Difference between revisions of "Epistle to the Ephesians"

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The major themes of the letter include the importance of people agreeing with position of the church to ensure unity, doing good things rather than bad things, submitting to your superiors, and guarding against evil.
 
The major themes of the letter include the importance of people agreeing with position of the church to ensure unity, doing good things rather than bad things, submitting to your superiors, and guarding against evil.
  
Ephesians contains the popular Armor of God where the author describes a metaphorical armor and a sword to combat evil (6:10-18). It also contains what some denominations believe to be the Harrowing of Hell (4:9-10).
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Ephesians contains the modified version of the "Armor of God," originally described in [[First Epistle to the Thessalonians]], where the author describes a metaphorical armor and a sword to combat evil (6:10-18). It also contains what some denominations believe to be the Harrowing of Hell (4:9-10).
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
I have several translations of this book from various bibles, and have read it.
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I have several translations of this book from various bibles, and have read it the NIV translation.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==

Revision as of 16:59, 14 February 2018

The Epistle to the Ephesians is a letter purportedly written by Paul the Apostle to the people of Ephesus (western Turkey). However, like most of the books in the bible, New Testament scholars are critical of this belief, and suggest that it wasn't written until around 80-100 CE, decades after Paul had died. The writer uses the style of Paul, and identifies as Paul, but isn't Paul. Furthermore, it is unlikely that this letter was written to the Ephesians, as the earliest manuscripts contain the phrase, "To the saints," only later manuscripts add, "in Ephesus."

The major themes of the letter include the importance of people agreeing with position of the church to ensure unity, doing good things rather than bad things, submitting to your superiors, and guarding against evil.

Ephesians contains the modified version of the "Armor of God," originally described in First Epistle to the Thessalonians, where the author describes a metaphorical armor and a sword to combat evil (6:10-18). It also contains what some denominations believe to be the Harrowing of Hell (4:9-10).

Status

I have several translations of this book from various bibles, and have read it the NIV translation.

Review

  • The letter is pretty dull and uninspired. There are a few nice sentiments, but they're very generic, and the bulk I found to be quite off-putting.
  • The self-congratulatory praise at the beginning goes on a little too long.
  • The author uses annoying false modesty common among preachers describing himself as "less than the least of all God's people." (3:8). Well, if you're so pathetic and unimportant, why should any one listen to you?
  • There is the usual demand for unreasonable levels of goodness. Don't say anything unwholesome, don't be angry, don't fight, be kind and forgiving to everyone, etc. (4:29-32). And it gets worse as it goes, the author forbids even a hint of any kind of impurity, obscene behavior, or even dirty jokes (5:3-4). While we should strive for goodness, there are times for anger and fighting in order to combat terrible people.
  • The author has a disgusting love of obedience demanding that people submit to each other (5:21), wives submit to their husbands (5:22), children submit to their parents (6:1), and slaves submit to their masters (6:5). He even suggests that slaves should serve their masters as though they were serving the Lord! (5:7).
  • The author describes himself as being a captive (6:20), but if that's the case, wouldn't his supposed captors prevent him from sending letters that badmouth them?

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