Discussion Questions On Ephesians
L. Lecture 12 –Ephesians
Word Count: 549
1. What data lead many to say that the author of Ephesians seems to have only second-hand knowledge of at least some of his audience?
Ephesians has three unique features or “anomalies” that have lead some scholars to doubt Pauline authorship. (1) Fairly general nature of the content of the letter and seemingly second-hand knowledge of the audience. In verses 3:2 and 4:21, the author uses language that may suggest that the audience is unfamiliar with Paul and his message. Ephesians is also very systematic and theological. The closing greetings have no mention of any individuals in Ephesus, which is strange since Paul spent three years there. (2) The letter is also strikingly similar to Colossians. …show more content…
What is the evidence in favor of an encyclical origin of this epistle?
The evidence for an encyclical—circular letter meant for more than one church such as the book of revelation—includes the following arguments: (1) Colossians 4:16 instructs to send “this” letter to Laodicea. The argument could be made that this is a reference to the Ephesian letter. Laodicea was one of the 7 churches in Asia Minor along with Ephesus. This would also explain the “second hand” awareness as Paul is addressing other churches that he may not be intimately familiar with. Colossians is also written at nearly the same time, which would explain the similarities.
3. What is C. Arnold’s hypothesis and how does it help one defend Pauline …show more content…
This revelation also becomes evident to the “heavenly realms” trough the outworking of the Church.
5. Chapter 4, verses 7-16 has several controversial and/or significant verses. Expound at least three of these?
This passage speaks of gifts for the church to be used in the dispensation of grace. Some of the controversies include, (1) v.8 is a quotation from Psalms 68.18 in which the original verse is changed. Instead of God receiving gifts from men, Paul applies this verse to Christ as “giving” gifts to Christ. (2) v.9 and 10 explain these passages and have been traditionally used—in part—to justify the doctrine of Jesus’ decent into hell. But modern scholars recognize that the descent into hell is not the key subject here. The “lower earthly regions” likely do not refer to an underworld as Paul takes the psalm in the context of Christ’s descent from heaven and not from earth to the underworld. So this refers to the incarnation. (3) Regarding the gifts of leadership (v. 11), these are used for the maturity of the church, reflected in a multicultural church that exists in the unity of
Word Count: 549
1. What data lead many to say that the author of Ephesians seems to have only second-hand knowledge of at least some of his audience?
Ephesians has three unique features or “anomalies” that have lead some scholars to doubt Pauline authorship. (1) Fairly general nature of the content of the letter and seemingly second-hand knowledge of the audience. In verses 3:2 and 4:21, the author uses language that may suggest that the audience is unfamiliar with Paul and his message. Ephesians is also very systematic and theological. The closing greetings have no mention of any individuals in Ephesus, which is strange since Paul spent three years there. (2) The letter is also strikingly similar to Colossians. …show more content…
What is the evidence in favor of an encyclical origin of this epistle?
The evidence for an encyclical—circular letter meant for more than one church such as the book of revelation—includes the following arguments: (1) Colossians 4:16 instructs to send “this” letter to Laodicea. The argument could be made that this is a reference to the Ephesian letter. Laodicea was one of the 7 churches in Asia Minor along with Ephesus. This would also explain the “second hand” awareness as Paul is addressing other churches that he may not be intimately familiar with. Colossians is also written at nearly the same time, which would explain the similarities.
3. What is C. Arnold’s hypothesis and how does it help one defend Pauline …show more content…
This revelation also becomes evident to the “heavenly realms” trough the outworking of the Church.
5. Chapter 4, verses 7-16 has several controversial and/or significant verses. Expound at least three of these?
This passage speaks of gifts for the church to be used in the dispensation of grace. Some of the controversies include, (1) v.8 is a quotation from Psalms 68.18 in which the original verse is changed. Instead of God receiving gifts from men, Paul applies this verse to Christ as “giving” gifts to Christ. (2) v.9 and 10 explain these passages and have been traditionally used—in part—to justify the doctrine of Jesus’ decent into hell. But modern scholars recognize that the descent into hell is not the key subject here. The “lower earthly regions” likely do not refer to an underworld as Paul takes the psalm in the context of Christ’s descent from heaven and not from earth to the underworld. So this refers to the incarnation. (3) Regarding the gifts of leadership (v. 11), these are used for the maturity of the church, reflected in a multicultural church that exists in the unity of