Ephesians

1
Ephesians

• Did Paul write it? (This part is shamelessly
  adapted from Wikipedia.)
• The author of the epistle claims to be Paul in
  the opening address, itself identical to those of
  Second Corinthians and Colossians.
• There were few doubts in the early church that
  Paul wrote Ephesians early church fathers
  authoritatively quoted from it.
• The authenticity of this letter was first
  disputed by the Dutch Renaissance scholar
  Desiderius Erasmus, and in more recent times has
  drawn detailed criticism.
• The letter is made up of 50 sentences, 9 over 50
  words. (13-14 is one sentence.) The closest,
  Romans, has 3 out of 581 sentences of such
  length.
• Many words in the letter are not in the
  "undisputed" epistles.
• There is a close literary relationship between
  the Colossians and Ephesians. Over forty passages
  in Ephesians are expansions or variations of
  passages in Colossians.
• Paul founded and built up the church in Ephesus
  however, this letter does not appear to contain
  the usual specific greetings, seen in Paul's
  other letters, addressed to people he remembers.
• Some of the oldest manuscripts of this letter are
  not addressed to "God's holy people who are at
  Ephesus," but merely to "God's holy people."
  Marcion, around 180, quoted from this letter and
  attributed the quote to Paul's "Letter to the
  Laodiceans."

2

• Did Paul write it? (Continued)
• The word ecclesia (church) is used to refer to
  the universal church rather than, as Paul
  typically employs it, to the local churches that
  he had founded. Furthermore the church has cosmic
  dimensions as the starting point for Gods
  reconciliation of all things in Christ.
• The eschatological tone is more subdued than in
  other letters the expectation of Christs
  imminent return is unmentioned, while future
  generations are, as is a concern for social
  order.
• The tensions between Jew and Gentile seem largely
  resolved.
• There is no reference to justification by
  faith. Instead the writer speaks of salvation by
  grace through faith.
• The letter at least hints at universalismthe
  idea that all people, indeed all things, will be
  reconciled to God sooner or later, though this
  has already begun with the church.

3
Ephesians 13-14 (one sentence in Greek),
20-23 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
just as he chose us in Christ before the
foundation of the world to be holy and blameless
before him in love. He destined us for adoption
as his children through Jesus Christ, according
to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise
of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on
us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and
insight he has made known to us the mystery of
his will, according to his good pleasure that he
set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness
of time, to gather up all things in him, things
in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have
also obtained an inheritance, having been
destined according to the purpose of him who
accomplishes all things according to his counsel
and will, so that we, who were the first to set
our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of
his glory. In him you also, when you had heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and had believed in him, were marked with the
seal of the promised Holy Spirit this is the
pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as
Gods own people, to the praise of his glory.
God put this power to work in Christ when he
raised him from the dead and seated him at his
right hand in the heavenly places, far above all
rule and authority and power and dominion, and
above every name that is named, not only in this
age but also in the age to come. And he has put
all things under his feet and has made him the
head over all things for the church, which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
4
Universalism?

• While the New Testament frequently warns against
  some form of everlasting punishment, books like
  Ephesians do not and point instead toward
  universal reconciliation, at least eventually.
• Other passages seem to suggest at the very least
  that many early Christians were universalists.
• Why all the warnings, then?
• It is probable that just as many early Christians
  were not universalists.
• Many interpreters who favor universalism see the
  warnings in the same way that we view Jonahs
  prophecythe warnings are given so that they will
  NOT come true.
• Why worry at all, then, about turning to God?
• Ephesians seems to suggest that the main reason
  to turn to God is because a reconciled life is
  what we were made for in the first place. We will
  not be fulfilled until we take our place in
  Gods common life in Christ.
• Protestants who insist that works contribute
  nothing to salvation have faced a similar
  question Why worry at all, then, about becoming
  more loving?
• They have traditionally answered that, when we
  are reconciled to God, we will want to become
  more loving, and that we will not be fulfilled
  until we do.

5
Other NT Passages Suggesting Universalism
Matthew 1333 He told them another parable The
kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of flour until
all of it was leavened. Romans 515-21 But the
free gift is not like the trespass. For if the
many died through the one mans trespass, much
more surely have the grace of God and the free
gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,
abounded for the many. And the free gift is not
like the effect of the one mans sin. For the
judgment following one trespass brought
condemnation, but the free gift following many
trespasses brings justification. If, because of
the one mans trespass, death exercised dominion
through that one, much more surely will those who
receive the abundance of grace and the free gift
of righteousness exercise dominion in life
through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just
as one mans trespass led to condemnation for
all, so one mans act of righteousness leads to
justification and life for all. For just as by
the one mans disobedience the many were made
sinners, so by the one mans obedience the many
will be made righteous. But law came in, with the
result that the trespass multiplied but where
sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so
that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so
grace might also exercise dominion through
justification leading to eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
6
Romans 8 19-22 For the creation waits with eager
longing for the revealing of the children of God
for the creation was subjected to futility, not
of its own will but by the will of the one who
subjected it, in hope that the creation itself
will be set free from its bondage to decay and
will obtain the freedom of the glory of the
children of God. We know that the whole creation
has been groaning in labor pains until
now. Romans 1132 For God has imprisoned all in
disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
1 Corinthians 1520-26 But in fact Christ has
been raised from the dead, the first fruits of
those who have died. For since death came through
a human being, the resurrection of the dead has
also come through a human being for as all die
in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But
each in his own order Christ the first fruits,
then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end, when he hands over the
kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed
every ruler and every authority and power. For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under
his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is
death. Colossians 119-20 In Christ all the
fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through
him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making
peace through the blood of his cross.
7
1 Timothy 410 For to this end we toil and
struggle, because we have our hope set on the
living God, who is the Savior of all people,
especially of those who believe. 1 John 22 And
he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not
for ours only but also for the sins of the whole
world. Revelation 513 Then I heard every
creature in heaven and on earth and under the
earth and in the sea, and all that is in them,
singing, To the one seated on the throne and to
the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and
might forever and ever!