Author: Administrador

You’ve been saved for the purpose of good works. There, I said it. I feel much better, thank you. Actually, I did not say it; “Paul” did.1 And Jesus seems to have said something along these lines also (Matthew 5:16 — understood within the entire narrative context of Matthew). Martin Luther argues this in “The … Continue reading “Ephesians 2:1-10 Commentary by Kyle Fever”

Perhaps many of us remember a typical childhood conversation. Approaching our mom or dad, we would say something like, “Mom, when I turn my head like this,” (which was then demonstrated with great intent and vigor) “my neck hurts.” The response was always, “Well, then don’t turn your head like that.” This is a logical … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by Karoline Lewis”

It is a sad commentary on our times that, if many Christians think at all of eschatology, they do so equipped only with the anxious, warped boilerplate of Left Behind. This year’s epistolary lection for Christ the King offers a very different eschatological vision: more spacious, glistening, and healthier. This is scriptural mind-expansion, sans hallucinogenics. … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by C. Clifton Black”

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians opens with a loving prayer. He has heard how they are fulfilling the commandment to love God and love their neighbor. And he has also heard that their faith in Jesus is strong. Shouldn’t that be all he can ask? But, as Paul would say, “By no means.” He reminds them … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by Lucy Lind Hogan”

If the assigned reading is to provide any clues, then an important aspect of the marking of the festival of the Ascension of our Lord is thanksgiving and awe.  Thanksgiving for what God has done in Jesus our Lord, and awe at the amazing power that God has bestowed on our Lord, all for the … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by James Boyce”

Ephesians 1:15-23 is one of the longer prayer sections in Paul’s letters. Rhetorically, Paul’s prayer does more than just record the content of his prayer for his audience to read. It serves to (re)establish the vision for their identity and reassert the nature of the faith-life into which they have been called. Why is Paul … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by Kyle Fever”

Ephesians proclaims the exalted position of the resurrected Jesus as evidence of God’s power, the same power that is at work in the church. Like Ephesians 1:3-14, verses 15-23 are one long sentence in Greek. The subject of the sentence shifts seamlessly from thanksgiving for the faith of the Ephesian church to a prayer for … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by Susan Hylen”

The earlier preaching studies for this passage gathered here in Working Preacher surely offer us part of the “wisdom and revelation” given by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:17) to help the “eyes of our hearts” be opened more fully to both the immanent and heavenly presence of God in Christ throughout the cosmos. I highly commend … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15-23 Commentary by Sarah Henrich”

The final phrases of a Jewish-styled opening berakah prayer of blessing join in this text to a Christocentric thanksgiving in “prayer report” form. The writer (likely not Paul, but someone greatly influenced by him) does not list, as we might, the addressees’ troubles, promising prayer. Instead, he lets these humble believers know who they truly … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:11-23 Commentary by Sally A. Brown”

This is a rich text, packed with theological nuggets for the interpreter to explore. A temptation might be to try to do justice to the entire text. This could lead to a fragmented message and confused listeners. It is better to highlight a few themes rather than overwork the passage. Three subjects leaped out at … Continue reading “Ephesians 1:11-23 Commentary by Mark Tranvik”