Canonical Reading Plan for Dec 9, Eph 1-3

Today's readings are Eph 1-3.

There are two primary themes in Paul's letter to the Ephesians: (1) In Christ all creation is reconciled to Himself and to God. (2) Christ has united people of all nations into Himself and each other. This is not to imply that all people in creation are reconciled to God, only those in Christ. One of the points Paul wants to clarify is that salvation through Christ and His work on the cross is available to all kinds of people.

Ephesians was written around 60 AD and shows that the new church is beginning to mature in its doctrine and theology but will continue to struggle with outside influences. Nonetheless, Paul’s teaching is deep and rich, intended for a congregation that may have its challenges but is growing spiritually.

Ephesus was a vast and incredibly prosperous port city dominated by temples to a broad variety of gods. The city struggled with mysticism, magic and the occult. Paul's letter established Christ's supremacy over all things and God's sovereign authority over not just creation but all things in this age and the next. Apparently, the church at Ephesus needed to be reminded of their allegiance to an all-powerful God and their union with Him and each other through Christ. The draw on them to worship other gods was formidable. They lived in a culture that minimized the one true God by offering a multitude of alternatives.

Paul starts out by establishing that all blessings come through Christ through whom we are saved by grace through faith. Our hope is in Him, and we are helpless without Him. In Him, also, we are united with all types of people. This is a mystery revealed in Christ; namely, the gospel is for Jews and Gentiles. This should be a blessing for God’s people in Ephesus who may feel pulled in a variety of directions and become divided by a culture that teaches many and diverse spiritual paths. Christ is the only one way toward a relationship with God. He brings not only salvation but unity (Eph 1-3).

Ephesus today. The remains of numerous temples and meetings places are still evident.
This is Main Street looking down toward the great library.

Paul respects his readers and expresses his great love for them. He knows the power of peer pressure. He knows it would be easy for the people of the church at Ephesus to compromise their faith to fit in with their neighbors and friends. So, instead of watering down the gospel and sending them a feel-good letter, Paul takes them deeper into their faith with a strong doctrinal emphasis. This is a letter motivated by love, respect and compassion. Paul doesn’t want to coddle them, he wants to stretch them and to see them grow.