To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus Ephesians1:1
Most scholars agree that Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians while he was a prisoner in Rome in about 60AD. From the background introductions we have done over the last two weeks, we know that Paul was known, loved and respected by the congregation.
In fact, when Paul was on his way to Jerusalem and knew that he was going to be arrested and dragged off to Rome, he summoned the Ephesian elders to Miletus - a journey of more than 60km. They came very willingly and Paul gave them this commission:
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."
Paul reminds them of his calling as an apostle. This word literally means "sent-out" and carries the implication of missionary, pioneer, church-planter, new-work-starter and boundary-breaker. Paul was all of these things in all his missionary work.
He also affirms that his life and calling has been according to God's will - this is a courageous statement because Paul is writing from prison! But Paul knew that God's purposes are greater than our temporary troubles and that trouble could be transformed into victory.
He calls the Ephesian Christians "Saints." This is a difficult word: Today "being a saint" is an _achievement_ but in Paul's time it was a _calling._ It wasn't that the Ephesians had "arrived" and were exceptionally pious, holy and respected it was that they were being called to live differently, to march to the beat of a different drum, to walk in obedience to God. They were being called to be holy and faithful and Paul saw them as "works in progress."
His greeting (salutation) is brief, but powerfully indicates that it is Christ Jesus who has called Paul (through thick and thin) and it is Christ Jesus who is at the centre of the Ephesian congregation.
It is all about Christ!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
