, to his father Epimachus. He is writing from Misenum to tell his father that he has arrived safely after a stormy passage.

"Apion sends heartiest greetings to his father and lord Epimachus.

I pray above all that you are well and fit; and that things are

going well with you and my sister and her daughter and my brother.

I thank my Lord Serapis [his god] that he kept me safe when I was

in peril on the sea. As soon as I got to Misenum I got my journey

money from Caesar--three gold pieces. And things are going fine

with me. So I beg you, my dear father, send me a line, first to let

me know how you are, and then about my brothers, and thirdly, that

I may kiss your hand, because you brought me up well, and because

of that I hope, God willing, soon to be promoted. Give Capito my

heartiest greetings, and my brothers and Serenilla and my friends.

I sent you a little picture of myself painted by Euctemon. My

military name is Antonius Maximus. I pray for your good health.

Serenus sends good wishes, Agathos Daimonboy, and Turbo,

Galloniuson." (G. Milligan, Selections from the Greek Papyri,

36.)

Little did Apion think that we would be reading his letter to his father 1800 years after he had written it. It shows how little human nature changes. The lad is hoping for promotion quickly. Who will Serenilla be but the girl he left behind him? He sends the ancient equivalent of a photograph to the folk at home. Now that letter falls into certain sections. (i) There is a greeting. (ii) There is a prayer for the health of the recipients. (iii) There is a thanksgiving to the gods. (iv) There are the special contents. (v) Finally, there are the special salutations and the personal greetings. Practically every one of Paulletters shows exactly the same sections, as we now demonstrate.

(i) The Greeting: Rom_1:1 ; 1Co_1:1 ; 2Co_1:1 ; Gal_1:1 ; Eph_1:1 ; Phi_1:1 ; Col 2 ; 1Th_1:1 ; 2Th_1:1 .

(ii) The Prayer: in every case Paul prays for the grace of God on the people to whom he writes: Rom_1:7 ; 1Co_1:3 ; 2Co_1:2 ; Gal_1:3 ; Eph_1:2 ; Phi_1:3 ; Col_1:2 ; 1Th_1:1 ; 2Th_1:2 .

(iii) The Thanksgiving: Rom_1:8 ; 1Co_1:4 ; 2Co_1:3 ; Eph_1:3 ; Phi_1:3 ; 1Th_1:3 ; 2Th_1:3 .

(iv) The Special Contents: the main body of the letters.

(v) Special Salutations and Personal Greetings: Rom 16 ; 1Co_16:19 ; 2Co_13:13 ; Phi_4:21-22 ; Col_4:12-15 ; 1Th_5:26 .

When Paul wrote letters, he wrote them on the pattern which everyone used. Deissmann says of them, "They differ from the messages of the homely papyrus leaves of Egypt, not as letters but only as the letters of Paul." When we read Paulletters we are not reading things which were meant to be academic exercises and theological treatises, but human documents written by a friend to his friends.

The Immediate Situation

With a very few exceptions, all Paulletters were written to meet an immediate situation and not treatises which he sat down to write in the peace and silence of his study. There was some threatening situation in Corinth, or Galatia, or Philippi, or Thessalonica, and he wrote a letter to meet it. He was not in the least thinking of us when he wrote, but solely of the people to whom he was writing. Deissmann writes, "Paul had no thought of adding a few fresh compositions to the already extant Jewish epistles; still less of enriching the sacred literature of his nation.... He had no presentiment of the place his words would occupy in universal history; not so much that they would be in existence in the next generation, far less that one day people would look at them as Holy Scripture." We must always remember that a thing need not be transient because it was written to meet an immediate situation. All the great love songs of the world were written for one person, but they live on for the whole of mankind. It is just because Paulletters were written to meet a threatening danger or a clamant need that they still throb with life. And it is because human need and the human situation do not change that God speaks to us through them today.

The Spoken Word

One other thing we must note about these letters. Paul did what most people did in his day. He did not normally pen his own letters but dictated them to a secretary, and then added his own authenticating signature. (We actually know the name of one of the people who did the writing for him. In Rom_16:22 Tertius, the secretary, slips in his own greeting before the letter draws to an end.) In 1Co_16:21 Paul says, "This is my own signature, my autograph, so that you can be sure this letter comes from me" (compare Col_4:18 ; 2Th_3:17 ).

This explains a great deal. Sometimes Paul is hard to understand, because his sentences begin and never finish; his grammar breaks down and the construction becomes involved. We must not think of him sitting quietly at a desk, carefully polishing each sentence as he writes. We must think of him striding up and down some little room, pouring out a torrent of words, while his secretary races to get them down. When Paul composed his letters, he had in his mindeye a vision of the folk to whom he was writing, and he was pouring out his heart to them in words that fell over each other in his eagerness to help.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

The Supreme Letter

By common consent the Letter to the Ephesians ranks very high in the devotional and theological literature of the Christian Church. It has been called "The Queen of the Epistles"--and rightly so. Many would hold that it is indeed the highest reach of New Testament thought. When John Knox was very near his end, the book that was most often read to him was John CalvinSermons on the Letter to the Ephesians. Coleridge said of Ephesians that it was "the divinest composition of man." He went on: "It embraces first, those doctrines peculiar to Christianity, and, then, those precepts common with it in natural religion." Ephesians clearly has a place all its own in the Pauline correspondence.

And yet there are certain very real problems connected with it. These problems are not the product of the minds of over-critical scholars, but are plain for all to see. When, however, these problems are solved, Ephesians becomes a greater letter than ever and shines with an even more radiant light.

The Circumstances Of The Writing Of Ephesians

Before we turn to the doubtful things, let us set down the certainties. First, Ephesians was clearly written when Paul was in prison. He calls himself "a prisoner for Christ" (Eph_3:1 ); it is as "a prisoner for the Lord" that he beseeches them (Eph_4:1 ); he is "an ambassador in chains" (Eph_6:20 ). It was in prison, and very near to the end, that Paul wrote Ephesians.

Second, Ephesians has clearly a close connection with Colossians. It would seem that Tychicus was the bearer of both these letters. In Colossians Paul says that Tychicus will tell them all about his affairs (Col_4:7 ); and in Ephesians he says that Tychicus will give them all information (Eph_6:21 ). Further, there is a close resemblance between the substance of the two letters, so close that more than 55 verses in the two letters are verbatim the same. Either, as Coleridge held, Colossians is what might be called "the overflow" of Ephesians, or Ephesians is a greater version of Colossians. We shall in the end come to see that it is this resemblance which gives us the clue to the unique place of Ephesians among the letters of Paul.

The Problem

So, then, it is certain that Ephesians was written when Paul was in prison for the faith and that it has in some way the closest possible connection with Colossians. The problem emerges when we begin to examine the question of to whom Ephesians was written.

In the ancient days letters were written on rolls of papyrus. When finished, they were tied with thread, and, if they were specially private or important, the knots in the thread were then sealed. But it was seldom that any address was written on them, for the very simple reason that, for the ordinary individual, there was no postal system. There was a government post, but it was available only for official and imperial correspondence and not for the ordinary person. Letters in those days were delivered by hand and therefore no address was necessary. So the titles of the New Testament letters are not part of the original letters at all. They were inserted afterwards when the letters were collected and published for all the Church to read.

When we study Ephesians closely, we find it in the last degree unlikely that it was written to the church at Ephesus. There are internal reasons for arriving at that conclusion.

(a) The letter was written to Gentiles. The recipients were "Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise" (Eph_2:11 ). Paul urges them "no longer to live as the Gentiles do" (Eph_4:17 ). The fact that they were Gentiles did not of itself mean that the letter could not have been written to Ephesus; but it is a fact to note.

(b) Ephesians is the most impersonal letter Paul ever wrote. It is entirely without personal greetings and without the intimate personal messages of which the other letters are so full. That is doubly surprising when we remember that Paul spent longer in Ephesus than in any other city, no less than three years (Act_20:31 ). Further, there is no more intimate and affectionate passage in the whole New Testament than Act_20:17-35 where we have Paulfarewell talk to the elders of Ephesus, before he left Miletus on his last journey. It is very difficult to believe in face of all this that Paul would have sent a letter to Ephesus which was so impersonal.

(c) The indication of the letter is that Paul and the recipients did not know each other personally and that their knowledge of each other came by hearsay. In Eph_1:15 Paul writes: "Because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus." The loyalty of the people to whom he was writing was something which had come to him by information and not by experience. In Eph_3:2 he writes to them: "Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of Godgrace that was given to me for you." That is to say: "If you have heard that God gave me the special task and office of being the apostle to Gentiles such as you." The Churchknowledge of Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles was something of which they have heard, but not something which they knew by personal contact with him. So, then, within itself the letter bears signs that it does not fit the close and personal relationship which Paul had with the Church at Ephesus.

These facts might be explained; but there is one external fact which settles the matter. In Eph_1:1 none of the great early manuscripts of the Greek New Testament contain the words in Ephesus. They all read: "Paul...to the saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus." And we know, from the way in which they comment on it, that that was the form in which the early Greek fathers knew the text.

Was Paul The Author?

Some scholars have gone on to find still another difficulty in Ephesians. They have doubted whether Paul was the author of the letter at all. On what grounds do they base their doubts?

They say that the vocabulary, is different from the vocabulary of Paul; and it is true that there are some seventy words in Ephesians which are not found in any other letter written by Paul. That need not trouble us, for the fact is that in Ephesians Paul was saying things which he had never said before. He was travelling a road of thought along which he had not before travelled; and naturally he needed new words to express new thoughts. It would be ridiculous to demand that a man with a mind like Paulshould never add to his vocabulary and should always express himself in the same way.

They say that the style is not the style of Paul. It is true-- we can see it even in the English, let alone in the Greek--that the style of Ephesians is different from that of the other letters. The other letters are all written to meet a definite situation. But, as A. H. McNeile has said, Ephesians is "a theological tract, or rather a religious mediation." Even the use of language is different. Moffatt puts it this way--generally speaking, Paullanguage pours out like a torrent; but in Ephesians we have "a slow, bright stream, flowing steadily along, which brims its high banks." The length of the sentences in Ephesians is astonishing. In the Greek Eph_1:3-14 ; Eph_1:15-23 ; Eph_2:1-9 ; Eph_3:1-7 are each one long, meandering sentence. McNeile very beautifully and rightly calls Ephesians "a poem in prose." All this is very unlike Paulnormal style.

What is to be said to this? There is first the general fact that no great writer always writes in the same style. Shakespeare can produce the very different styles of Hamlet, A Midsummer NightDream, The Taming of the Shrew, and the Sonnets. Any great stylist--and Paul was a great stylist--writes in a style to fit his aim and his circumstances at the time of writing. It is bad criticism to say that Paul did not write Ephesians simply because he has evolved a new vocabulary and a new style.

But there is more. Let us remember how Paul wrote most of his letters. He wrote them in the midst of a busy ministry, when, for the most part, he was on the road. He wrote them to meet a demanding problem which had to be dealt with at the moment. That is to say, in most of his letters Paul was writing against time. Now let us remember that Paul, if he wrote Ephesians, wrote it when he was in prison. That is to say, he had all the time in the world to write it. Is it any wonder that the style of Ephesians; is not the style of the earlier letters?

Moreover, this difference in style, this meditative, poetical quality is most apparent in Eph 1-3, and they are one long prayer, culminating in a great doxology. There is in fact nothing like this in all Paulletters. This is the language of lyrical prayer, not the language of argument or controversy or rebuke.

The differences are far from proving that Ephesians is not by Paul.

The Thought Of The Epistle

Certain scholars wish to go on to say that the thought of Ephesians is beyond the thought of any of the other letters of Paul. Let us see what that thought is. We have seen that Ephesians is intimately connected with Colossians whose central thought is the all-sufficiency, of Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ were hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col_2:3 ); all the fulness of God dwelt in him (Col_1:19 ); in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily (Col_2:9 ); he alone is necessary and sufficient for mansalvation (Col_1:14 ). The whole thought of Colossians is based on the complete sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

The thought of Ephesians is a development of that conception. It is summarized in two verses of the first chapter, in which Paul speaks of God as, "having made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." (Eph_1:9-10 ).

The key thought of Ephesians is the gathering together of all things in Jesus Christ. In nature as it is without Christ there is nothing but disunity and disharmony; it is "red in tooth and claw." Mandominion has broken the social union which should exist between man and the beasts; man is divided from man; class from class; nation from nation; ideology from ideology; Gentile from Jew. What is true of the world of outer nature is true of human nature. In every man there is a tension; every man is a walking civil war, torn between the desire for good and the desire for evil; he hates his sins and loves them at one and the same time. According to both Greek and Jewish thought in the time of Paul, this disharmony extends even to the heavenly places. A cosmic battle is raging between the powers of evil and the powers of good; between God and the demons. Worst of all there is disharmony between God and man. Man, who was meant to be in fellowship with God, is estranged from him.

So, then, in this world without Christ, there is nothing but disunity. That disunity is not Godpurpose but it can become a unity only when all things are united in Christ. As E. F. Scott has it: "The innumerable broken strands were to be brought together in Christ, knotted again into one, as they had been in the beginning." The central thought of Ephesians is the realization of the disunity in the universe and the conviction that it can become unity only when everything is united in Christ.

The Origin Of PaulThought

How did Paul arrive at this great conception of the unity of all things in Jesus Christ? Most likely he came to it in two ways. It is surely the inevitable outcome of his conviction, stated so vividly in Colossians, that Christ is all-sufficient. But it may well be that there was something else which moved Paulmind in this direction. He was a Roman citizen and proud of it. In his journeys Paul had seen a great deal of the Roman Empire, and now he was in Rome, the imperial city. In the Roman Empire a new unity had come to the world. The pax Romana, the Roman peace, was a very real thing. Kingdoms and states and countries, which had struggled and warred with each other, were gathered into a new unity in the Empire which was Rome. It may well be that in his imprisonment Paul saw with new eyes how all this unity centred in Rome; and it may well have seemed to him a symbol of how all things must centre in Christ, if a disunited nature and world and humanity were ever to be gathered into a unity. Surely, so far from being a conception that was beyond his thinking, all Paulthinking and experience would lead him precisely to that.

The Function Of The Church

It is in Eph 1-3 that Paul deals with this conception of the unity in Christ. In the second three chapters he has much to say of the place of the Church in Godplan to bring about that unity. It is here that Paul strikes out one of his greatest phrases. The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church is to be hands to do Christwork, feet to run upon his errands, a mouth to speak for him. So, then, we have a double thesis in Ephesians. First, Christ is Godinstrument of reconciliation. Second, the Church is Christinstrument of reconciliation. The Church must bring Christ to the world; and it is within the Church that all the middle walls of separation must be broken down. It is through the Church that the unity of all the discordant elements must be achieved. As E. F. Scott has it: "The Church stands for that purpose of world-wide reconciliation for which Christ appeared, and in all their intercourse with one another Christians must seek to realize this formative idea of the Church."

Who But Paul?

This is the thought of Ephesians. As we have seen, there are some who, thinking of the vocabulary and the style and the thought of this letter, cannot believe that Paul wrote it. E. J. Goodspeed, the American scholar, has put forward an interesting--but unconvincing--theory. The probability is that it was in Ephesus about the year A.D. 90 that the letters of Paul were first collected and sent out to the Church at large. It is Goodspeedtheory that the man responsible for that collection, some disciple of Paul, wrote Ephesians as a kind of introduction to the whole collection. Surely that theory breaks down on one salient fact. Any imitation is inferior to the original. But so far from being inferior Ephesians might well be said to be the greatest of all the Pauline letters. If Paul did not write it himself, we have to postulate as its writer someone who was possibly greater than Paul. E. F. Scott very relevantly demands: "Can we believe that in the Church of Paulday there was an unknown teacher of this supreme excellence? The natural assumption is surely that an epistle so like the work of Paul at his best was written by no other man than by Paul himself." No man ever had a greater vision of Christ than this which sees in Christ the one centre in whom all the disunities of life are gathered into one. No man ever had a greater vision of the Church than this which sees in the Church Godinstrument in that world-wide reconciliation. And we may well believe that no man other than Paul could rise to a vision like that.

The Destination Of Ephesians

We must now return to the problem which earlier we left unsolved. If Ephesians was not written to Ephesus--to what church was it written?

The oldest suggestion is that it was written to Laodicea. In Col_4:16 Paul writes: "And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea." That sentence makes certain that a letter had gone from Paul to the church at Laodicea. We possess no such letter amongst Paulletters as they stand. Marcion was one of the first people to make a collection of Paulletters, just about the middle of the second century, and he actually calls Ephesians the Letter to the Laodiceans. So from very early times there must have been a feeling in the Church that Ephesians was actually sent in the first instance to Laodicea.

If we accept that interesting and attractive suggestion, we still have to explain how the letter lost its individual address to Laodicea and came to be connected with Ephesus. There could be two explanations.

It may be that, when Paul died, the church at Ephesus knew that the church at Laodicea possessed a wonderful letter from Paul; and wrote to Laodicea asking for a copy. A copy may have been made and sent off, omitting only the words in Laodicea in the first verse, and leaving a blank as the earliest manuscripts have a blank there. Almost thirty years later the letters of Paul were collected for general publication. Now Laodicea was in a district which was notorious for earthquakes, and it may well have been that all its archives were destroyed; and that, therefore, when the collection was made, the only copy of the Letter to the Laodiceans was that which survived in Ephesus. That letter may then have come to be known as the Letter to the Ephesians, because it was in Ephesus that the only extant copy survived.

The second suggested explanation was propounded by Harnack, the great German scholar. In the later days the church in Laodicea sadly fell from grace. In the Revelation there is a letter to Laodicea which makes sad reading (Rev_3:14-22 ). In that letter the church of Laodicea is unsparingly condemned by the Risen Christ, so much so that he says to her in that vivid phrase: "I will spew you out of my mouth" (Rev_3:16 ). Now in the ancient world there was a custom called damnatio memoriae, the condemnation of a manmemory. A man might have rendered many a signal service to the state, for which his name might occur in books, in the state annals, in inscriptions and on memorials. But if such a man ended in some base act, some utter wreck of honour, his memory was condemned. His name was erased from all books, obliterated from all inscriptions, chiselled out of all memorials. Harnack thinks it possible that the church of Laodicea underwent a damnatio memoriae so that her very name was obliterated from the Christian records. If that were so, then the copies of the Letter to Laodicea would have no address at all; and when the collection was made at Ephesus, the name of Ephesus might well have become attached to it.

The Circular Letter

Both these suggestions are possible but still another suggestion is far more likely. We believe that Ephesians was not in fact written to any one church, but was a circular letter to all PaulAsian churches. Let us look again at Col_4:16 . He writes: "And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church at Laodicea; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea." Paul does not say that the Colossians must read the epistle to Laodicea; they must read the epistle from Laodicea. It is as if Paul said: "There is a letter circulating; at the present moment it has reached Laodicea; when it is sent on to you from Laodicea be sure to read it." That sounds very like as if there was a letter circulating among the Asian churches,. and we believe that letter was Ephesians.

The Quintessence Of Paul

If this be so, Ephesians is Paulsupreme letter. We have seen that Ephesians and Colossians are very close to each other. We believe that what happened was that Paul wrote Colossians to deal with a definite situation, an outbreak of heresy. In so doing he stumbled on his great expression of the all-sufficiency of Christ. He said to himself: "This is something that I must get across to all men." So he took the matter he had used in Colossians, removed all the local and temporary and controversial aspects, and wrote a new letter to tell all men of the all-sufficient Christ. Ephesians, as we see it, is the one letter Paul sent to all the eastern churches to tell them that the destined unity of all men and of all things could never be found except in Christ, and to tell them of the supreme task of the Church that of being Christinstrument in the universal reconciliation of man to man and of man to God. That is why Ephesians is the Queen of the Epistles.

Study Method

In Ephesians Paulargument is very closely woven together. It often proceeds in long complicated sentences which are difficult to unravel. If we are really to grasp his meaning, there are passages where it will be better to read the letter, first in fairly long sections and then break down these sections into shorter passages for detailed study.

FURTHER READING

Ephesians

T. K. Abbott, Ephesians and Colossians (ICC; G)

J. Armitage Robinson, St. PaulEpistle to the Ephesians (MmC; G)

E. F. Scott, The Epistles to Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians (MC; E)

Abbreviations

ICC: International Critical Commentary

MC: Moffatt Commentary

MmC: Macmillan Commentary

NCB; New Century Bible

E: English Text

G: Greek Text

Barclay: Ephesians 4 (Chapter Introduction)

Ephesians 4 Introduction (Eph_4:1-10)

With this chapter the second part of the letter begins. In Eph 1-3 Paul has dealt with the great and eternal truths of the Christian faith, and with the function of the Church in the plan of God. Now he begins to sketch what each member of the Church must be if the Church is to carry out her part in that plan. Before we begin this chapter, let us again remind ourselves that the central thought of the letter is that Jesus has brought to a disunited world the way to unity. This way is through faith in him and it is the Church's task to proclaim this message to all the world. And now Paul turns to the character the Christian must have if the Church is to fulfil her great task of being Christ's instrument of universal reconciliation between man and man, and man and God within the world.

Worthy Of Our Calling (Eph_4:1-10 continued)

4:1-10 So then, I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to behave yourselves in a way that is worthy of the calling with which you are called. I urge you to behave with all humility, and gentleness, and patience. I urge you to bear with one another in love. I urge you eagerly to preserve that unity which the Holy Spirit can bring by binding things together in peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called with one hope of your calling. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all. To each one of you grace has been given, as it has been measured out to you by the free gift of Christ. Therefore scripture says, "He ascended into the height, and brought his captive band of prisoners, and gave gifts to men." (When it says that "he ascended." what else can it mean than that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same person as he who ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things with his presence.)

The Christian Virtues (Eph_4:1-3)

The Christian Gentleman (Eph_4:1-3 Continued)

The Undefeatable Patience (Eph_4:1-3 Continued)

The Christian Love (Eph_4:1-3 Continued)

The Basis Of Unity (Eph_4:4-6)

The Gifts Of Grace (Eph_4:7-10)

The Office-Bearers Of The Church (Eph_4:11-13)

The Aim Of The Office-Bearer (Eph_4:11-13 Continued)

Growing Into Christ (Eph_4:14-16)

The Things Which Must Be Abandoned (Eph_4:17-24)

Things Which Must Be Banished From Life (Eph_4:25-32)

Things Which Must Be Banished From Life (Eph_4:25-32 Continued)

Things Which Must Be Banished From Life (Eph_4:25-32 Continued)

Constable: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

Introduction

Historical background

Almost all Christians believed in the Pauline authorship of Ephesians until the nineteenth century when destructive biblical criticism gained influence (cf. 1:1; 3:1). The critics built a case against Pauline authorship from linguistic and stylistic features, literary comparisons chiefly with Colossians, historical evidence, and doctrinal peculiarities.

"When all the objections are carefully considered it will be seen that the weight of evidence is inadequate to overthrow the overwhelming external attestation to Pauline authorship, and the Epistle's own claims."¹

Most conservative New Testament scholars hold to the tradition that Paul wrote Ephesians along with Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians, the other "Prison Epistles," during his first Roman imprisonment, 60-62 A.D. (3:1; 4:1; 6:20; cf. Acts 28:16-31). During this time Paul was under house arrest. He lived in his own rented quarters under guard by Roman soldiers. He could have visitors and could minister without hindrance as far as his confinement permitted (Acts 28:16, 30-31). He was not chained in a prison cell at this time as he was during his second Roman imprisonment when he wrote 2 Timothy (cf. 2 Tim. 1:16). For some interpreters, the reference to Paul having recently sent Tychicus to Ephesus in 2 Timothy 4:12 seems to put the composition of Ephesians in the second imprisonment (cf. Eph. 6:21-22). However the similarities between Ephesians and Colossians have led most scholars to conclude that Paul wrote these two letters at the same time. The evidence for his having written Colossians and Philemon during the first imprisonment is strong.

Paul knew Ephesus and the church in that city well. He had ministered in Asia Minor, the Roman province of which Ephesus was the capitol, with Ephesus as his headquarters for about three years, 53-56 A.D. (Acts 19:1-20:1). It appears that he sent this epistle to the Ephesian church so the Christians there would subsequently circulate it among the other churches.² Three other New Testament books went first to Ephesus: 1 and 2 Timothy, and Revelation (cf. Rev. 2:1). Tychicus evidently delivered this epistle to the Ephesian church (Eph. 6:21-22).

Purpose

Paul's frequent references to the church as a mystery, previously unknown but now revealed, identify the apostle's main purpose in writing as having been the exposition of the mystery of the church (1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19). His emphasis on the church as Christ's body in which both Jewish and Gentile believers are one suggests that Paul wrote to promote unity in the Ephesian church and in the universal church. The emphasis on the importance of love is also strong. More than one-sixth of Paul's references to love in his 13 epistles occur in Ephesians. This also shows that he wanted to promote Christian unity in the church.

Message³

The Book of Ephesians enables us to view God's creation from an alpine altitude. When we study this book, it is as though we have climbed a high mountain peak because the book gives us that kind of perspective on what God has created. Recall the opening scenes in The Sound of Music movie where Maria Von Trapp is standing in a high meadow looking over the valleys and mountains beyond. Yet the creation Ephesians opens up to our vision is not the physical creation but the church and its position and importance in the panorama of God's program. The church is the subject of Ephesians.

One of the features of this book that distinguishes it from other Pauline epistles is its universal character. Ephesians deals with matters of perspective that are important to all churches of all ages. Ephesians is not like 1 Corinthians that concerns itself with the situation of one local congregation primarily. It is more like Romans that deals with the great revelations that transcend local church polity.

Ephesians is an exposition of one of the most important statements Jesus ever uttered during His earthly ministry. That statement is in Matthew 16:18: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Other epistles similarly expound other teachings that Jesus gave while He walked this earth. For example, the Epistle of James is really an exposition of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. John's first epistle is an exposition of Jesus' Upper Room Discourse. Likewise Ephesians explains Jesus' teaching concerning the church. All the New Testament epistles deal with the church, of course. However, Ephesians lifts us above all the other revelation on this subject and puts the church in perspective in the plan of God. Paul developed both the building of the church and the conflict of the church, suggested in Jesus' statement, here.

Paul introduced the central teaching of Ephesians in its first verse. We read, "To the saints . . . in Christ Jesus." This phrase indicates the composition of the church. It alerts us to what will follow in the epistle. The phrase "the saints" reflects the diversity and differences that exist in the church. Paul had much to say in this letter about God's individual blessing of believers (e.g., 1:3-2:10). However the phrase "in Christ Jesus" emphasizes the unification of these individuals in one united church. Paul also had much to say about the corporate calling of believers in this letter (e.g., 2:11-3:19). The church is one organism that God has created from individual believers in this age whom God has united in a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. The figure of the human body with its diverse members controlled by one head (2:14-16) is the perfect illustration of the church.

As we examine the central teaching in Ephesians we can see that it falls into two parts. First, there is revelation concerning the eternal character of the church. Second, there is teaching about the temporal conduct of the church.

Consider first the revelation concerning the eternal character of the church. Ephesians tells us three things about the character of the church.

First, it reveals its conception. The church was in the plan of God from eternity past. It was not something God devised the day Jesus Christ died because the Jews had rejected their Messiah. Some dispensational expositors have referred to the church as a parenthetical part of God's eternal plan. That does not mean the church was an after-thought by God. The church is just as much a part of God's plan for human history as the nation of Israel. God did not reveal it in the Old Testament. It is a mystery, a New Testament revelation not revealed previously. Nevertheless it was always part of God's plan. This is important for us to realize because when we see that God brought the church into existence it is easier to believe that Satan will never destroy the church.

The second thing Ephesians reveals about the eternal character of the church is its construction. Whereas God viewed the church in the past as part of His eternal plan, He is constructing it in the present by His eternal power. In Ephesians there is much emphasis on power, the tremendous power of God. Paul prayed that his readers would grow in their understanding of the eternal power of God, the power that raised Jesus from the grave (1:18-19). Paul used four different Greek words for power in 1:19. This is the same power that has raised the Christian up and seated him or her with Christ in the heavenly realms now (2:4-6). Moreover it is the same power available to you and to me as we engage our spiritual enemy who is trying to tear down the church (6:10-11). Too often the church fails because Christians think it cannot succeed. We fail to appreciate the eternal divine power presently available to build the church and to defeat its foes.

The third thing we learn from this epistle about the character of the church is its consummation. This too involves an eternal perspective. Ephesians reveals that the church will serve the purpose of God throughout eternity future (2:4-7; 3:8-10). The church will demonstrate the richness of God's grace to all beings forever (2:7). It will also demonstrate the richness of God's wisdom to all beings forever (3:10).

In summary, Ephesians reveals the important place the church has in God's eternal plan for history. In the past He conceived of it as part of His eternal plan. In the present He is constructing it with His eternal power. In the future He will bring it to consummation in fulfillment of His eternal purpose.

Whereas the revelation of the church's eternal character constitutes a major portion of this epistle Paul also taught much about the temporal conduct of the church. The church's eternal character has major implications for its temporal conduct (4:1). We can organize this part of the revelation under three headings as well.

The first implication of the character of the church that I want to point out that Paul stressed relates to its construction. Since the church is what it is, the unified body of Christ, it is very important that Christians preserve this unity (4:1-3). Note that this is not a unity among professing Christians that we must achieve. It is a unity among genuine Christians that we must preserve. We must be very careful to avoid causing divisions in the body of Christ. One of the seven things Solomon wrote that the Lord hates is someone who spreads strife among his brothers (Prov. 6:19).

A second implication of the character of the church relates to its confession. The church, Paul urged, must make a confession or give testimony to God. This is the will of God (5:15-17). We do this by sanctifying all of life to God, setting it apart to Him for His honor and glory. Consequently Paul talked about the basic relationships of life--husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees. Our faith must have an impact on these relationships. The church makes its confession before the world not primarily by formulating creeds of belief but by demonstrating sanctification in conduct.

Third, another implication of the character of the church that Paul explained relates to its conflict with the forces opposed to God's purposes. We must arm ourselves, stay alert, and take a stand against these spiritual forces (6:10-11).

To summarize, the church must maintain unity as it grows. It must sanctify every relationship as it makes its confession to the world. It must also stand firm against its spiritual enemies as it conflicts with Satan's forces. You see how these points clarify Matthew 16:18: "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." The church cooperates with God as He builds it in three ways. It must remain united itself. Second, it must present a message of purity and holiness to the world by its sanctified relationships. Third, it must fight God's enemies after putting on the whole armor of God.

Attempting to summarize the teaching of Ephesians into a short message statement I would phrase it this way. Ephesians reveals that the church is part of God's eternal plan, and it grows as a result of God's power working through believers' lives, overcoming their spiritual enemies.

We come next to the abiding appeal that this letter contains. I said Paul summarized the central revelation of Ephesians in 1:1, "the saints . . . in Christ Jesus." Similarly he summarized the timeless exhortation of this letter in 4:1, "Walk . . . worthy of the calling with which you have been called."

First, we are to walk in view of God's eternal plan. That is, we should live now with God's purposes throughout eternity clearly in view. God chose us before the creation of the world so He could conform us to the image of His Son (1:4; Rom. 8:29). We are to "grow up . . . into Him . . . even Christ" (4:15). The measure in which we are living in holiness and in love is the measure in which we are conforming to God's eternal plan. Paul did not tell us to be holy because decency demands it, or because God may discipline us if we don't. We are to live thinking about God's eternal plan and remembering that God had our individual lives in His mind from eternity past.

We can walk according to God's plan only by appropriating His almighty power. God is able to enable us to walk in this plan by His power. "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding . . ." (3:20-21). We have the power to walk worthily. However, we must allow God's Spirit to control us if we want to walk in harmony with God's will (5:18).

Third, we are to walk opposing God's unseen enemies as well as in view of God's eternal plan and appropriating God's almighty power. We need to balance the passive "be filled with the Spirit" with the active "stand firm" (6:14). Our enemies are not primarily other people but the unseen demonic personalities behind them. In former years, people scoffed at the idea of demons and malignant spiritual forces. Today there is a more realistic awareness of their existence and powerful influence. We must engage spiritual enemies with spiritual arms: truthfulness, righteous conduct, the gospel, trust in God, the Word of God appropriate to the need, and prayer (6:14-18).

Finally let me make application of the message of this epistle to us.

The measure of the church's power to change the world is the measure of her other-worldliness. Many in our day criticize the church for being uninvolved, or at least not involved enough, with the physical problems of people. Ephesians teaches us that the way to help people the most is by dealing with unseen issues: unity, love, holiness, prayer, and evangelism. We do the church's work much more effectively by praying than by picketing, by protesting, and by politicking. The measure of the church's power to help the world is the measure of her other-worldliness. The church must remember her heavenly calling in the eternal plan of God to realize all God purposes for her.

Conversely the measure of the church's other-worldliness is the measure of her influence in the world. If we really see God's purpose for the church, we can never remain unconcerned about or uninvolved with the physical problems of people. Was our Lord insensitive to suffering, unconcerned about injustice, or lacking in compassion toward the oppressed? Never, and He is the Head into whom we are to grow up.

"The church of God can never help God when she ceases to be other-worldly. When she is other-worldly she helps the world; and cannot avoid doing so."⁴

Constable: Ephesians (Outline)

Outline

I. Salutation 1:1-2

II. The Christian's calling 1:3-3:21

A. Individual calling 1:3-2:10

1. The purpose: glory 1:3-14

2. The means: knowledge 1:15-23

3. The motive: grace 2:1-10

B. Corporate calling 2:11-3:19

1. Present unity 2:11-22

2. Past ignorance 3:1-13

3. Future comprehension 3:14-19

C. Doxology 3:20-21

III. The Christian's conduct 4:1-6:20

A. Spiritual walk 4:1-6:9

1. Walking in unity 4:1-16

2. Walking in holiness 4:17-32

3. Walking in love 5:1-6

4. Walking in light 5:7-14

5. Walking in wisdom 5:15-6:9

B. Spiritual warfare 6:10-20

IV. Conclusion 6:21-24

Constable: Ephesians

Ephesians

Bibliography

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Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. 4 vols. New ed. Cambridge: Deighton, Bell, and Co., 1880.

Allen, John A. The Epistle to the Ephesians. London: SCM Press, 1959.

Allis, Oswald T. Prophecy and the Church. Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1945.

Armstrong, John H. "How Shall We Wage Our Warfare?" In The Coming Evangelical Crisis, pp. 227-41. Edited by John H. Armstrong. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996.

Barclay, William. The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians. Daily Study Bible series. 2nd ed. and reprint ed. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 1962.

Basinger, David and Basinger, Randall. Predestination and Free Will. Downer's Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1986.

Baxter, J. Sidlow. Explore the Book. 6 vols. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1965.

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Copyright 2003 by Thomas L. Constable

Haydock: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

THE

EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE,

TO THE EPHESIANS.

INTRODUCTION.

Ephesus was a famous city, the metropolis of Asia Minor, upon the Ægean Sea, now called the Archipelago. In it was the temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the world. St. Paul had staid there two years, and preached another year thereabouts. See Acts xx. The chief design of this Epistle was to hinder the Ephesians, and others in the neighbouring cities, from being seduced by false teachers, who were come among them. In the first three chapters he extols the grace of God, in mercifully calling the Gentiles. It was written when St. Paul was a prisoner; (see Chap. iv. 1. and vi. 20.) but whether during his first imprisonment, at Rome, an. 62 [in the year A.D. 62], or in the latter imprisonment, as others judge about an. 65, in uncertain. (Witham) ---Ephesus was the capital of Lesser Asia, and celebrated for the temple of Diana, to which the most part of the people of the East went frequently to worship. But St. Paul having preached the gospel there for two years the first time, and afterwards for about a year, converted many. He wrote his Epistle to them when he was a prisoner at Rome, and sent it by Tychicus. He admonishes them to hold firmly the faith which they had received; and warns them, and also those neighbouring cities, against the sophistry of philosophers and the doctrine of false teachers, who were come among them. The matters of faith contained in this Epistle, are exceedingly sublime, and consequently very difficult to be understood. It was written about twenty-nine years after our Lord's ascension. (Challoner) --- Ephesus was the chief city in Asia Minor, much given to superstitions, and not less to debauchery and libertinism. In it was the famous temple of Diana. St. Paul had preached in this place three years; (Acts xx.) so that all, both Jews and Gentiles, heard the word of the Lord, till he was driven away by Demetrius, the silversmith. At his departure, he left Timothy (1 Timothy i.) to maintain the purity of the gospel, and preserve them from the fables, which St. Paul had warned the Ephesians, would be introduced among them by rapacious wolves, and men talking perversely, to lead disciples after them. The Gentile converts held fast to the doctrines they had received from St. Paul: the Jews were the chief innovators. To the former the apostle writes this Epistle, praising their steadfastness, and instructing them more fully in the hidden mysteries of faith, viz. redemption, justification, call of the Gentiles, predestination, and the glorification of Christ, and his body, the Church. In the fourth, and succeeding chapters, he exhorts them to the practice of morality, and to fulfill their respective duties of parents, children, masters, servants, &c. and finally reminds all the soldiers of Christ, to be armed with spiritual weapons against all the assaults of the devil. St. Jerome observes that this Epistle, especially the first three chapters, are intricate and difficult; probably owing to the sublimity of the subject. The last three contain the most interesting morality. (Estius. passim.) See also Acts xviii. 19. et seq. and xix. 1. et sequ. --- When Cardinal Pole was consulted by what method the obscure passages of St. Paul's Epistles could be best unfolded, he replied: Let the reader begin with the latter part, where the apostle treats of morality, and practise that which is delivered there; and then let him go back to the beginning, where points of doctrine are discussed with great acuteness and subtilty.

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Gill: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS

The city of Ephesus is, by Pliny ^a, called the other light of Asia; Miletus was one, and Ephesus the other: it was the metropolis of the lesser Asia, and one of the twelve cities of Ionia, and the first and chief of them: it is said to be built by the Amazons ^b: it was famous for the magnificent temple of Diana; and the inhabitants of it were very much given to superstition and idolatry, and even to devilish arts, Act 19:19. It abounded with orators and philosophers, and men of great wisdom and learning ^c; and was formerly a very rich, trading, flourishing city, but now a village, and a poor desolate place; it retains the name of Efeso, though the Turks call it Aia Salik. Hither the Apostle Paul first went after he had been at Corinth, though he then made but a short stay; when he came thither again, he found twelve disciples, and was the instrument of making a great many more: here he continued two or three years and formed a Gospel church, very large and flourishing, to whom he writes this epistle; and which was written by him when he was a prisoner at Rome, as appears by several passages in it, Eph 3:1, and seems to have been written much about the same time as were the epistles to the Philippians, and to the Colossians, and to Philemon. Dr. Hammond thinks it was written about the year 58, and Dr. Lightfoot places it in 59, and the fifth year of Nero. The occasion of it was the foresight the apostle had of false teachers that would spring up in this church, after his death, and spread their pernicious doctrines, and draw away disciples after them, and do great mischief in the church; wherefore the design of this epistle is to establish the saints in the doctrines of the Gospel, that so they might not be carried away with the errors of the wicked: the subject matter of it is most excellent; it treats of the most sublime doctrines of grace, of divine predestination, and eternal election, of redemption by Christ, and of peace and pardon by his blood, of conversion by the power of efficacious grace, and of salvation by the free grace of God, in opposition to works: it also very largely treats of the nature and usefulness of the Gospel ministry, and of gifts qualifying for it, and of the several duties of religion incumbent on Christians; and the method which is used is exceeding apt and beautiful, for the apostle first begins with the doctrines of the Gospel, which he distinctly handles and explains, and then proceeds to enforce the duties belonging to men, both as men and Christians.

Gill: Ephesians 4 (Chapter Introduction)

INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 4

The apostle having in the three former chapters treated of the doctrines of grace, and explained and established them, proceeds in the three following to exhort to the duties of religion; and in this advises to a becoming conversation in general, and to brotherly concord and unity in particular; and dehorts from several vices, and encourages to the contrary virtues. And inasmuch as these Ephesians were called with an holy calling, he entreats them, if they had any regard for him as a prisoner of Christ, that they would walk worthy of it, Eph 4:1, and directs to the manner in which they should act becoming it, with all humility, patience, forbearance, and love; seeking to preserve a spiritual harmony, unity, and peace, one among another, Eph 4:2, for the encouragement of which, he makes use of various arguments, taken from the unity of the body, of which they were members; from their being quickened and influenced by one and the same Spirit; from having the same hope of eternal happiness, to which they were called; from their having one Lord over them, who is Christ; from their having the same like precious faith in him; from their being baptized with the same baptism in him; and from their having one, and the same God and Father, Eph 4:4, and from all of them having gifts, though different, for mutual usefulness; which gifts are described by the author and donor of them, Christ, Eph 4:7, which is proved Eph 4:8, out of a passage in Psa 68:18, which is explained of the humiliation and exaltation of Christ, of his descent from heaven, and ascension thither; the end of which latter was to fill all things, or persons, with gifts, Eph 4:9, of which a particular enumeration is given, Eph 4:11, the design of which is, to fit men for the work of the ministry, and by them to convert sinners, and edify saints, Eph 4:12, which ministry is to be continued, until all the saints arrive to a perfection of spiritual knowledge, and make up one perfect man, or body of men in Christ, Eph 4:13, for the use and end of the Gospel ministry is not, that such who are converted by it should continue children, be in suspense about truth, and under the deceptions of men, Eph 4:14, but that through speaking the truth in love, they should grow up into Christ their head; from whom supplies of grace are communicated, for the increase and edification of every member of the body, Eph 4:15, and seeing these Ephesians to whom the apostle writes were separated in the effectual calling from the rest of the Gentiles, they ought not to walk as the others did; whose minds were vain, their understandings darkened, and their hearts blinded, hardened, and ignorant; and had no sense of things, but were given up to all manner of wickedness, Eph 4:17, whereas they had learned Christ, and through hearing had been taught the truth of the Gospel, as it was in him, Eph 4:20, wherefore it became them in their conversation, not to follow the dictates of corrupt nature, called the old man, that being full of lusts, corrupt, and deceitful, but to act becoming the renewing work of the Spirit upon their souls, and agreeably to the new principles of the grace of God created in them, in order to righteousness and holiness, Eph 4:22, and in particular it became them to avoid lying, and on the contrary to speak truth to one another; and that for this reason, because they were members of the same body, and of one another, Eph 4:25, and likewise to abstain from sinful anger, and not continue a wrathful disposition, Eph 4:26, nor was it advisable to yield to the suggestions, solicitations, and temptations of Satan, Eph 4:27, nor to commit theft, but on the other hand give themselves to manual labour at some commendable calling, that they might have for their own use, and others too, Eph 4:28, and it was also right to be careful not to suffer corrupt and unchaste words to come out of their mouths, but such as would be grateful and useful to others, Eph 4:29, and the rather this, and all the rest of the things mentioned, and likewise what follows, should be attended to; since by such evil lusts, words, and actions, the Holy Spirit of God is grieved, who should not, since he is the sealer of the saints unto the day of redemption, Eph 4:30. And the chapter is concluded with a dehortation from several vices of the mind and tongue, respecting wrath and revenge; and an exhortation to the contrary virtues, kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness; to which encouragement is given, by the example of God, who forgives for Christ's sake, Eph 4:31.

College: Ephesians (Book Introduction)

INTRODUCTION

We are saved by grace through faith! We do not earn our salvation - it is the gift of God. This is the shocking good news of Ephesians. Even though we were dead in sin and fully deserved God's wrath, he saved us and brought us into the body of Christ. It is a glorious privilege to be a part of Christ's body, and it carries with it a glorious responsibility.

We are saved by grace, for good works. God saved us so that he could live in us and work through us. We are filled with his fullness and re-created in his likeness. We are imitators of God. His power works in us, making possible more than we could ever ask or think. We are strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. The message of Ephesians is a message of salvation: God gives it; man lives it.

THE WRITER

From earliest times the church has acknowledged Paul as the author of Ephesians. But while Ephesians has been called "the quintessence of Paulinism," it is now widely denied that Paul wrote the book. Despite the current trend in scholarly criticism, there are good and sufficient reasons for upholding Paul as the author.

Reasons to Support Paul as the Author

1. The letter claims to have been written by Paul (1:1 and 3:1), and has several personal references (1:15-16; 4:1; 6:19-20). Those who deny this claim must assume the burden of proving otherwise.

2. The letter was widely known and accepted in the early church, and no one (not even the heretic Marcion) disputed that Paul was the author.

3. The letter is filled with Pauline features. Is it more likely that an imitator copied Paul's writing style in 90 to 95% of the epistle, or that Paul himself wrote it, diverging from his usual style 5 to 10% of the time?

4. The letter closely parallels Colossians.

5. The practice of writing letters in the name of someone else was not as widely practiced in the early church as some claim.

6. A comparison with the church literature of the period from which a non-Pauline Ephesians is supposed to come (such as 1 Clement) indicates that the letter is far more akin to Paul than to the supposedly contemporary church literature of the late first century.

7. The major themes - justification by faith, grace, atonement by Christ, the place of the Jews and the law - agree with Paul's uncontroverted letters.

8. The nature of the letter accords well with what Paul would have written from prison, as a final summation of what the church is.

Challenges to Pauline Authorship

It must be admitted that many scholars have advanced reasons to reject Paul as the author of Ephesians. Their challenges will be listed and briefly answered:

1. Style and Vocabulary: The sentences are often long and complicated, with heavy use of synonyms and adjectives. Certain words and phrases ("devil," "heavenly realms") are not found in other Pauline letters.

However, it must be seriously questioned whether our collection of Paul's brief letters can establish what his style and vocabulary was. Furthermore, an author must be free to exercise flexibility in his style when he writes to a different audience on a different subject. Finally, "devil" is found in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus (but the critics deny the Pauline authorship of all three of these as well).

2. Literary Dependence: There are so many parallels between Ephesians and other letters, especially Colossians, that Ephesians must have been copied and expanded by an admirer of Paul. Of the 155 verses in Ephesians it is estimated that 73 have verbal parallels in Colossians.

However, the similarities could more easily result because the letters all had the same author. There is good evidence that Ephesians and Colossians were written at the same time, which would account for their frequent parallels. (It should be noted that the "style and vocabulary" argument is that Ephesians is too different, while the "literary dependence" argument is that Ephesians is too much the same.)

3. Historical Considerations: The Jew/Gentile tension has ceased; the "holy apostles" are revered as in retrospect; and the "dividing wall" at the temple in Jerusalem has been torn down. Therefore, the letter must have been written after Paul had already died.

However, the Jew/Gentile tension was not as big a problem in some locations; the apostles were held in reverence from the very beginning (Acts 2:42; 5:12-13); the symbolic "dividing wall" could still stand in the temple when it had already been torn down in the church.

4. Doctrinal Arguments: The "church" is now universal, rather than local; various themes are handled differently in other Pauline letters; the view of marriage differs from 1 Cor 7.

However, these arguments are more apparent than real. From the beginning Jesus saw his church on a universal scale (Matt 16:18) and nothing prevents Paul from using this concept. Certain themes (such as "the mystery," "in Christ," the Trinity) may be expressed in different terms in Ephesians, but it is foolish to force a strict uniformity on Paul or to prohibit him from adding any insights to what he has already written.

In conclusion, it must be said that those who dispute what the church has accepted from the beginning have not proved their case. There is more than sufficient reason to accept the epistle as from Paul's own hand, and to feel his pulse beating in every line.

THE AUDIENCE

The Recipients of the Letter

There are several reasons to question whether Paul addressed this epistle to the Ephesian saints:

1. Several of the earliest manuscripts do not include the words "in Ephesus" in 1:1.

2. Marcion, while a heretic, referred to it as "the epistle to the Laodiceans" at a very early date (about A.D. 140).

3. Though Paul spent three years in Ephesus, longer than any other location on his missionary journeys, the letter is strangely impersonal. He "has heard" about their faith (1:15). Unlike his other epistles, Paul addresses no local problems, and closes without a single personal greeting.

4. The epistle has the mature, universal tone of a letter sent as an encyclical, in this instance to all the churches of Asia Minor.

At the same time, most manuscripts do include "in Ephesus" and the church has traditionally called this epistle "to the Ephesians." If Paul did intend that the letter be sent to churches throughout Asia Minor, it is logical that it would have been sent first to the leading city, and from there copies would be circulated. It is likely, then, that Paul did send this epistle to the Ephesians, but not to them alone.

The Locale

Ephesus was the most important city in the Roman province of Asia, located on the west coast of what is now Turkey. It was a leading commercial center, situated at the intersection of two major trade routes. It was a city where East met West, with the resulting exchange of ideas and philosophies. Ephesus boasted the temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Four times the size of the famed Parthenon in Athens, this temple also served as the bank of Asia Minor, one of the few places where money could be safely deposited. An enormous theatre in the center of the city could seat from 25,000 to 50,000 people.

Within its population of one-third of a million, Ephesus also had a large colony of Jews. After rejection by the local Jewish community, Paul found it possible to teach daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. From this strategic center the gospel message spread "so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord" (Acts 19:10).

Ephesus and the other cities of Asia Minor to which Paul sent this epistle are also mentioned in Rev 1:4-3:22. By that time the church in Ephesus needed to repent and return to its first love. Ephesus continued as a leading center of Christianity for several centuries.

THE DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING

Proceeding with the conclusion that Paul himself wrote this epistle, it is necessary to identify when and where he did so. We know that Paul wrote from an imprisonment (3:1; 4:1) in which he was confined with chains (6:20). We can safely assume, furthermore, that at this same time Paul also sent letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. But where was Paul imprisoned?

Rome

The traditional - and most likely correct - view is that Paul wrote from the imprisonment in Rome described in Acts 28:16-30. Paul was allowed to live in a private dwelling, with a soldier to guard him. This continued for two years, and during the latter part of this time Paul wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon - and no doubt Philippians, as well. A date around A.D. 62 is likely.

Caesarea

Paul is also known to have spent two years imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24:27), before his voyage to Rome. It has been suggested that Onesimus would have been more inclined to escape the 500 miles to Caesarea than to attempt the long voyage to Rome. While this location is possible, yielding a date of A.D. 58-60, no real evidence can be introduced in its support.

Ephesus

Somewhat surprisingly, some critics have attempted to make Ephesus the site of Paul's prison epistles. This would be an even more convenient location for the escape of Onesimus. However, neither the book of Acts nor church history know anything of an imprisonment in Ephesus. Paul did refer to fighting "wild beasts" in Ephesus (1 Cor 15:32), but since the city did not have a coliseum and Paul was a Roman citizen, this is probably a metaphor for the fierce men who opposed him. Because this view has no historical support, it has only its novelty to commend it.

Probable Reconstruction of Events

During his imprisonment in Rome, Paul met and converted the runaway slave Onesimus. Not long afterward, he received troubling news about doctrinal problems in Colosse (Col 1:9), the home town of Onesimus (Col 4:9). Paul determined to send the letter of Colossians to correct their errors, and decided to send Onesimus back to Philemon at the same time. Having penned letters to address these two problems, Paul also wrote a letter to the saints in Ephesus, intending that it be circulated among all the churches of Asia Minor. The resulting epistle has been called "the divinest composition of man."

-College Press New Testament Commentary: with the NIV

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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-College Press New Testament Commentary: with the NIV

College: Ephesians (Outline)

OUTLINE

I. DOCTRINE: God's Plan for Salvation - Eph 1:1-3:21

A. God's Blessings - 1:1-23

1. Salutation - 1:1-2

2. Present Blessings in Christ - 1:3-14

3. Potential Blessings in Christ - 1:15-23

B. God's Salvation - 2:1-22

1. Saved from Sin - 2:1-10

2. Saved from Separation - 2:11-22

C. God's Participation - 3:1-21

1. God Working in Paul - 3:1-13

2. God Working in All Christians - 3:14-21

II. DUTIES: The Christian's Response to Salvation - 4:1-6:24

A. The Christian in Church Life - 4:1-16

1. Unity in the Body - 4:1-6

2. Diversity in the Body - 4:7-11

3. Maturity in the Body - 4:12-16

B. The Christian in Personal Life - 4:17-5:21

1. The Old Nature vs. the New - 4:17-24

2. Members of One Body - 4:25-32

3. Walking in Love - 5:1-2

4. Walking in Light - 5:3-14

5. Walking in Wisdom - 5:15-21

C. The Christian in Domestic Life - 5:22-6:9

1. Wives and Husbands - 5:22-33

2. Children and Parents - 6:1-4

3. Slaves and Masters -6:5-9

D. The Christian in Warfare - 6:10-24

1. The Nature of the Enemy - 6:10-12

2. The Armor of God - 6:13-18

3. Paul's Own Farewell - 6:19-24

-College Press New Testament Commentary: with the NIV