Ephesians 4:8: When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. How do we reach maturity in Christ? Paul gives us a clue when he quotes from Psalm 68, a Psalm of ascension. The Psalm begins as a plea for the Lord fight for David. He calls on . . . . Continue Reading »
What does Paul mean in Ephesians 1:23 when he describes the church as the fullness of Christ? Does it mean that the church is completed and filled up by Christ, or does it mean that Christ is completed and filled up by the church? Certainly the first. But the second is also true. . . . . Continue Reading »
Gnostics used the term pleroma , fullness, to describe the realm of emanations from the high God, the realm of perfection and life. Paul had pre-refuted this later development by giving pleroma an earthly address and a history. The body, He says, is the pleroma of Chrit (Ephesians 1:23), and . . . . Continue Reading »
Some thoughts after a stimulating discussion of Ephesians 5 with my colleague Toby Sumpter. Toby pointed out that the description of marital life in Ephesians includes a number of sacrificial terms: Husbands are to imitate the Christ who “gave Himself,” who “washes” His . . . . Continue Reading »
Paul urges us to rejoice in the midst of tribulations and sufferings, not because sufferings and tribulations are good in themselves, but because of the fruit they produce. Tribulation, he says, produces perseverance, proven character, and a hope that does not disappoint. Everyone suffers, but not . . . . Continue Reading »
Strangely, Paul says in Ephesians 5:13 that “everything that becomes visible is light.” Whatever could that mean? Hamann thought he knew: “Imagery comprises the entire realm of human knowledge and happiness. The first explosion of creation, and the first impression of its . . . . Continue Reading »
During the period of the old covenant, God hid things. He hid some things inside the Most Holy Place, where no one could go. He also hid His plans from his people. He had a secret, which was disclosed, and then only in part, to certain “cognoscenti” - prophets and apostles. The gospel . . . . Continue Reading »
Extending James Jordan’s observations, posted here earlier today: When Paul talks about the “mystery” revealed in the gospel in Ephesians, he does not confine it to the redemption of sinners from sin. The secret/mystery that had been hidden is about the “summing up of all . . . . Continue Reading »
What is the “great mystery” Paul identifies in Ephesians 5:32? Is it the relation of Christ and His church? The connection between Christ-church and man-wife? In context, one particular dimension of Paul’s teaching is perhaps especially in view. Verse 31 quotes from Gen 2:24, and . . . . Continue Reading »
Ephesians 5 of course draws an analogy between marriage and Christ’s relation to His church: Husband:wife::Christ:Church Verse 29, though, puts it differently. With Genesis 2’s phrase “one flesh” in view, Paul says that “no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
