Ephesians 3: 1 21 – Communion Of Saints

Target year level: Year Six

Scripture text

Introduction

The text is part of the Epistle or Letter to the Ephesians. Modern scholarship is inclined to assign Ephesians to the Deutero-Pauline Epistles written after Paul’s death (circa 67 CE) but in line with Pauline tradition.

For an overview of the Letter to the Ephesians see the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) Introduction to Ephesians.

World behind the text

Just as contemporary scholarship asserts that the Apostle Paul is probably not the actual author of the Letter to the Ephesians, it likewise notes that the Christian community at Ephesus was not the sole Christian community envisaged by the letter’s author. For a detailed discussion of authorship and audience of the Letter to the Ephesians, see Michael Fallon 538 (pdf).

Authorship and audience of the letter is still a matter of dispute and the writer of the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) Introduction to Ephesians seems to favour Pauline authorship while acknowledging the Deutero-Pauline alternative. Scholars who think that the Apostle Paul is the actual author of the letter tend to date the Epistle to the Ephesians in the early 50’s CE. Those who place the letter as a Deutero-Pauline Epistle, of unknown authorship, tend to date the letter as having been written between 80 CE and 100 CE. These latter Deutero-Pauline advocates say that the ecclesiology, or theology of Church, in the letter reflect a more developed stage in the history of the Christian community than was the case during Paul’s own lifetime (circa 5-67 CE).

World of the text

Ephesians 3:1-21 is in Part One of the letter which the commentator Michael Fallon labels ‘God’s plan revealed’ Eph 2:1-3:21. In particular, Michael Fallon summarises the section Eph. 2:1-22 as ‘The Gentiles are called to be united to the Jews living Christ’s life in the church’. Go to Michael Fallon the Structure of Ephesians 540. A major focus of Ephesians is the nature of the Christian Community (the Church). The Church is understood as a communion; as the Body of Christ. Key themes in Ephesians are oriented to the Church as the Body of Christ. God’s plan is that all - Jews and Gentiles alike - are gathered into the Church. Unity in the Church is achieved and maintained by diligent use of the gifts of the Spirit, living a moral Christ-like life and engaging in harmonious relationships with others. This means entering into the daily struggle to curb behaviours that destroy relationships and acting in ways that promote a Christ-like life.

In his detailed commentary on Ephesians 3:1-21, Michael Fallon notes the author’s strong focus on the mystery of God in Christ into which the Gentiles have been incorporated through Paul’s missionary endeavours. Fallon also notes the strong parallels between texts from Ephesians 3:1-21 and texts of the Letter to the Colossians which the author of Ephesians appears to have drawn upon. Also notable is the poetic quality of the language particularly in the prayer section of the text (3:14-21).

For a detailed commentary go to Michael Fallon 564-570.

World in front of the text

Religious texts such as Ephesians 3:1-21 focus on spiritual realities that can seem abstract and difficult to grasp in concrete down to earth ways. Authors of such texts need to use the language of imagery, symbol, metaphor, simile and the like to express their meaning. Readers put their own meaning on this language in relation to the context and their own experience. The language becomes richer and more meaningful to the extent that the readers themselves understand and personally experience the spiritual and religious realities being referred to in the text. The challenge for teachers of religion is to deepen their own understanding of the mystery of Christ central to Ephesians 3:1-21 so as to be better able to communicate this mystery to those they teach.