Following his comments on style last week, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at the first part of Ephesians, chapter three…
And so, taking all this as my basis, I Paul, now the prisoner of Christ Jesus, on behalf of you nations, assuming that you have already heard of how God’s stewardship (OIKONOMION) of grace has been given to me for you – that is, [I was sent on this path] by the revelation made known to me of that story previously hidden [from you] as I have previously briefly mentioned, from which, when you yourselves read it, you may gain some appreciation of my comprehension of this Christ-mystery which in eras past had not been made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed in the Spirit to His consecrated apostles and prophets; that is that the nations are indeed named together in the will, sharing in the same body as its members, participating in the same communion feasting on the [same] promise given to us in the Good News of Jesus Christ and all of this bestowed by the working of His power upon me, a servant, me the leastest of all the consecrated in order to proclaim Good News of the unmappable wealth of Christ to the nations and to [thereby] shine a bright light upon the administration (OIKONOMION) of this mystery that hitherto has been hidden from view for aeons in the [purposes of] God through whom all things have been formed in order that [it be as decreed] in the heavenly realms [of this administration] the rulers and authorities might have this mystery [that we wouldn’t ever have known had it not been disclosed to us] made known to them, this many-sided wisdom of God, through the [work and proclamation of the] church according to the promise He has maintained for aeons in Christ Jesus our Lord. In whom we have this boldness and confident access through His [self-same reliable] faith [the faith professed by Him]. It is therefore for this reason that I ask you not to get all worked up over the tribulations that I am enduring on your behalf, which is your honour [and my task]. – Ephesians 3: 1-13/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
Aligned with Christ – street art in Berlin, Germany. PICTURE: Claudio Schwarz/Unsplash
“Paul aligns himself and his message with those who, caught up in it, proclaim the redemption of the world, the restoration of all human responsibilities, in Christ Jesus. This proclamation of redemption has public governance in its sights, let alone the paternal responsibilities in the household. Paul is here aligning himself with Peter and Silas, with Stephen, Jesus, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, all the way back to Joseph (who after prison became Egypt’s CEO) who all found and fulfilled their ministry during their arrest and incarceration.”
As part of his commission Paul defends his mission by reference to his role as a political prisoner because he is duty-bound to explain how Jews and Gentiles share the same way of life. This is what he is called to convey to both Jew and Gentile members of this Christian community – it is also what has to be explained to the rulers of these places, the ‘Asiarchs’ (Acts 19:31).
By following this way of life – even when imprisoned – Paul aligns himself and his message with those who, caught up in it, proclaim the redemption of the world, the restoration of all human responsibilities, in Christ Jesus. This proclamation of redemption has public governance in its sights, let alone the paternal responsibilities in the household. Paul is here aligning himself with Peter and Silas, with Stephen, Jesus, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, all the way back to Joseph (who after prison became Egypt’s CEO) who all found and fulfilled their ministry during their arrest and incarceration.
The message becomes prophetic. Paul addresses “the nations”. In the first instance, this may have been written to a particular congregation but, in writing it, he becomes the indiscriminate herald writing “on behalf of you Gentiles”. Under the Spirit’s guidance, he was also addressing “us”, those “far away” who have to be brought near. They too are to be addressed as “us”.
There is something else that should be said here; recall Jesus’ reply to John the Baptist conveyed to John’s disciples who had been sent to Jesus to confirm his (John’s) ministry and his declaration that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah. Though Jesus confirmed that John had truly fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecies, the implication for those imprisoned is clear: they too are fully engaged in bearing witness. Paul is living evidence of this. And among the Ephesians were some disciples of John the Baptist.
This is such a stupendous viewpoint, one might read this as Paul “going into orbit”. But what is presupposed here is the work of God the Father in the sending of His Son, confirming His pleasure by raising Him and seating Him at His right hand. Now Jew and Gentile may participate as one people, the new humanity, in whom God’s purposes are being fulfilled and with whom God’s spirit will abide in order that they be filled with love, the overflowing fulness bequeathed upon us by our Creator and Redeemer.
Paul’s assumption of such a standpoint might sound presumptious; who is he, “the leastest of all the consecrated”, to make such announcements? But he has a universal proclamation to make, a message that is inclusive of all people at all times and all places. Just who does he think he is?
If this be presumption it is of one who has received his commission by personal command of the Person who sent him. This is no belief in himself, but a belief in the importance of his calling because of the word of the One who spoke to Ananias: “He is my chosen instrument who will serve me by taking my name before the nations, before Kings and the children of Israel!”
Unlike his previous life, where Paul had taken it upon himself to demand letters for the arrest and persecution of believers in Jesus (Acts 9:2), he was now called upon, by the Person who had stepped into his life, to assist believers among the Gentiles, and sent to participate in the uncovering of a mystery that included his own ministry, the “Christ mystery” (MUSTERIO TOU CHRISTOU) (3:4).
And so, we are now the beneficiaries of Paul’s response. He took up the task of writing letters, becoming adept as an author from prison, in writings that proclaim the mercies of God to Gentiles, Kings and even the sons and daughters of Israel! And we now read these letters as the recipients of the same mercy. To a considerable extend our own discipleship presupposes Paul’s proclamation.
OPEN BOOK – THE PRISONER’S LETTER: ALIGNED WITH CHRIST
Following his comments on style last week, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at the first part of Ephesians, chapter three…
And so, taking all this as my basis, I Paul, now the prisoner of Christ Jesus, on behalf of you nations, assuming that you have already heard of how God’s stewardship (OIKONOMION) of grace has been given to me for you – that is, [I was sent on this path] by the revelation made known to me of that story previously hidden [from you] as I have previously briefly mentioned, from which, when you yourselves read it, you may gain some appreciation of my comprehension of this Christ-mystery which in eras past had not been made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed in the Spirit to His consecrated apostles and prophets; that is that the nations are indeed named together in the will, sharing in the same body as its members, participating in the same communion feasting on the [same] promise given to us in the Good News of Jesus Christ and all of this bestowed by the working of His power upon me, a servant, me the leastest of all the consecrated in order to proclaim Good News of the unmappable wealth of Christ to the nations and to [thereby] shine a bright light upon the administration (OIKONOMION) of this mystery that hitherto has been hidden from view for aeons in the [purposes of] God through whom all things have been formed in order that [it be as decreed] in the heavenly realms [of this administration] the rulers and authorities might have this mystery [that we wouldn’t ever have known had it not been disclosed to us] made known to them, this many-sided wisdom of God, through the [work and proclamation of the] church according to the promise He has maintained for aeons in Christ Jesus our Lord. In whom we have this boldness and confident access through His [self-same reliable] faith [the faith professed by Him]. It is therefore for this reason that I ask you not to get all worked up over the tribulations that I am enduring on your behalf, which is your honour [and my task]. – Ephesians 3: 1-13/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
Aligned with Christ – street art in Berlin, Germany. PICTURE: Claudio Schwarz/Unsplash
“Paul aligns himself and his message with those who, caught up in it, proclaim the redemption of the world, the restoration of all human responsibilities, in Christ Jesus. This proclamation of redemption has public governance in its sights, let alone the paternal responsibilities in the household. Paul is here aligning himself with Peter and Silas, with Stephen, Jesus, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, all the way back to Joseph (who after prison became Egypt’s CEO) who all found and fulfilled their ministry during their arrest and incarceration.”
As part of his commission Paul defends his mission by reference to his role as a political prisoner because he is duty-bound to explain how Jews and Gentiles share the same way of life. This is what he is called to convey to both Jew and Gentile members of this Christian community – it is also what has to be explained to the rulers of these places, the ‘Asiarchs’ (Acts 19:31).
By following this way of life – even when imprisoned – Paul aligns himself and his message with those who, caught up in it, proclaim the redemption of the world, the restoration of all human responsibilities, in Christ Jesus. This proclamation of redemption has public governance in its sights, let alone the paternal responsibilities in the household. Paul is here aligning himself with Peter and Silas, with Stephen, Jesus, John the Baptist, Jeremiah, all the way back to Joseph (who after prison became Egypt’s CEO) who all found and fulfilled their ministry during their arrest and incarceration.
The message becomes prophetic. Paul addresses “the nations”. In the first instance, this may have been written to a particular congregation but, in writing it, he becomes the indiscriminate herald writing “on behalf of you Gentiles”. Under the Spirit’s guidance, he was also addressing “us”, those “far away” who have to be brought near. They too are to be addressed as “us”.
There is something else that should be said here; recall Jesus’ reply to John the Baptist conveyed to John’s disciples who had been sent to Jesus to confirm his (John’s) ministry and his declaration that Jesus is Israel’s Messiah. Though Jesus confirmed that John had truly fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecies, the implication for those imprisoned is clear: they too are fully engaged in bearing witness. Paul is living evidence of this. And among the Ephesians were some disciples of John the Baptist.
This is such a stupendous viewpoint, one might read this as Paul “going into orbit”. But what is presupposed here is the work of God the Father in the sending of His Son, confirming His pleasure by raising Him and seating Him at His right hand. Now Jew and Gentile may participate as one people, the new humanity, in whom God’s purposes are being fulfilled and with whom God’s spirit will abide in order that they be filled with love, the overflowing fulness bequeathed upon us by our Creator and Redeemer.
Paul’s assumption of such a standpoint might sound presumptious; who is he, “the leastest of all the consecrated”, to make such announcements? But he has a universal proclamation to make, a message that is inclusive of all people at all times and all places. Just who does he think he is?
If this be presumption it is of one who has received his commission by personal command of the Person who sent him. This is no belief in himself, but a belief in the importance of his calling because of the word of the One who spoke to Ananias: “He is my chosen instrument who will serve me by taking my name before the nations, before Kings and the children of Israel!”
Unlike his previous life, where Paul had taken it upon himself to demand letters for the arrest and persecution of believers in Jesus (Acts 9:2), he was now called upon, by the Person who had stepped into his life, to assist believers among the Gentiles, and sent to participate in the uncovering of a mystery that included his own ministry, the “Christ mystery” (MUSTERIO TOU CHRISTOU) (3:4).
And so, we are now the beneficiaries of Paul’s response. He took up the task of writing letters, becoming adept as an author from prison, in writings that proclaim the mercies of God to Gentiles, Kings and even the sons and daughters of Israel! And we now read these letters as the recipients of the same mercy. To a considerable extend our own discipleship presupposes Paul’s proclamation.
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