Ephesians 5:21-33

Friday, October 18, 2013                     Ephesians 5:21-33

Remember Paul’s dream for Christian communities: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Equality in Christ, for all people, is a theme Paul continually reinforces. If that is his ultimate dream, why then, in today’s passage, does he seem to be urging male superiority and a continuation of slavery?

As you consider the application of Paul’s writings today, keep in mind that Paul’s model for someone in a superior position is Jesus. In Philippians 2: 5-11, Paul shows the self-sacrificing manner in which Christ loved us. Paul says this is the way that a husband should love his wife. That was hugely counter-cultural for the church in Ephesus, just as it is today.

In Paul’s world, slavery was as much a part of the culture as electricity is in our world – you can’t imagine the world without it. Here again, consider how counter-cultural Paul is by not only inspiring the slaves in their work ethic, but also inspiring the slave masters to ethical treatment of their slaves. Such instruction was unheard of in Paul’s time. Remember, in the Christian communities the slaves and masters came together as one in their worship and Christian fellowship.

In Paul’s day, women and children were seen as inferior subjects. Paul raises everyone to an equal standing before God. He has counsel for parents and children, husbands and wives, slaves and masters.

Paul believed intently that when we keep our eyes on Jesus, when we submit ourselves to God, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by the renewing of our mind, we begin living the life in Christ; we begin living as people created in the image of God. I believe that too.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.