But neither of these dangers has come to the front in any special form, and the dominant note of the Epistle is not one of warning, but one of praise and thanksgiving. The writer's mind is full of one great theme — the unity of the Church in Christ, predestined from all eternity to all eternity, bound together in faith and love. And, as he takes up his argument, the style rises in dignity and strength until we seem to be listening to a Eucharistic hymn. Against the dangers of the hour he sets the inspiration of a great ideal, the One Body of Christ who died for Jew and Gentile alike, the One Church, ordered by Christ Himself, in which every man, if he will, may lead the life of the Spirit.
3. Analysis.— (A) Chs. 1-3. The unity of the Church, regarded as that in which Jew and Gentile are at last one. The whole of this section is an expansion of the typical thanksgiving and prayer with which St. Paul usually opens his letters.
(1) P-2. Salutation.
(2) 1^"'^ Thanksgiving for the privileges be- stowed in Christ upon the Church. This sec- tion falls into three strophes, marked by the refrain ' unto the praise of his glory,' and cor- responding to the three Persons of the Trinity.
(a) vv.3-6. Thanksgiving for the ' adoption as sons,' pre- destined by the Father before the foundation of the world.
(6) vv.7-12. Thanksgiving for the revelation of God's good pleasure in Christ, in whom we have redemption from sin, grace to live anew, and knowledge of our place in God's purpose to sum up all things in Him.
(c) VV.13- J'l. Thanksgiving that in the Holy Spirit both Jew and Gentile have even here and now an earnest of that great heritage.
(3) li5-23_ Prayer that the readers may grow to a fuller understanding of the work of Christ,
(a) w.15-19. Prayer that they may realize more fully the threefold blessing of vv.3-1*— their adoption as sons, their heritage in Christ, their new life in the Spirit.
3U EPHESIANS, EPISTLE TO THE
EPHESIAKS, EPISTLE TO THE
(b) vv. 20-23. Prayer that they may come to see Christ as He really is, the consummation of all thinjrs in heaven and earth, and supreme Head of His Church.
(4) 2^"^-. A further thanksgiving for all that is implied in this conception of the Church, ■worked out especially in relation to the position of Jews and Gentiles therein.
(a) vv.i-iO. The power of God which was shown in Christ has been shown too upon all individual Christians, whether Gentile (vv.i- 2) or Jew (v.-*), raising them from the death of sin (v.6 ; ct. l^U), causing them to ascend with Christ into the heavenly sphere (v.6 ; cf. 1-''), and giving them a place in the Church, through which God has purposed to work (vv.'^-io ; cf. 1-1-23).
(6) vv.ii--. Thus the divisions of humanit.y are healed. The Gentile who was once far off is ' made nigh in the blood of Christ' (vv.iii-*). The barriers set up by the Jewish Law are broken down (vv.^-f- 15). Jew and Gentile now stand together in one fellowship, both having their access to the Father through Christ in one Spirit (vv.16 18). So is the Temple of God built, with Christ as its chief corner-stone (vv.i9"-2).
(5) 3^""^ A further prayer that the readers may apprehend the fullness of this great life in Christ, in which all the saints join (vv.'^i''), and a doxology, closing this section of the Epistle (vv.2"- 21).
This section is interrupted by a passage ( vv. ^-i^) in which the writer dwells upon his own posi- tion as the ' chosen vessel ' through whom this mystery of the Church was to be preached to the Gentiles. The appointed time and means had been fixed by the purpose of God, and the revelation given in the Church affected not only earth but also all heaven. The sufferings of the ^vriter are thus no cause for discourage- ment. They too lie in the purpose of God. (B) Chs. 4-6. The unity of the Church, regarded
as a principle of conduct, enabling all to lead the
higher life.
(1) 41-5-1. A general appeal addressed to the whole Church.
(a) 41-3. Exhortations to lead the life of love, which is the life of the Spirit.
(6) vv.4-16. The unity of the Church, upon its practical side, which rests upon the unity of God (vv.-4-6). It is b.v God's gift that the organization of the Church e.\ists in diverse ministries (vv.7-11). And the purpose of it all is ' the perfecting of saints,' that each may take his place in the livirtg whole of the Body of Christ.perfect in faith and knowledge andlove (vv.i2i6).
(c) vv.i'7-'-4. The old Gentile life, based upon ignorance and resulting in impurity, contrasted with the new life, based upon knowledge of Christ and resulting in ' righteousness and hohness of truth.'
(d) 4'-5-r)2i. A more detailed description of the Christian life as it should be lived by members of the Church.
(i.) 425. Truthfulness — a lie to another Christian is a lie to oneself.
(11.) vv.26. 27. Control of temper, for fear of the accuser, i.e. either of the Satan in heaven, or of calumniators on earth.
(iii.) v. 28. Honesty, as the basis of right giving.