SUMMARY
After praising and highlighting the Trinitarian nature of God, the author of Ephesians 1:15–23 prays for the outpouring of the HolyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine Spirit on church members to experience a revelation of understanding the glories of membership in the church as well as embodying godliness in daily living.
ANALYSIS
Like in other letters, the apostleDerived from a Greek word meaning "one who is sent," an apostle is a person who embraces and advocates another person's idea or beliefs. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus called twelve apostles to follow and serve him. Paul became an apostle of Jesus... PaulThe Apostle Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was the author of several New Testament letters and the founder of many Christian communities. or Paul’s discipleA disciple is a person who accepts and follows the pronouncements of a teacher. Jesus chose twelve disciples (also called "apostles" in some of the Gospels) to follow him and bear witness to his message Anyone who (like them) follows Jesus is engaged in Christian... starts his prayerful message with a heart filled with thanksgiving for the members’ testament of faith and manifestations of God’s work among believers. Like a father to a dear daughter or son, the author seasons her or his personal praise of God’s glory on behalf of the body of Christ. While thanksgiving seems to be the focus of the prayer, the author highlights the theme of revelation, praying that the Ephesian Christians may receive the wisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the... and insight that can only come to them through the power of the Holy Spirit. The lesson for Christians in the 21st century is that they should also pray with thanksgiving when they hear that God is at work in other parts of the world. The Global South Christian church believes that Ephesians was indeed written by the apostle Paul and as such, I will take the liberty to use him as the embedded writer in this analysis. Christianity as a global spiritual movement should bring joy to all Christians when it flourishes in other parts of the world.
The author of Ephesians 1:15-23 commits to praying for a community of believers with the understanding that prayer is essential in reviving and revitalizing the church. Paul had learned to pray; the encouragement to the Ephesians to do the same came out of his conviction that when believers pray, God shows forth in miracles and responds in his own time (1:16–17). The text echoes a Pauline theme in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 emphasizing that experiences of God’s blessings and knowledge of salvationSalvation can mean saved from something (deliverance) or for something (redemption). Paul preached that salvation comes through the death of Christ on the cross which redeemed sinners from death and for a grace-filled life. are not the work of humanity but are solely based on God’s revelation through the power of the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Trinity. In the next verses, Paul prays that the Ephesians understand the truth of the gospel as the fountain of Wisdom through which believers gain insight into the hidden truths about God. The writer of Ephesians draws from the teachings of the TorahThe Torah is the law of Moses, also known as the first five books of the Bible. To many the Torah is a combination of history, theology, and a legal or ritual guide., especially Proverbs and the entire wisdom literature. Several wisdom teachings are echoed in this passage. These include synonyms such as being wise, ability to know, to perceive, and having knowledge. These biblical truths are embedded or enshrined in the definitions of what wisdom entails, does, and functions in and through believers who have faith, trust, and obedience to God (JeremiahProphet who condemned Judah's infidelity to God, warned of Babylonian conquest, and promised a new covenant. 18:18; Proverbs 1:20-21; 22:17; 24:23).
In a familiar Pauline teaching, the passage reiterates the depth and width of the Holy Spirit in leading, guiding, and forming Christian believers. Essentially and providentially, the Holy Spirit did not simply work in the early JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. movement, but even the present and future Christian generations are infused by the same Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave insights to the early Christian followers and continues to faithfully form global 21st-century believers. As Wisdom, the Holy Spirit gives new eyes to the church and gives them perception to understand the coming judgment of God (1:18). The author tells readers that they belong to God and that they are part of the “Israel of God,” as Paul teaches in Romans 9-11 and Galatians 6:16. Addressing GentileA gentile is anyone who is not Jewish. The term, which is derived from words that the Bible uses to denote the "nations" of the world, reflects beliefs that God had designated Israel as a nation that would be distinct from others, and a blessing... believers and consequently all global Christians, the author informs readers that the church is constituted by human imperfections and, as such, God is the one who makes all things work and the church’s mission is done under the auspices of God’s power. This teaching and exhortation are part of the author’s prayer to the Gentile believers (1:11-19).
The last verses of the passage summarize all that God has done and continues to do in the church. The author calls on believers to see the power of God in resurrecting Jesus Christ from the dead and exalting him above all forms of cosmic powers. God’s power made Jesus Christ the head of the created world, the church, and the same risen Christ fills the church with his presence, miracles, and power. Thus, the body of Christ is a foreshadowing of what the world will be in the ParousiaThe parousia refers to the second coming of Christ in glory and triumph. This apocalyptic event fulfills various end-of-time prophecies such as the resurrection of the dead and the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. or second coming of Jesus, when God restores the world, as well as ushers in God’s justice (1:22–23; Revelation 21:1-8). Living out its heavenly meaning, the earthly church is defined by its ministry of reconciliation, love, worship, mission, evangelism, and proclamation of the Gospel. The author ends by affirming that the love of God already present in the body of Christ will be manifested in God’s coming to establish a new world and then God will dwell among believers. This is the wisdom and insight the author of Ephesians 1:15–23 prays for, that believers will experience the risen Christ and miracles in their communities of faith (1:8-9; 2:20-22; 3:3-5).
