Head Over All Things for the Church - Week 2

Ephesians 1:15-23

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Prayer for the Church

Read Ephesians 1: 15-23

1. Read v. 15. It begins "For this reason" what reason does Paul give for thanks to God for his audience? (Hint: look not only at what follows, but at vv. 13-14). What does the phrase "I have heard" suggest about the way in which Paul (and other apostles) maintained pastoral care of their Churches when they were away? Who does Paul mean by "all the saints"?
(a) The reason Paul gives thanks to God is because his audience is in Christ:

"In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit...." (Eph 1:13, RSV)

(b) The phrase "I have heard" suggests that Paul and other apostles maintained pastoral care of their Churches by assigned bishops, who communicated back to Paul the current state of the Church via messengers. (c) When Paul speaks of "all the saints" he is referring to those whom have been sent either to or from Ephesus by the Church.

2. Read v. 16. What does Paul mean by saying he does not "cease to give thanks"? Is he merely being polite or does this imply that Paul remembers the Ephesian Church whenever he celebrates mass or offers prayers? What is the point of saying thanks more than once?
(a) When Paul states that he does not "cease to give thanks" he is probably alluding to the thanksgiving of the mass (i.e. eucharist == thanksgiving). (b) He is not merely being polite. (c) Just as God does not cease in his mercy and love for us, we should not cease in our thanks to Him.

3. Read v. 17. Why does Paul pray for a "spirit of wisdom and revelation" and not love or compassion or courage?
(a) Paul prays for a "spirit of wisdom and revelation", as opposed to love or compassion or courage, in order that his audience may discern what is will of God. Once this is discerned, love, compassion, courage, or any other virtue may be correctly applied.

4. Read v. 18. How do we have the "eyes of our hearts enlightened" in the Christian tradition? (Hint: how did the blind man in John 9 have his eyes enlightened?) What is the "hope to which he has called you"? What are the "riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints"?
(a) We have the "eyes of our hearts enlightened" by baptism in the Christian tradition. (b) The "hope to which he has called us" is the hope in salvation. (c) The "riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" is a reference to the kingdom of God which is an inheritance for the children of God.

5. Read v. 19. What is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe? Who does Paul mean by "us who believe"? What exactly do we believe? What does Paul regard as the ultimate manifestation of the "working of his great might"?
(a) The "immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe" is a reference to the sanctifying grace which God has bestowed upon us through baptism as a result of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. (b) We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for our sins so that we might be saved. (c) Paul regards the ultimate manifestation of the "work of his great might" to be the redemptive and salvific acts done by Christ. This work is physically manifested in the Sacrament of Baptism.

6. Read v. 20. Paul speaks of the working of his great might as "accomplished"? Does this mean that God no longer works his great might anymore? If not, what does it mean? What does it mean that Christ "sits at his right hand in the heavenly places" (see CCC 668, Psalm 110; Mark 16:19; Matthew 22:44; Acts 2:34-35; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:13)?
(a) This does not mean that God no longer works his great might anymore. (b) This means that God has redeemed all men in Christ's redemptive act, but in His mercy, confers grace to all who choose to follow in the hope that they might be saved. (c) When Paul states that Christ "sits at his right hand in the heavenly places" he means that Christ is with God and that He is God. This confirms what we see throughout Scripture:

"Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Christ's Ascension into heaven signifies his participation, in his humanity, in God's power and authority. Jesus Christ is Lord: he possesses all power in heaven and on earth. He is "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion," for the Father "has put all things under his feet." Christ is Lord of the cosmos and of history. In him human history and indeed all creation are "set forth" and transcendently fulfilled. (668, CCC)

The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." (Ps 110:1, RSV)

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mk 16:19, RSV)

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, "What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet'? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?" (Matt 22:41-45, RSV)

For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.' (Acts 2:34-35, RSV)

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (1 Cor 15:25, RSV)

But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet"? (Heb 1:13, RSV)

7. Read v. 21. Paul speaks of "rule and authority and power and dominion"? What are these "powers and dominions"? Are they exclusively (or even primarily) human? (See Ephesians 6:12 and 1 Peter 3:22). What is Paul referring to when he speaks of the "age" that is "to come" (see Matthew 12:32; Galatians 1:4; Mark 10:30; Luke 20:34-36)?
(a) These "powers and dominions" are earthly powers as well as spiritual powers. (b) As stated, these are not only human:

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12, RSV)

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. (1 Pet 3:21b-22, RSV)

(c) When Paul speaks of the "age" that is "to come" he is referring to the age of the new heaven and the new earth; the parousia, or the second coming of Chris.:

And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt 12:32, RSV)

our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:3b-4, RSV)

Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30, RSV)

And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34-46, RSV)

8. Read v. 22. What is signified by "putting all things under his feet"? If all things are under his feet, why are bad things still happening? (See 1 Corinthians 15:20-28). What does the image of Christ as "head" and the Church as "body" relate to in Paul's thought (see Ephesians 5:25-32).
(a) The significance of "putting all things under his feet" is that all things are subject Christ and as such subject to God. (b) Bad things still happen because Christ has not come to end this age:

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one. (1 Cor 15:20-28, RSV)

9. Read v. 23. Paul says the Church is the "fulness" of him who fills all in all. How do we participate in that "fulness" (see 1 Cor. 12: 13; CCC 669,753, 1276)?
(a) We participate in the "fulness" of him who fills all in all by participating the Sacraments. Initially, baptism, but then also reconciliation and especially the Eucharist. The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church are as follow:

Baptism

Confirmation

Holy Eucharist

Penance

Extreme Unction

Orders

Matrimony

10. What allusions to baptism or to the effects thereof, can you find in Ephesians 1:15-23?
(a) The allusions to Baptism in Eph 1:15-23 are many. First is the idea of "hoping in Christ". Another is "having the eyes of our hearts enlightened". And lastly is the reference as the Church being the body of Christ. The normative way of entering the body of Christ is baptism.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
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