The apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesians from prison. Repeatedly in this book Paul calls himself a “prisoner for the Lord,” an identity derived not from metaphorical suffering on behalf of Christ, but from actual suffering at the hands of his captors. Paul was in prison on behalf of Jesus.
This mode of self identification is a favorite of Paul’s in this book. He seems intensely interested in sharing it with his readers, using phrases like this again and again. “I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,” “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,” and my favorite, “I am an ambassador in chains” (3:1, 4:1, 6:20). This, Paul is telling us, is his identity. One taken into captivity because of his proclamation of the gospel.
On the other end of the spectrum are the Ephesians. These are men and women Paul knows only by reputation. He implies several times that what he knows about them is based completely on what he has heard and what he assumes (1:15, 3:2, 4:21). Even still, Paul is bold to proclaim the mysteries of the gospel to these individuals, and in the midst of this proclamation to tell them who they are. He writes to them about their identity in Christ. He knows them not because he has met them, but because he knows Christ.
In Ephesians we find Paul, the prisoner on behalf of Christ, writing to the Ephesians about the identity won for them in Christ, an identity he calls the Church. It is this identity that stands as the theological crux of Paul’s letter. It is toward this end that Paul works throughout the first half of his letter, and it is from this identity that Paul draws implications for life as the church in the second half of the letter.
As we study this book, we will come to see that the church is something far greater than we are inclined to think. Far from the squabbling, backbiting, contentious mass we so often see today, the church is the picture of Christ’s work to unite all things in Himself. The church is to be a testament to God’s unifying and reconciling plan, that God is reconciling all of creation to himself through Christ Jesus. In some ways we see this at work today. Christianity has brought brothers and sisters together from all over the world under one banner and brought reconciliation between peoples who once despised one another. But most of the time this is, at least on the surface, not the case.
As we study this book, we will look at how we have forgotten the importance of the Church. We will attempt to redefine our understanding of the Church in light of the teachings of Scripture. Paul gave his freedom to proclaim a gospel that at its heart is about Christ and through Him the work of building the church. The question remains with us, how highly do we prize the Church, what will we give to minister to her, each one of us, as her people, as members of the bride of Christ? How will we seek to be the picture of God’s reconciling work in the church, and so be a beacon of hope to this world?
Theology in Community 