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New Testament

New Testament. BCM 103 Dr. Dave Mathewson Gordon College/Denver Seminary. Purpose of Ephesians. No consensus on purpose of Ephesians Circular letter: to be shared around Asia Minor

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New Testament

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  1. New Testament BCM 103Dr. Dave Mathewson Gordon College/Denver Seminary

  2. Purpose of Ephesians • No consensus on purpose of Ephesians • Circular letter: to be shared around Asia Minor • Clinton Arnold: Paul addressing situation of magic, spiritual demonic beings controlled the world, magic helped control that • Paul showing you don’t have to fear these power, Jesus is true power

  3. To Ephesus? • Lot of early and best manuscripts do not have “In Ephesus” • Paul was a general letter to be spread as widely as possible. • Not addressing any particular problem or situation but a general letter of exhortation to Christians in Greco-Roman empire

  4. Primary Theme • Cosmic Reconciliation of everything in Christ (Eph. 1:9f; 19-21)

  5. Paul’s Christology • Psalm 110.1 • The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

  6. Paul’s Christology • Psalm 8 • O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth… You have made them [humanity] a little lower than the angels, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet.

  7. Paul’s Christology • Why doesn’t he talk about Christ ruling over Rome? • Rome’s days are numbered, behind the physical world is a spiritual world where Christ has already defeated them—put on the throne • Eph 2:11-22: not only has the spiritual world begun to be reconciled but earthly as well • Through death of Christ Jews and Gentiles reconciled into one new body • Already but not yet aspect

  8. Ephesians Cosmic Reconciliation • Ephesians 3:10—Jews and Gentiles through the church known to powers in heavenly places • Why does he say that? Why would the church be interested in that? • What does it do to the evil powers when they see a reconciled body (Jews/Gentiles)? • Their time is up, they are defeated

  9. Cosmic Reconciliation in Ephesians • The universe (which God created) has suffered a dislocation and disruption because of sin. It is now under the control of evil, hostile powers. • God’s intention is that all the universe must be reconciled to Christ. It must be rescued from sin and the evil powers. • Through his death on the cross, Christ has begun the process of reconciling all things to himself, in heaven and earth. He has defeated sin and the powers of evil. • The church is the first installment and the means of this reconciliation, where Christ has reconciled Jew and Gentile into one new humanity.

  10. Ephesians 6.10-20 • He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head, he put on garments of vengeance for clothing… (Isaiah 59.17) • How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace… (Isaiah 52.7)

  11. The function of Eph 6.10-20 “Already” “Not Yet” Christ has begun the We must defeat the process of universal powers of evil and reconciliation by bring about cosmic defeating the powers reconciliation of evil

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