The problem with writing a blog – the problem with writing almost anything for that matter - is the empty page or computer screen. Even worse is the empty mind. I experience both of these on a regular basis, particularly the latter. Ask anyone in my family (“Mom, Dad’s staring at the wall and drooling again.”).
So I’ve made the foolhardy decision to commit myself to series, in order to keep my shoulder to the wheel. For sure, it puts me on the hook for having to come up with something. But it eliminates that nasty what-to-write-about- next question, since there is always another passage awaiting some study and reflection until you get to the end. It’s a good motivator too.
I’ve decided that I am going to do a brief series on Ephesians. First of all, I love Paul. I love the way his mind works. Not simply the brilliance, but the way he will allow a sudden turn of thought to set him off in a whole new direction. He could explode in praise or in holy rage on the turn of a dime. He is impulsive, and I love that.
Secondly, Ephesians is loaded with great truth and deep theology. There is a lot of unpacking to be done and a lot of wisdom to gain. I certainly won’t do it justice but I’ll be better for trying.
While I will get into the exegesis of the text, I am not trying to write my own commentary (the thought of that should send you screaming into the night). In the end, it still comes down to what the text means for daily living. But the exegetical work will be needed because (as the saying goes) before I can know what it means for me, I have to know what it meant for the original hearers.
A couple of introductory matters to get out of the way: first, Ephesians was not written specifically to the Ephesian church but was probably a circular letter to the various churches in the region, of which the church at Ephesus was chief. Second, Paul’s authorship has been questioned over the years, not only by “liberal” scholars but by those that are regarded as more moderate. There are definitely some serious questions that relate to the style and theology of the epistle as well as some external issues.
My goal is not to get caught up in these sorts of discussions. God saw to it that Ephesians wound up in the canon of Holy Scripture, and that is my starting point. It is a treasure-trove of truth to explore, and that is what I will try to do here. I won’t hit every verse, but will cherry-pick the passages that really leap out to me. If I skip over something you would like to see addressed, just let me know.
OK. I’m on the hook now. Here goes - let’s dig in (coming soon).
