Ecclesia in Ephesians

Table Of Contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• About the author
• About the book
• This eBook can be cited
• Content
• Introduction
• Thematic Background of the Study
• Why Ephesians?
• A Brief Literature Survey
• Content and Presentation
• Acknowledgements
• Objective of the Study
• 1 A General Exposition of the Book of Ephesians
• 1.1 Context and Purpose of the Letter
• 1.1.1 The Sinking into Oblivion of the Apostle
• 1.1.2 Socio-Political and Religious Crisis in Asia Minor
• 1.1.3 Problem of Unity
• 1.1.4 Some Other Factors
• 1.2 Form of the Letter
• 1.2.1 Literary Structure
• 1.2.2 Style of Writing
• 1.2.3 Manner of Writing
• 1.2.3.1 A Theological Tractate
• 1.2.3.2 A Liturgical Homily
• 1.2.3.3 A Baptismal Rite
• 1.3 Question of the Authorship
• 1.3.1 Theological Hints
• 1.3.2 Linguistic References201
• 1.3.3 Historical Indications
• 1.4 Time and Place of Composition
• 1.5 Community of the Addressees
• 1.5.1 Earliest Witnesses
• 1.5.2 Laodicea Hypothesis
• 1.5.3 Circular Hypothesis
• 1.5.4 A »Catholic« Hypothesis
• 1.6 Similarity between Ephesians and Colossians
• 1.6.1 Similarity in Scheme
• 1.6.2 Similarity in Terminology
• 1.6.3 Similarity in Concepts
• 1.6.4 Conceptual Expansion
• 1.7 Comparison with the Genuine Pauline Letters
• 1.8 Comparison with the First Letter of Peter
• Concluding Remarks
• 2 Apostolicity of the Church Reflected in Ephesians
• 2.1 An Exegetical Account of the Concept of Apostles in Ephesians
• 2.1.1 »Foundation of the Apostles« According to Eph 2,20
• 2.1.1.1 Outline of Eph 2,19–21
• 2.1.1.2 Built Upon/Having been Built On
• 2.1.1.3 Interpretation of θϵμϵ́λιοϚ (Foundation)
• 2.1.1.3.1 θϵμϵ́λιοϚ in Col 1,23 and in Is 28,16
• 2.1.1.3.2 Different Meanings of θϵμϵ́λιοϚ
• 2.1.1.3.3 Foundation: Christ (1Cor 3,11) or Apostles (Eph 2,20)?
• 2.1.1.3.4 Tradition and Apostolic Proclamation
• 2.1.1.4 »Apostles and Prophets«
• 2.1.1.4.1 Comparison with Other New Testament Texts
• 2.1.1.4.2 Meaning of the Usage »Apostles and Prophets« in Eph 2,20
• 2.1.1.4.3 »Apostles and Prophets« as the Foundation
• 2.1.1.5 Cornerstone/Capstone Jesus Christ
• 2.1.1.6 Summary of Eph 2,20
• 2.1.2 Apostles as Servants of the Mystery of Christ According to Eph 3,1–7
• 2.1.2.1 Structure of the Text Compared to Colossians
• 2.1.2.2 Paul as »Apostle« (3,1a)
• 2.1.2.3 Paul as Prisoner of Christ for the Gentiles (3,1b)
• 2.1.2.4 Apostleship in the Plan of the Salvation of God (3,2)
• 2.1.2.4.1 Salvific Plan (Οἰκονομία)
• 2.1.2.4.2 »The Grace of God Given to Me for You«
• 2.1.2.5 Apostles and Prophets and their Ministry as Recipients of Revelation
• 2.1.2.5.1 Comparison with Col 1,25 f
• 2.1.2.5.2 Change of Meaning in Eph 3,3a
• 2.1.2.5.3 Specific Ephesian Perception
• 2.1.2.5.4 Extension of Perspective
• 2.1.2.6 Revelation in Its Chronological and Theological Context (3,5)
• 2.1.2.6.1 Two Periods of Human History
• 2.1.2.6.2 Sphere of Salvation Established by Christ
• 2.1.2.6.3 Salvific Realm of the Church in the Cross of Christ
• 2.1.2.6.4 Revelation to Apostles in a Historical Time Frame
• 2.1.2.7 »His Holy Apostles and the Prophets by the Spirit« (Eph 3,5b)
• 2.1.2.7.1 Some Previous Assumptions
• 2.1.2.7.2 Heirs of Divine Revelation
• 2.1.2.7.3 Separated for Proclamation
• 2.1.2.7.4 Inheritors of Divine Revelation
• 2.1.2.7.5 Apostles as the Standard of Tradition
• 2.1.2.8 Substance of the Mystery of Revelation (3,6)
• 2.1.2.9 Apostles as Servants/Ministers of the Gospel (3,7)
• 2.1.2.10 Differentiation between Ministry and Charisma (3,7)
• 2.1.2.11 Summary of Eph 3,1–7
• 2.1.3 Apostle and Ministry According to Eph 4,7–16
• 2.1.3.1 Literary Structure of the Text
• 2.1.3.2 Reality of Christ’s Manifold Gifts (4,7)
• 2.1.3.3 Characteristics of the Special Graces (4,8 f)
• 2.1.3.4 Five Groups of Ministers in Eph (4,11)
• 2.1.3.5 Apostles as the First Ministers (4,11)
• 2.1.3.6 Tasks of the Ministers (4,12)
• 2.1.3.7 Importance of Christ’s Gifts to the Church (4,13–15)
• 2.1.3.7.1 Perspectives on the Ultimate Goal (4,13)
• 2.1.3.7.2 Consequence of the Goal of the Church
• 2.1.3.8 Building up in Love (4,16)
• 2.1.3.9 Summary of Eph 4,7–16
• 2.2 A Theological Account of the Concept of Apostles
• 2.2.1 »Mono-Apostolate« of Paul
• 2.2.2 »Holy Apostles« as the Starting Point of the Universal Church
• 2.2.3 »Ecclesiastical Apostles« in God’s Salvific Plan
• 2.2.4 Apostles as the Standard for the Growth of the Church
• 2.2.5 Apostolic Ministry as the First Function of Service in the Church
• 2.2.6 Ministers as Preservers of the Apostolic Tradition
• 2.2.7 Church as Apostolic and the Apostles as the Foundation of the Church
• Concluding Remarks
• 3 Unity of the Church Reflected in Ephesians
• 3.1 An Exegetical Account of the Concept of Unity
• 3.1.1 Metaphor of Body in Ephesians
• 3.1.1.1 Eph 1,22 f
• 3.1.1.2 Eph 2,14–16
• 3.1.1.3 Eph 4, 3–4
• 3.1.1.4 Eph 4, 11–16
• 3.1.1.5 Summary of the Description of the Image Body
• 3.1.2 Metaphor of Building in Ephesians
• 3.1.2.1 Eph 2,20–22
• 3.1.2.1.1 Temple Symbolism and the Church
• 3.1.2.1.2 A Christocentric Orientation for the Church
• 3.1.2.1.3 A Theocentric Orientation for the Church
• 3.1.2.2 Eph 4,12.16
• 3.1.2.3 Summary of the Theme Building
• 3.1.3 Seven Elements of Unity in Eph 4,3–6
• 3.1.3.1 Unity of the Spirit
• 3.1.3.2 Trias as the Basis of Unity
• 3.1.3.3 Unifying Baptism
• 3.1.3.4 Call for Unity and Liturgy
• 3.1.3.5 Summary of Eph 4,3–6
• 3.1.4 Unity and Ministry (Amt) in Eph 4, 7–16
• 3.1.4.1 Gift of Christ
• 3.1.4.2 Apostles and Prophets
• 3.1.4.3 Preachers, Pastors and Teachers
• 3.1.4.4 Unity as a Task
• 3.1.4.5 Summary of Eph 4,7–16881
• 3.1.5 Elements of Unity from the Socio-Cultural Field in Ephesians
• 3.1.5.1 Socio-Political Theme in Eph 2,11–12.19
• 3.1.5.2 Marriage and Family in Eph 5,21–28
• 3.1.5.3 Summary of Eph 2,11–12.19; 5,21–33
• 3.2 A Theological Account of the Concept of Unity
• 3.2.1 Call for Unity to Jewish and Gentile Christians
• 3.2.2 A Visual Language of Christian Unity?
• 3.2.3 Baptism as the Foundation of Unity
• 3.2.4 Ministries of the Church in the Service of Unity
• 3.2.5 Unity as a Gift and a Task for the Church
• 3.2.6 Universality of Ecclesial Unity
• 3.2.7 Unity as the Fundamental Characteristic of the Church
• Concluding Remarks
• 4 Ephesian Ecclesiology: A Quest for a Theology of an Undivided Apostolic Church
• 4.1 Ecclesia in the Ephesian Era
• 4.1.1 An Apostolic Letter to the Church (1,1 f)
• 4.1.2 Church as the Unique Chosen People of God (1,3–13)
• 4.1.3 Church as the Body of Christ (1,22 f)
• 4.1.4 Intimate Union of Christ and the Church (2,1–10)
• 4.1.5 Jews and Gentiles in the Church (2,11–18)
• 4.1.6 Church as a Holy Temple (2,19–22)
• 4.1.7 Paul as the Apostle of the Church (3,1–13)
• 4.1.8 The Quest for Unity in the Church (4,3–6)
• 4.1.9 Ministries and Structure of the Church (4,7–16)
• 4.1.10 Church Life in Practice (4,1–5,20)
• 4.1.11 Church, Family and Eschatological Bliss (5,21–33)
• 4.1.12 The Church’s Battle against the Powers of Evil (6,1–20)
• 4.2 Ephesians und Ecclesia in Today’s Horizon
• 4.2.1 A Christocentric Ecclesiology for Today
• 4.2.2 A Liturgical Ecclesiology for Today
• 4.2.3 An Ecumenical Theology for Today
• 4.2.4 A »Catholic« Theology for Today
• 4.2.5 A Renewal Theology for Today
• Concluding Remarks
• Abbreviations
• Selected Bibliography
• Modern Commentaries on the Ephesians
• Secondary Literature
• Index: Bible
• Index: Persons
• Index: Subjects
• Series index