Please read all of Ephesians. Choose one of the questions below and select a verse that particular helps in answering that question.1. What seem to be the most import ethical challenges the Ephesian Christians are facing?
2. In what ways does Ephesians seem different than Romans and Corinthians?
3. What specific standards does Paul set for servants, masters, children, wives, and husbands? Is he right is saying that the husband is the “head” of the wife? How do Paul’s ideas differ from those of contemporary society?
4. What is Paul’s advice to leaders on handling ethical problems?
An ethical challenge that the Ephesians must have been facing for Paul to address it was the idea of salvation through works vs salvation through faith. Ephesians 2: 8&9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." The two ideas have always been at odd and the Ephesians had to address it. One has to have both to truly reach salvation, but one cannot become prideful because they do great works. Salvation is a very important ethical idea that has to be addressed and Paul did so. He made sure the Ephesians understood it, so they did not go along a road that leads to division.
ReplyDeleteKelly Longden
DeleteThere are many similarities between the messages of Ephesians and Romans and Corinthians. One of the main differences I detect is that he is writing more to remind them rather than to instruct them, as if he has already instructed them like he did in Romans and Corinthians. His messages are being recapped.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 3, he reiterates that "the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel" (3:6 NIV). In chapter 4 he reminds them that each person has a role to play as a part of the body of Christ, "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (4:16 NIV). In the second half of chapter 5 he once again talks about husbands being the head of the family. Again, all of these are nearly identical messages, but it appears as though he is just reminding them (not as in depth) of something they've already heard.
From this, I would gather that one of their biggest problems might be remaining steadfast in their doctrine. In order to bolster them, he compares their necessities to a set of armor towards the last portion of chapter 6. It's as if they all just need a tune up, so to speak.
Paul sets high standards for the Ephesians. In chapter 4:2-6, 29, 31-32 he states, "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of unity...Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen...Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." While giving them these guidelines for life, Paul points out the most important point to remember in chapter 5:1-2, "be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Though he does say that the husband is head over the wife, he also states that "...the two will become one flesh"; therefore, a team that lives for God together. While these guidelines are important, we have to live a life for God and one that is pleasing to him; one that shows his power and love in every way.- Melinda Quade
ReplyDeleteAn ethical challenge that the Ephesians were probably what to do with things like social standings within the family and social standings. Ephesians 5:33 and 6:1-4 “Each of you however should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.” “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor you father and mother-this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” It seems to me as if that people were unsure of how to really live together under this new faith. They had always been told to follow a certain rule, but not exactly how to live by them. How men should treat their wife’s, and how husbands treat their women and children. They had to realize how to treat one another in the light of Christ. I think that Ephesians is different from the other two books because it actually identifies more than what people have to do to gain salvation. It talks more about how to treat the people around you as well. I know that in Romans they is talk about how to act with Jews and Romans worshiping together, but this dealt with the people that are closest to you and how to act in a Christian way. His views are different because he believes in a slight form of equality and that men should be like the head of the household, but in an equal sense. It states that the husband should be like Christ to the church and the wife should be like the church to Christ. The advice of Paul was to not just ignore the ethical issue but to go right into them. Do not let the social classes or the family bonds get in the way.
ReplyDeleteIn Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do." 6:5 "Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect and from a sincere heart, just as you obey Christ. In these passages it states that slaves shall obey their masters and children obey their parents and not waver, but also 6:4 "Fathers do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord." Thus telling the fathers to raise the children in a christian home and teach them the teaching of the Lord. And also says to the masters to be good to their slaves. Do not threaten them. And remember that you all have the same Master in heaven. In today's society men and women are seen as equal but in the those days the man was the head of the family, and the husband is the head of the wife. And he says husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, but wives yield to your husbands.
ReplyDeleteOne struggle it would seem that Paul addresses is one seen in earlier letters as well. In Ephesians 2:11-12 Paul says "Therefore, remember that at one time you, Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by those called the circumcision, which is done in the flesh by human hands, were at that time without Christ, alienated the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world." This would seem that Ephesians were struggling with Gentile and Jewish cooperation and Paul was attempting to bridge the gap.
ReplyDeleteAnother passage where he stresses unity is 4:4, "One body, and one spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call." This is another passage that could relate to the Jewish-Gentile cooperation that Paul tries to diffuse by stressing their unity in Jesus.
-Zack Krage
Response to question 3
ReplyDeletePaul is looking at marriage in a way that contemporary society does not today. In contemporary society it is a relationship and partnership between two people; both have equal right to do whatever the other can do. But Paul is coming at it from a different angle- Chapter 5:23 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior."
Paul sees marriage as a form of worship or a way of glorifying God in this life. Paul sees marriage as a way that believers anticipate Christ's return and thereby live like him; the marriage constantly symbolizing Christ's love for the church- verse 25 "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." These verses do not suggest an indentured servitude on part of the wife; she submits knowing that her husband will lovingly do anything for her and its his job to do everything it takes to work things out for her good. Paul sees marriage very differently than contemporary society and sees it as a reflection of Christ's love and promises. -Zach Kuhlman
#2
ReplyDeleteCorinthians dealt with both unity and some of the struggles that the church in Corinth faced. The Corinthians were part of the body of Christ but at times they struggled to act like it, and it was causing division among them.
The Roman church was addressed unity between the Gentiles and the Jews. Paul does a good job describing in detail why they should be loving each other and even those outside the fold as well.
Ephesians is different in that the church doesn't seem to be having many problems in Ephesus. In Ephesians 1:15-16 Paul actually gives thanks for the Ephesians faith and love in the Lord, and how they are showing that among all the saints. Paul's letter seems more directed toward encouraging them in the fact that grace is through faith. He also points to unity and then spends the rest of the chapters talking about the odds and ends that may cause trouble at some point. Then Paul finishes with some of my favorite verses. Ephesians 6:10-20 great stuff.
One piece of advice Paul gives that is not touched on greatly, but is probably rather useful is Chap 6:1-4 where he talks about the relationship between parent and child. he cites the ten commandments saying to honer thy mother and thy father, but he also make mention to the fathers to not provoke their children to wrath. its interesting because he's basically saying that children should obey their parents, but parents should not abuse that rule and cause resentment, but instead they should bring up their children in the training and admiration of the Lord. Christianity stands a better chance of survival after all if the next generation is involved. -Sean M.
ReplyDeletePaul lists the behaviors and attitudes that he expects from each party in the wife/husband, child/parent, and slave/master relationships in chapters five and six of Ephesians. He says that wives should "submit to your husbands as to the Lord." He expects husbands to love their wives as they do themselves. This is different from society thinks, especially concerning the role of the wife. People can get very offended at the idea that this passage is 'degrading' to women. However, they aren't looking at the passage close enough. He asks wives to submit to their husbands, but never does he say that the role of the wife was less important than the role of the husband. The relationship that Paul describes is actually a very balanced one.
ReplyDeletePaul asks children to obey their parents, but at the same time is careful to include that parents should not take advantage of this and 'exasperate' their children. A similar kind of give and take relationship is asked of slaves and masters. Slaves should serve their masters to the best of their abilities because in that they are serving their true Master, Christ. He also warns the masters that they should not treat their slaves as less than human, but should should no favoritism.
Claire DeMilia
In Ephesians 4:1-6, "I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
ReplyDeleteThis passage sends the message that everyone is blessed and all are loved by God and that it should not matter who you are because He created everything and everyone to be loved by one another.
-Cheryl Hansen
It seems the Ephesians struggled ultimately with one another. Paul writes a lot about unity in Christ, and coming together to form a body. This is often been a struggle in the churches I've been a part of all growing up. It is very disappointing that we have those problems as a church, but it was obviously a problem in the early church, and naturally wouldn't be in the bible if God didn't know it was going to be an ongoing problem.
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