INTRODUCTION to The Epistle to the Ephesians
INTRODUCTION to The Epistle to the Ephesians
I. TIMELINESS
Loathsome wickedness marked the world of Paul’s day (Eph. 2:2; cf. Rom. 1:18–32). Efforts to improve this condition were largely unsuccessful. Mankind was “without hope” (2:12). The same perversity coupled with pessimism obtains today. At the present time, too, efforts are being put forth to banish crime and to improve man’s environment. Among the means to this end are the following: slum clearance, better housing, development of parks and playgrounds, a higher minimum wage scale, job retraining, rehabilitation of educational drop-outs, and psychiatric aid for those who find it hard “to adjust themselves.” Some call for better laws. Others emphasize the need of more rigid law-enforcement or the establishment of rules that will no longer favor the criminal at the expense of society. The merit in all this must not be under-estimated. But neither should it be over-estimated. Government totalitarianism, the tendency to look upon the state to provide for every need “from the cradle to the grave,” with consequent loss of the sense of individual responsibility and initiative, is one danger. Another is the misapprehension of man’s basic need. That need is nothing less than the removal of the load of guilt by which he, being by nature a child of wrath (2:3), is oppressed. What he needs is something more than job rehabilitation. He needs reconciliation to God. Ephesians proclaims that for all true believers this great blessing has been provided by means of the vicarious, atoning death of God’s own Son (2:13). The motivation for this supreme sacrifice was “his great love” (2:4).
Another fallacy that is implied in today’s approach to the problem of relieving man’s misery is the notion that human happiness can be brought about by means that operate from without inward. “Improve the environment and man’s inner condition will be improved” seems to be the slogan. But man’s inner condition is one that does not offer much hope for the success of this method. He is “dead through trespasses and sins.” Apart from Christ he is living “in the lusts of his flesh and its reasonings” (2:1, 3). An act of God is necessary to save him. The removal of the guilt of his sin is not sufficient. Sin itself, the urge to do that which is contrary to God’s holy law, must be removed. A mighty work must be accomplished within man’s heart, so that as a result, man, having been basically renewed and being gradually transformed by the Holy Spirit, can now, in consequence, begin to react from within outward upon his environment, calling upon all of it to function Pro Rege (“for the King”). This regenerating and transforming work of the Holy Spirit, procured by the death of Christ (John 16:7), is beautifully described in Eph. 3:14–19. Those who by nature are dead must be made alive (2:1).
Now all this does not in any way cancel human responsibility. On the contrary, it rather increases the sense of man’s obligation to dedicate his life to his Benefactor. The believer, object of God’s sovereign love, feels indebted to his Savior and Lord. He loves in return for love received (5:1, 2; cf. I John 4:19). Moreover, it stands to reason that, being drawn to God, the recipient of divine grace is in this very process also attracted to his brothers and sisters in the Lord. Thus Jew and Gentile, reconciled to God, are also reconciled to each other. The barrier between the two ethnic groups is removed by the same cross that made peace between the offended God and the offending sinner (2:11–22; cf. John 12:32; 15:12; I John 4:21); yes, by that very cross which to unconverted Jews was a stumblingblock and to unconverted Gentiles foolishness (I Cor. 1:23). Thus the divine mystery becomes disclosed to human view, and the church universal is born.
Since a new day has now dawned upon those who had surrendered themselves to Christ and to the influences of his Spirit, it follows that these children of light show in their new life the fruits of light: goodness and righteousness and truth (5:9). Spirit-born virtue drives out vice of every description, as is clearly indicated in the lengthy section, Eph. 4:17–5:21. Here then is the true solution to the “loathsome wickedness” which marked Paul’s day as it does ours. It is God himself who “in Christ” has provided this way out of darkness and pessimism. It is the business of the church “to make all men see” that this is the only solution. The church must sing its mighty chorus of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, in order thereby to drown out the thoroughly unrealistic paean of atheism. The latter also sings, to be sure, but its song has a hollow sound. It sings the lie in (the spirit of) hatred. The church sings “the truth in love” (4:15). Its daily life is, in fact, a walking in love, for it imitates the God of love (5:1). Thus, firmly united, it bids defiance to Satan and all his hosts, and for this purpose makes use of the weapons provided by God himself (6:10–20).
Never futile is the work of the church, for it is a product not of the mind of man but of the sovereign grace of God. The apostle, in exuberance of spirit, describes this church, dwelling in some detail on its eternal foundation, universal scope, lofty ideal, organic unity (amid diversity) and growth, glorious renewal, and effective armor. It is a church that exists for the purpose of serving as an agent for the salvation of men to the glory of God Triune, “principalities and authorities in the heavenly places” joining in the praise as they behold, in a kaleidoscope of changing colors, the wisdom of God reflected in his masterpiece, the church (3:10).
II. COMPARISON WITH COLOSSIANS
A. Introduction
With a view to answering those that deny the Pauline authorship of Ephesians and affirm that this epistle “is nothing but a verbose amplification of Colossians” it is necessary to compare the two. This comparison will also serve another purpose, for, once having established that Paul was indeed the author of both letters, we will have the right, in exegeting Ephesians, to allow parallel passages in Colossians to illumine the interpretation. By way of anticipation let it be affirmed even now that, as I see it, the traditional view which ascribes both epistles to the great apostle to the Gentiles is correct. Hence, the present chapter will become a handy tool for exegesis.
Observe, however, the following:
(1) Not all the parallels are equally striking, nor are they all of the same character. Though there are a goodly number of verbal resemblances, there are also many similarities in thought rather than in the actual words that are used.
(2) In a few instances the actual word resemblances are even closer in the original than in the translation. However, translations that have tried to eliminate this discrepancy (between Greek and English) in every instance by supplying a so-called “standard” (or “identical”) English equivalent for each Greek word in whatever context the latter occurs, have not proved to be very satisfactory. Reasons: a. the same Greek word does not always have the same meaning, hence cannot always be faithfully rendered by the same English equivalent; b. idiomatic use in Greek does not always parallel idiomatic use in English.1
(3) As this is a Commentary on Ephesians — not on Colossians — it is proper that the basis for comparison be first of all the text of Ephesians, newly translated from the original. That text is accordingly to be found in the left main column, with comparable Colossian passages printed in the right column. It has not always been possible to place all the parallel passages exactly opposite each other. However, let the reader look not only directly opposite the Ephesian passage but also a little higher or lower in the column.
(4) It is impossible to present a list of parallels that will satisfy everyone. The question: “Is the resemblance in this or that passage in Colossians close enough to consider it a parallel to an Ephesian passage?” will not receive a unanimous answer. Some, for example, might wish to add, to the ones given below, such a “parallel” (?) as Eph. 4:10 = Col. 1:19; and even more remote parallels. I have chosen not to do so. But there is room here for difference of opinion.
B. Comparison
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In Ephesians Compare
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Ephesians
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Colossians
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Chapter 1
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2:6 5:27 1:18; 2:7; 3:8, 16 3:9 3:11 4:30 4:4 3:20 3:10 6:12 4:12 5:30 |
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
through the will of God, to the saints and believers who are in Ephesus in Christ Jesus; 2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as he elected us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and faultless before him, 5 having in love foreordained us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved, 7 in whom we have our redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he caused to overflow toward us in the form of all wisdom and insight, 9 in that he made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, the purpose which he cherished for himself in him,
10 to be put into effect in the fulness
of the times, to bring all things together under one head in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth; in him
11 in whom we also have been made heirs,
having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who beforehand had centered our hope in Christ;
13 in whom you also (are included, having
listened to the message of the truth, the gospel of your salvation; and having also believed in him, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the first installment of our inheritance, for the redemption of (God’s) own possession, to the praise of his glory.
15 For this reason, because I have
heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that (exists) among you and of your love for all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers, 17 (asking) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the clear knowledge of him, 18 (having) the eyes of your hearts illumined, so that you may know what is the hope for which he called you, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,
19 and what the surpassing greatness of
his power (displayed) with respect to us who believe, as seen in that manifestation of his infinite might 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above every principality and authority
and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the coming one; 22 and he ranged everything in subjection under his feet, and him he gave as head over everything to the church,
23 since it is his body, the fulness of
him who fills all in all. |
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 to the saints and believing brothers in Christ at Colosse; grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3:12 Put on, therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved.…
1:22 … in order to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before himself.…
1:13 the kingdom of the Son of his love.
1:14 in whom we have our redemption, the
forgiveness of our sins.
1:20 …having made peace through the blood
of his cross.…
1:9 … in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.…
1:26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations
but now made manifest to his saints.…
2:2 … with a view to the clear knowledge of
the mystery of God, namely Christ.…
4:3 … to speak forth the mystery concerning
Christ.…
1:16 for in him were created all things in
the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities, all things through him and with a view to him have been created.…
1:19 For in him he [God] was pleased to have
all the fulness dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, … through him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
1:12 with joy giving thanks to the Father
who qualified you for a share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.…
1:23 …and are not moved away from the hope that is derived from the gospel which you
have heard.…
1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known
what (is) the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.…
1:5 … of which you have previously heard
in the message of the truth, the gospel.
1:3 While praying for you we are always
thanking God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you cherish for all the saints, 5 by reason of the hope laid up for you in the heavens, of which you have previously heard in the message of the truth, namely, the gospel.… 9 And for this reason, from the day we heard it we never stopped praying for you, asking that you may be filled with clear knowledge of his will (such clear knowledge consisting) in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to live lives worthy of the Lord, to (his) complete delight, in every good work bearing fruit, and growing in the clear knowledge of God.…
1:11 being invigorated with all vigor, in
accordance with his glorious might, so as to exercise every kind of endurance and long-suffering; 12 with joy giving thanks to the Father who qualified you for a share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.…
1:29 for which I am laboring, striving by his
energy working powerfully within me.
2:12 having been buried with him in your
baptism in which you were also raised with him through faith in the operative power of God who raised him from the dead.
3:1 If then you were raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.…
1:16 for in him were created all things …
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities.…
3:15 … for which you were called in one
body.
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the
church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence, 19 for in him he [God] was pleased to have all the fulness dwell.…
1:24 I am now rejoicing amid my sufferings
for you and what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ I in his stead am supplying in my flesh, for his body, which is the church.…
2:9 for in him all the fulness of the godhead
dwells bodily, 10 and in him you have attained to fulness, namely, in him who is the head of every principality and authority.… |
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Chapter 2
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1:21 1:3 1:7 2:19 4:17, 18 5:8 6:15 3:12 3:6 |
1 And you, even though you were
dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked in line with the course of this world, in line with the prince of the domain of the air, (the domain) of the spirit now at work in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom we also once lived in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and its reasonings, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest, 4 God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead through our trespasses made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — 6 and raised us up with him and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of his grace (expressed) in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this not of yourselves, (it is) the gift of God; 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast, 10 for his handiwork are we, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that formerly
you, the Gentiles in flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” — in flesh, handmade! — 12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far away have been brought nearby through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who made both one and has broken down the barrier formed by the dividing wall, the hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments with its requirements, in order that in himself he might create of the two one new man, (so) making peace,
16 and might reconcile both of them in
one body to God through the cross, having slain the hostility by means of it; 17 and he came and proclaimed the good news: “Peace to you, those far away, and peace to those nearby"; 18 for through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the entire building, harmoniously fitted together, is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in which you also together with (all the others) are being built up for a dwelling-place of god in the Spirit. |
2:13 And you, who were dead through
your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you he made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.…
3:6 on account of which things the wrath
of God is coming; 7 in which things you also walked at one time, when you were living in them.
3:1 If then you were raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.…
1:10 … in every good work bearing fruit.…
2:11 … in whom also you were circumcised
with a circumcision made without hands.
1:20 and through him to reconcile all things
to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. 21 And you who once were estranged and hostile in disposition, as shown by your wicked works, 22 he in his body of flesh through his death has now reconciled, in order to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before himself.…
3:15 And let the peace of Christ … rule in
your hearts.
2:14 having blotted out the handwritten
document that was against us, which by means of its requirements testified against us, and he took it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.…
3:10 and have put on the new man, who is being
renewed for full knowledge according to the image of him who created him.…
2:7 rooted and being built up in him and
being established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving.
2:19 and not keeping firm hold on the Head,
from whom the entire body, supported and held together by joints and ligaments, grows with a growth (that is) from God. |
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Chapter 3
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6:19–20
1:7–11 2:13, 18 19 |
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner
of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — 2 for surely you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, 3 how that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 4 whereby, as you read it you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets, 6 namely, that the Gentiles are fellow-sharers in the inheritance and fellow-members of the body and fellow-partakers of the promise (realized) in Christ Jesus (as conveyed) through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me according to the working of his power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints,
was this grace given: to proclaim to the Gentiles the good tidings of the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to enlighten all on what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 in order that now to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the iridescent wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he formed in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have the courage of confident access through faith in him. 13 Therefore I ask (you) not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory —
14 For this reason I bend my knees to
the Father, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name: the Father’s Family, 16 (praying) that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; in order that you, being rooted and founded in love, 18 may be strong, together with all the saints, to grasp what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge; in order that you may be filled to all the fulness of God.
22 Now to him who is able to do infinitely
more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, 21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever; Amen. |
1:23 … the gospel … of which I, Paul, became
a minister.
1:24 I am now rejoicing amid my sufferings
for you, and what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ I in his stead am supplying in my flesh, for his body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister, according to the stewardship of God given to me for your benefit, to give full scope to the word of God, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints; 27 to whom God was pleased to make known what (is) the riches of the glory, of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; 28 whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom in order that we may present every man perfect in Christ; 29 for which I am laboring, striving by his energy working powerfully within me.
2:2 … in order that their hearts may be
strengthened, they themselves being welded together in love, and this with a view to all the riches of assured understanding, with a view to the clear knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ.…
4:3 … to speak forth the mystery concerning
Christ, on account of which I am in prison.…
1:24 I am now rejoicing amid my sufferings
for you.…
1:16 for in him were created all things in
the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities, all things through him and with a view to him have been created.
1:27 the riches of the glory of this mystery
1:11 being invigorated with all vigor, in accordance with his glorious might.…
1:23 if, indeed, you continue in the
faith, founded and firm.…
2:7 rooted and being built up in him and being
established in the faith.
1:29 … striving by his energy working
powerfully within me.
1:26 the mystery hidden for ages and
generations. |
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Chapter 4
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4:32 5:1 1:23 6:11 2:12 5:4 1:13 4:2, 3 |
1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the
Lord, entreat you to live lives worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, enduring one another in love, 3 making every effort to preserve the unity imparted by the Spirit by means of the bond (consisting in) peace. 4 (There is) one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope which your calling brought you
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one
God and Father of all, who (is) over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us this grace was given within the limits which Christ apportioned. 8 Therefore he says: When he ascended on high he led captive a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. 9 — Now this expression, he ascended, what can it mean but that he had (previously) descended into the regions lower than the earth?
10 The one who descended is himself also
the one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order that he might fill all things — 11 And it was he who gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 in order fully to equip the saints for the work of ministry, with a view to the building up of the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the clear knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and whirled around by every gust of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by (their) talent for deceitful scheming; 15 but adhering to the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the entire body, harmoniously fitted together and held together by every supporting joint, according to the energy that corresponds to the capacity of each individual part, brings about bodily growth with a view to its own upbuilding in love.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify
in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that life is in them due to the hardness of their hearts, 19 because they have become callous and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness for the greedy practice of every type of impurity.
20 You however, did not so learn
Christ, 21 for surely you heard of him and were taught in him, just as it is in Jesus that truth resides, 22 (having been taught) that with respect to your taught) that respect to your former manner of life you must put off the old man, which is being corrupted through deceitful lusts, 23 and must be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new man, created after (the likeness of) God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood,
speak truth each (of your) with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; let not the sun go down on that angry mood of yours, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Let him who steals steal no longer but rather let him labor, with his own hands accomplishing what is good, so that he may have something to share with the needy one. 29 Let no corrupt speech proceed from your mouth, but (only) such (speech) as is good for edification, as fits the need, that it may impart grace to the listeners. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and brawling and slander be put away from you along with all malice.
32 And be kind to each other, tender-hearted,
forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. |
1:10 so as to live lives worthy of the
Lord.…
3:12 Put on, therefore, as God’s elect, holy
and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, 13 enduring one another and forgiving each other if anyone have a complaint against anyone. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. 14 And above all these things (put on) love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of Christ, for which you were called in one body, rule in your hearts, and be thankful.
1:24 … for his body, which is the church.
2:2 … with the view to the clear knowledge
of the mystery of God.
2:9 for in him all the fulness of the god-head
dwells bodily.
2:22 … according to the precepts and doctrines
of men.
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the
church.…
2:19 and not keeping firm hold on the head,
from whom the entire body, supported and held together by joints and ligaments, grows with a growth (that is) from God.
1:21 And you who once were estranged
and hostile in disposition, as shown by your wicked works.…
3:5 Put to death therefore your members
that (are upon the earth): immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
3:8 But now you, too, lay them all aside:
wrath, anger, malice, slander, shameful language from your mouth. 9 No longer lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his practices, 10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed for full knowledge according to the image of him who created him.…
4:6 Let your speech always be gracious,
seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each individual.
3:12 Put on, therefore, as God’s elect, holy
and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering. 13 enduring one another, and forgiving each other if anyone have a complaint against anyone. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so do you also. |
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Chapter 5
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2:2 2:11, 13 5:10 5:33b 5:28, 33a 1:4 1:23 |
1 Be therefore imitators of God, as
beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved you and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a fragrant odor.
3 But immorality and impurity of any
kind, or greed, let it not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among saints, 4 also filthiness and silly talk or wittiness in telling coarse jokes, which things are improper, but rather the expression of thankfulness. 5 For of this you can be very sure, that no immoral or impure person or greedy individual — which is the same as an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words; for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be their partners, 8
for you were formerly darkness, but now (you are) light in the Lord; as children of light ever walk 9 — for the fruit of light (consists) in all goodness and righteousness and truth — 10 verifying what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not take any part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead even expose them, 12 for the things done by them in secret it is a shame even to mention. 13 But when all these (wicked practices) are exposed by the light they are made visible; for everything that is made visible is light.
14 Therefore he says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be most careful therefore how
you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what (is) the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, which is associated with unrestrained living, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody from your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to (our) God and Father, 21 subjecting yourselves to each other out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, (be subject) to your own
husbands as to the Lord, 23 for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church, he himself (being) the Savior of the body. 24 Then just as the church is subject to Christ so also wives (should be subject) to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her; 26 that he might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of water in connection with the spoken word; 27 in order that he might present the church to himself brilliant in purity, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she might be holy and faultless. 28 That is the way husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh; on the contrary, he nourishes it and cherishes it, just as also Christ (does) the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, let each one of you also love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see to it that she respects her husband. |
3:14 And above all these things (put on)
love which is the bond of perfection.
3:5 Put to death therefore your members
that (are) upon the earth: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.…
3:8 But now you, too, lay them all aside:
wrath, anger, malice, slander, shameful language from your mouth.
2:4 I say this in order that no one may mislead
you by persuasive argument. 3:6 on account of which things the wrath of God is coming.…
3:20 … for this is well-pleasing in the
Lord.
4:5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders,
making the most of the opportunity.
3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell among
you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another (and) by means of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs singing to God in a thankful spirit, with all your heart. 17 And whatever you do in word or in deed (do) all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
3:18 Wives, be submissive to your
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church.…
husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do
not be harsh toward them.
1:22 … in order to present you holy,
faultless, and blameless before himself.…
1:28 … in order that we may present every
man perfect in Christ.…
3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do
not be harsh toward them.
3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do
not be harsh toward them.
3:18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands,
as is fitting in the Lord. |
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Chapter 6
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4:14 1:21, 2:2 6:11 2:17 |
1 Children, obey your parents in
the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and your mother,” which is a commandment of foremost significance, with a promise attached: 3 “that it may be well with you” and that you may be on earth a long time. 4 And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but rear them tenderly in the discipline and admonition of the Lord. 5 Slaves, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ, 6 not in the way of eye-service as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with ready mind rendering service as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does this he will receive back from the Lord, whether (he be) slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things for them, and stop threatening, knowing that (he who is) both their master and yours is in the heavens, and there is no partiality with him.
10 Finally, find your (source of)
power in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the full armor of God in order that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty methods of the devil. 12 For not against flesh and blood is our wrestling but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to stand your ground in the day of evil, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with readiness derived from the gospel of peace, 16 and in addition to everything else, having taken up the shield of faith, by means of which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the spoken word of God, 18 by means of all prayer and supplication, praying at all times in the Spirit, and with a view to this, being on the alert in all perseverance and supplication, for all the saints; 19 and (praying) for me that when I open my mouth I may be given a message, so that I may make known courageously the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that when I proclaim it I may speak with courage as I ought to speak.
21 But in order that you also may
know my affairs how I am getting along, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make them all known to you, 22 whom I am sending to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may strengthen your hearts. 23 Peace (be) to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace (be) with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with (a love) imperishable. |
3:20 Children, obey your parents in all
things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.
3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your
children, in order that they may not lose heart. 22 Slaves, obey in all things those who according to the flesh are your masters, not with eye-service as men-pleasers but with singleness of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, put your soul into the work, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the recompense, namely, the inheritance. (It is) the Lord Christ (whom) you are serving. 25 For, the wrong-doer will receive (the consequences of) what he has wrongly done. And there is no partiality.
4:1 Masters, render to your slaves
that which is fair and square, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
1:11 being invigorated with all vigor, in
accordance with his glorious might.
1:16 … whether … principalities or
authorities.…
4:2 Persevere in prayer, keeping alert in
it with thanksgiving; 3 at the same time praying also for us, that God may open to us a door for the message, to speak forth the mystery concerning Christ, on account of which I am in prison, 4 (praying) that I may make it clear, (and may speak) as I ought to speak.
4:7 All my affairs will Tychicus make
known to you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, 8 whom I am sending to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may strengthen your hearts |
In order to be able to arrive at an objective conclusion regarding the relation between Ephesians and Colossians it is now also necessary to refer to the Colossian text as a basis for comparison. (For the actual text, as newly translated, see N.T.C. on Colossians and Philemon, pp. 202–205.)
In the following presentation the numbers in roman type (1 2 3 4, etc.) indicate those verses in the Colossian chapter that have parallels in Ephesians. Those in italics (6 7 8 15, etc.) refer to the verses that are without significant duplicate in the longer epistle. Those printed in boldface (1:1 1:16 1:15 1:13, 18, etc.) immediately under the corresponding Colossian references, indicate the Ephesian parallels.2
C. Conclusions
The above comparisons have made clear that there is, indeed, a substantial degree of resemblance between Colossians and Ephesians. To begin with Colossians, of its 95 verses about two-thirds are clearly or rather clearly paralleled in Ephesians, entirely or (more often) in part, either in thought conveyed or else both verbally and materially. This, however, by no means forces one to accept the conclusion that Ephesians is therefore the result of a skilful incorporation and amplification of phrases either remembered from Colossians or else copied from that shorter letter of Paul. Would a post-Pauline writer, whether he be thought of as writing from memory or from script, have rephrased the wording of Col. 1:12 into that of Eph. 1:11, that of Col 1:13 into that of Eph. 1:6, that of Col. 2:11 into that of Eph. 2:11, that of Col. 2:4 into that of Eph. 5:6, and that of Col. 2:22 into that of Eph. 4:14, to list but a few parallels? Would not an imitator have adhered much more rigidly to the remembered or copied text? Surely, the remark of E. F. Scott is to the point: “When a writer borrows from himself he does what he likes with his own material. He cannot help revising and modifying in every sentence. It is only the unwarranted imitator who feels that he must stick
Colossians
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Chapter 1
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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1:1
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1:1
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1:16
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1:15
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1:13, 18
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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1:8, 15–17
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1:17; 2:10; 4:1
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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1:19; 3:16; 6:10
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1:11, 16
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1:6
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1:7
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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1:10, 21; 3:9, 10, 15; 6:12
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1:22; 5:23
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1:23
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1:10; 2:13, 14, 16
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
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2:12, 13, 16; 4:18
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1:4; 2:13, 16; 5:27
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3:1, 2, 6, 7, 17
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1:22, 23; 3:1, 13
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3:2, 7
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26
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27
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28
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29
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3:3–5, 9, 10, 21
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1:9, 18; 3:6, 9, 10
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3:10; 5:27
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3:7, 10, 20
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Chapter 2
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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1:9; 3:9, 10
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5:6
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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2:20; 3:17
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1:23; 4:13
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1:21
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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2:11
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1:20
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2:1
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2:15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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2:21; 4:15, 16
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21
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22
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23
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4:14
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Chapter 3
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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1:20; 2:6
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5:3, 5; 4:19
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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2:2, 3; 5:6
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2:3
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4:22, 29, 31; 5:4
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4:22, 25
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2:15; 4:24
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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1:4; 4:2, 32
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4:2, 32
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4:2, 3; 5:2
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2:14; 4:1, 3, 4
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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5:19, 20
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5:20
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5:22, 24, 33
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5:25, 28, 33
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5:10; 6:1
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21
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22
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23
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24
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25
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6:4
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6:5–7
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6:5, 7
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6:6, 8
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6:8, 9
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Chapter 4
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6:9
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6:18
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1:9; 3:9; 6:19, 20
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6:20
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5:15, 16
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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4:29
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6:21
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6:22
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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closely to his copy lest he may betray himself” (The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, p. 121).
It is true that even so the lists given above, in which the four chapters of Colossians form the basis for comparison, show remarkable resemblance. Yet, this resemblance is by no means uniform. Similarities abound especially in chapters 1 and 3. It is but fair, however, to take note also of the differences. In Colossians 2 and 4 (with exception of 4:7, 8; cf. the almost identical passage Eph. 6:21, 22) the contrast is as conspicuous as is the resemblance or even more so. We now clearly see that the theory according to which whoever wrote Ephesians simply copied Colossians but added a paragraph here and a phrase there, is not in accord with the facts. There is definite material difference between the two letters. No contradiction, to be sure, but difference. Alongside of everything that is similar there is a line of thought developed in Colossians which does not reappear with similar emphasis in Ephesians. As especially the second chapter of Colossians indicates, with confirmation in the other chapters, the smaller epistle places great stress on Christ, the Pre-eminent One, the Only and All-Sufficient Savior. Its style, moreover, is polemical. It is a defense of the truth over against heresy. The theme of Ephesians is a different one, for which see this Introduction, Chapter V. And its style is doxological. The longer Epistle is an outburst of humble praise and adoration.