EPHESIANS 1:15-23 A REVIVING REMINDER

(revised)

Drew Dixon Intro to Exegesis November 1, 2010

Introduction
Ephesians 1:15-23 is key in understanding Ephesians. It works like batteries in an electronic device. The device exists and can be seen. Buttons can be pushed and explored, but the device springs to life with batteries. Or perhaps it works like lighting in a theatre. It sets the mood and gives vision for all that follows. This passage is a prayer in which Paul1 reminds his audience who they are in the gospel. It gives passion and conviction to the rest of the letter.

Contextual Analysis
This text is primarily theological and spiritual, however it may be useful to know the history of Paul with the churches in Ephesus and its surrounding areas. In Acts 19 Paul, while traveling through Ephesus, found some disciples and ended up remaining in the area of Ephesus for two years. During this time the word of the Lord spread to all the residents of Asia, (Acts 19:10).2 The letter provides no obvious reason for its composition (no conflict to resolve or heresy to correct). However, considering this history, Paul likely wrote to encourage a church that he had previously led (Ephesus) and to speak the gospel into new churches that had sprouted since (Asia). He has heard of their growth (1:15) and has written to remind them of who they are in the gospel. This passage, then, is to be read as a pastoral and apostolic prayer, that serves as a reminder which purposes a revival. The passage sits at the beginning of the letter as part of the traditional thanksgiving and prayer section found in most of Paul's letters. This section is typically at the very beginning of a letter following only a few lines of address. However, in Ephesians, it follows a lengthy blessing.
1 I am aware of the scholarly debates regarding not only the authorship, but also the audience of Ephesians. For the purposes of this paper I will assume that the author is Paul, as the letter states (1:1, 3:1), and that the audience is the Ephesians and surrounding churches in Asia. 2 While many scholars count Acts as historically unreliable, a Canonical approach to interpreting scripture is preferred, trusting that the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture itself.

The preceding blessing reminds the audience of who they are in Christ and therefore serves Paul's purpose to encourage them and remind them of the gospel. After the blessing, Paul gives his prayer report which, like his other letters, works as an outline for the body of the letter. His prayer prepares the audience for what he is going to write and places the body of the letter in a proper context: a posture of prayer.

Formal Analysis
The prayer found in Ephesians 1:15-23 has a careful structure and fluid movement. It is one very long sentence which progresses through a few ideas. An outline of the text is as follows: vv 15-16 Introductory Thanksgiving vs 17 Impartation of the Spirit vv 18-19a Identity in the Church vv 19b-23 Power of Christ As mentioned earlier, this prayer serves as an outline for the body of the letter. The letter discusses the sections in reverse order of the prayer. The letter corresponds as follows: Power of Christ 2:1-22 Identity in the Church 3:1-4:16 Living by the Spirit 4:17-6:20 Aside from correspondence and outline, some important features of this prayer are strong poetic and even hymnic language as well as a great deal of synonyms and repetition for emphasis.3

3 C. E. Arnold, "Ephesians, Letter to the." In Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, (Eds. G.F. Hawthorne, et al. Downers Grove Inter Varsity, 1993), 238.

Detailed Analysis
vv 15-16 Paul begins this prayer report giving thanks for and encouragement to his audience. Many have taken I have heard of your faith as evidence against an Ephesian audience. Why would Paul write such a vague statement to a church he led for two years? Some suggest this is Paul responding to a recent report he had received concerning the Ephesians.4 The best explanation is that Paul intended this to be a circular letter not only for the church in Ephesus, but also the surrounding churches in Asia that resulted from his initial ministry in Ephesus, which supports his purpose to encourage the new and remind the old. In this introductory thanksgiving, Paul comments on the audience's faith in Jesus as well as their love toward the saints. He inseparably links the two like the problem and solution of an equation. Knowing Jesus changes who you are; faith leads to love (5:2). After giving thanks for their faith and its outworking he moves on to the prayer. vs 17 In verse 17, Paul shifts from thanksgiving to intercession.5 While the prayer continues through verse 23, verse 17 is truly the base of the prayer with 18-23 as elaboration. Paul's prayer is that his audience would receive wisdom and revelation. These correspond to the faith and love mentioned in the preceding verse. Revelation is the initial faith in Jesus, while wisdom is the practical outworking of that faith. Paul prays for his audience to receive both, which once more links the two. Some translations of this passage read the Spirit of wisdom, but such a translation is reading in one's own theology rather than translating. The Greek simply reads a spirit (, no article) which, according to Patzia, does not mean the Holy Spirit, but instead refers to gifts

Arthur G. Patzia, "Prayer for Divine Enlightenment." In Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, (ed. Peabody Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1990.) 10:164 5 W. B. Hunter, "Prayer." In Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, (Eds. Hawthorne et al. Downers Grove, Inter Varsity 1993), 728.

that come from the Holy Spirit.6 This interpretation is sound because in 1:13 Paul has already written that they have received the Spirit. Therefore, he is not praying for them to receive the Spirit (which they already have), but rather is asking for the Spirit to manifest himself through gifts, particularly those of wisdom and revelation. vv 18-19a Since Ephesians was written to remind the people of their identity in the gospel, Paul's prayer is that the Spirit would reveal to them who they are, which is prayerfully described in these verses. First, Paul makes it clear that the wisdom and revelation of knowledge is a work of God and not a work of the people. The word (having enlightened) is a passive verb. This means that enlightening is done to them, not by them. The verb is also a perfect verb which is a tense that describes something that has happened in the past, but is still affecting the present. This, once again, ties together past faith and its present outworking, love, since the past enlightenment is presently working itself out. Following this initial assertion, Paul lists three specific aspects of his audience's identity which he desires for God to reveal to them. Just as in his initial assertion, Paul continues to brilliantly write about his audience, while maintaining primary focus on God. (1) That they would know what is the hope of his calling.7 Some translations may read the hope to which he has called you, but this is not an accurate translation of and does not communicate the objectivity of this hope. The hope which Paul desires for his audience to know is a hope that does not rely on their circumstances, but is entirely reliant on God's call.6 (2) That they would know what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the

6 7

Arthur G. Patzia. In Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, 10:163-173 Emphasis here and following added.

saints. Paul does not write here about an inheritance that his audience has (1:14), but rather about an inheritance which they are. (3) That they would know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. vv 19b-23 After mentioning God's immeasurable power, Paul illustrates and validates it by pointing to Jesus' resurrection and exaltation. He describes three aspects of Jesus' exaltation which correspond to the three aspects of the audience's identity. (1) Jesus was raised from the dead. This corresponds to hope. Paul's audience has hope because they can look at what God worked through Jesus and can trust that the same way Jesus was raised and exalted that they will be raised and exalted with him (2:6, Romans 8:11). (2) Jesus was seated at [God's] right hand in the heavenly places. Following this, Paul writes powerfully about the authority that Jesus has.8 This corresponds to the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. Paul's audience can trust in this immeasurably great power because Jesus is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and is above every name that is named. In saying all of this, Paul directly confronts many secular and pagan practices in Ephesus and the surrounding areas. They had great trust in their government, their goddess (Artemis),9 and also their magic.10 Jesus is above all of these. Not only is he seated above them, but they have been placed beneath him (vs 22). (3) Jesus was given as head over...the church. This corresponds to his glorious inheritance in the saints because the saints are the church.
8 Frank E. Gaebelein, Ephesians. In Expositor's Bible Commentary, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1978.) 11 9 Freedman, David Noel, Ephesus. In The Anchor Bible Dictionary, (New York: Doubleday, 1992.) 10 Andrew T. Lincoln, Ephesians. In Word Biblical Commentary, (Dallas, TX: Word Pb, 1990.) 42:45-82

The end of verse 23 has posed a problem in translation and also interpretation. The question has been whether or not (the fullness) refers to Jesus or to the church.10 Some contend that the church is the fullness of Jesus (meaning that Jesus is fulfilled by the church). This interpretation must be rejected not only because of bad theology, but also because of context.11 Others interpret that Jesus is the fullness of the church (meaning that the church is not complete without Jesus). While the second interpretation is theologically sound, it still does not work in the greater context of Ephesians. occurs four times in Ephesians. Three of those four times it is used in the context of God and his church (1:23, 3:19, 4:13). Because of these other occurrences in Ephesians it is best understood that, while Jesus independently maintains his fullness, the church is actually becoming the fullness of Christ. This interpretation is confirmed by all that follows in Ephesians: The church is growing into his fullness (4:15). She is the bride of Christ (5:25) and therefore the two shall become one (5:31-32). As Jesus has been raised and exalted, so shall the church (2:6). Therefore, Jesus is independently complete, while the church is becoming the fullness of Jesus; it is being transformed into his image (2 Cor 3:18).

Synthesis
Hopefully, by now, it can be seen that this prayer serves to remind the audience who they are. Not because of anything that they have done, but because of what God has done (2:8). His spirit enlightens; his calling brings hope; his inheritance is in the saints; his great power is toward those who believe. This prayer is for the church, but it is actually about God! It assures that the people have an unshakeable certainty in their identity. They are not defined by themselves, but by God who is faithful and does not change. The prayer is a reminder of who they are (faith) that hopes to bring about a revival of passion for Jesus (love) not only in the Ephesian church, but also in the surrounding churches in Asia where this letter also circulated.
11 Paul just spent four and a half verses expounding upon Jesus' supremacy over all things.

Reflection
There is much to be gleaned in this passage from a pastoral perspective. There are three specific things I wish to reflect on from this passage: Pastors pray because of God's heart. A pastor can always approach Paul's prayers as a learning experience for how to pray for and lead his own flock. Paul is constantly praying for the people under his pastoral care. But it is clear that he prays, not just because he is supposed to, or because of his love for them, but because of God's love for them. Pastors should pray for their flock because God cares for his church. Pastors encourage because of the Spirit's revelation. In this passage, Paul speaks encouragement over his audience and he begins by asking for a spirit of revelation. Paul does not only ask for God to give them a spirit of revelation, but has undoubtedly also received one from God. The specific things he prays over his people are things that he heard from God. It is important for a pastor to receive revelation from the Spirit about his flock so that he can speak encouragement from God over them rather than flattery from man. Pastors teach because Jesus is alive! Obviously one of the most vital roles of a pastor is to teach and proclaim truth to his people. Such proclamation of truth can only be effective with true conviction. A pastor can get up and preach to his people because Jesus got up out of his grave! The ultimate job of a pastor is to, like Paul in Ephesians, constantly remind his flock of Jesus and who they are because of who he is, for the proclamation of Jesus Christ is the ultimate proclamation of truth (John 14:6)!

Bibliography Bligh, John. "Principalities and powers." Theological Studies 23, no. 1 (March 1, 1962): 93-99. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 18, 2010). Dillistone, F W. "How is the church Christ's body?: a New Testament study." Theology Today 2, no. 1 (April 1, 1945): 56-68. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 18, 2010). Forbes, Christopher. "Pauline demonology and/or cosmology? principalities, powers and the elements of the world in their Hellenistic context." Journal for the Study of the New Testament no. 85 (March 1, 2002): 51-73. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed October 18, 2010). Freedman, David Noel, and Richard E. Oster, Jr.. "Ephesus." In The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 542-549. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Friedrich, Gerhard, and Gerhard Kittel. "." In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament: Vol VI, 298-305. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977. Hawthorne, Gerald F., and Ralph P. Martin. "Ephesians, Letter to the." In Dictionary of Paul and His Letters/a Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship, 238-249. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Lincoln, Andrew T.. "Thanksgiving with Prayer for Believers Knowledge of God and Their Awareness of the Church's Significance." In Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 42, Ephesians, 45-82. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1990. Patzia, Arthur G.. "Prayer for Divine Enlightenment." In Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, 163173. Rep Sub ed. Peabody Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1990. Perkins, Pheme. "Thanksgiving Prayer Report." In New Interpreter's Bible Vol. 2, 380-387. New York: Abingdon Press, 2000. Wood, A. Skevington. "A Prayer of Intercession." In Expositor's Bible Commentary: Vol. 11, 2932. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1978.