BRUCE C WEARNE pauses at the first part of Ephesians, chapter three, and makes a comment on style…
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
Comprehending the text in the original form can be difficult for 21st century readers. PICTURE Izabell Acheson/Unsplash
“This original language poses a significant problem for us readers in the 21st century. We are not used to receiving letters as a church community from an apostle. We are not existentially aware of 1st century synagogue worship.”
Oh dear! Paul is sometimes very frustrating! How did he keep his readers when he wrote with elephantine sentences like we find in Ephesians 1-13? He certainly makes demands upon us as his readers.
Imagine the poor fellow who was secretary trying to keep up with Paul’s rapid delivery… he might interrupt – just like we do in our minds as we read this – to ask, “Shouldn’t this be broken up? Made easier to read? What about a full stop here!” “What about a new paragraph here?” And Paul’s text just keeps going on and on; he is so “full of it” we might say.
This original language poses a significant problem for us readers in the 21st century. We are not used to receiving letters as a church community from an apostle. We are not existentially aware of 1st century synagogue worship.
On reflection, I wonder whether this, like other passages of Paul, are best received if written to be read liturgically, perhaps as his song which he imagined he might sing if he were there face-to-face with the congregation.
We might say that on its own this passage is meaty enough – please, Paul, no more, just what you have said, that’ll do for this time!
Having read and heard it we will easily conclude that it is so profound we should simply stop and think about it. That is what we’ll do this time. But keep in mind this is an attempt to put the section of the letter in a form other than what we have now because of its evident momentum. This is only an attempt to respond to the message of Paul in our effort to convey his message! It can by no means replace the text.
Next time we will simply comment on what this “anthem” in its original form conveys:
I Paul, now the prisoner of Christ Jesus,
on behalf of you Gentile people,
assume you have already heard how God gave me this stewardship for you.
This was by the revelation
made known to me of that story previously hidden
as I have previously briefly mentioned.
When you yourselves attend to my story,
you may gain some appreciation of my comprehension of this Christ-mystery
And note how in past eras his had not been revealed to the sons of men
as it has now been revealed in the Spirit
to His consecrated apostles and prophets;
and that also means you the Gentile people
you are indeed named together in the will,
you share in the same body as its members,
participating in the same communion feasting on the same promise.
And it is all given to us in the Good News of Jesus Christ
which is all beingpassed on
by what I have been enabled by His power to do,
as a servant, me the leastest of all the consecrated,
called to proclaim the Good News,
that unmappable wealth of Christ to the nations
to shine a bright light upon the administration of this mystery
hitherto hidden from view for aeons in the purposes of God
through whom all things have been formed,
so that it is also proclaimed in highest heavenly realms,
so that rulers and administrators might have this mystery made known to them,
this many-sided wisdom of God,
proclaimed through the church according to His promise,
a promise He has maintained for aeons in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is in Him that we now have this boldness and confidence
a ready access made possible through His faith.
And so this is why I ask you not to stress over the troubles I endure
because it is, by the way, all on your behalf,
for your honour and my task.
OPEN BOOK – THE PRISONER’S LETTER: A NOTE ON STYLE
BRUCE C WEARNE pauses at the first part of Ephesians, chapter three, and makes a comment on style…
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
Comprehending the text in the original form can be difficult for 21st century readers. PICTURE Izabell Acheson/Unsplash
“This original language poses a significant problem for us readers in the 21st century. We are not used to receiving letters as a church community from an apostle. We are not existentially aware of 1st century synagogue worship.”
Oh dear! Paul is sometimes very frustrating! How did he keep his readers when he wrote with elephantine sentences like we find in Ephesians 1-13? He certainly makes demands upon us as his readers.
Imagine the poor fellow who was secretary trying to keep up with Paul’s rapid delivery… he might interrupt – just like we do in our minds as we read this – to ask, “Shouldn’t this be broken up? Made easier to read? What about a full stop here!” “What about a new paragraph here?” And Paul’s text just keeps going on and on; he is so “full of it” we might say.
This original language poses a significant problem for us readers in the 21st century. We are not used to receiving letters as a church community from an apostle. We are not existentially aware of 1st century synagogue worship.
On reflection, I wonder whether this, like other passages of Paul, are best received if written to be read liturgically, perhaps as his song which he imagined he might sing if he were there face-to-face with the congregation.
We might say that on its own this passage is meaty enough – please, Paul, no more, just what you have said, that’ll do for this time!
Having read and heard it we will easily conclude that it is so profound we should simply stop and think about it. That is what we’ll do this time. But keep in mind this is an attempt to put the section of the letter in a form other than what we have now because of its evident momentum. This is only an attempt to respond to the message of Paul in our effort to convey his message! It can by no means replace the text.
Next time we will simply comment on what this “anthem” in its original form conveys:
I Paul, now the prisoner of Christ Jesus,
on behalf of you Gentile people,
assume you have already heard how God gave me this stewardship for you.
This was by the revelation
made known to me of that story previously hidden
as I have previously briefly mentioned.
When you yourselves attend to my story,
you may gain some appreciation of my comprehension of this Christ-mystery
And note how in past eras his had not been revealed to the sons of men
as it has now been revealed in the Spirit
to His consecrated apostles and prophets;
and that also means you the Gentile people
you are indeed named together in the will,
you share in the same body as its members,
participating in the same communion feasting on the same promise.
And it is all given to us in the Good News of Jesus Christ
which is all beingpassed on
by what I have been enabled by His power to do,
as a servant, me the leastest of all the consecrated,
called to proclaim the Good News,
that unmappable wealth of Christ to the nations
to shine a bright light upon the administration of this mystery
hitherto hidden from view for aeons in the purposes of God
through whom all things have been formed,
so that it is also proclaimed in highest heavenly realms,
so that rulers and administrators might have this mystery made known to them,
this many-sided wisdom of God,
proclaimed through the church according to His promise,
a promise He has maintained for aeons in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is in Him that we now have this boldness and confidence
a ready access made possible through His faith.
And so this is why I ask you not to stress over the troubles I endure
because it is, by the way, all on your behalf,
for your honour and my task.
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