NT Doctrine — Ephesians 5-6

The whole point of this two-volume series is to highlight the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. One thing we notice is that the ritual conduct under Moses was far more stringent than the broader code of conduct. This is reversed in the New Testament. Ritual purity is not gone, just reduced to generalizations. Instead, the purity of heart is the emphasis, and thus, any code of conduct is structured quite differently. Insofar as there is a Christian Law, it is more strenuous, but is essentially a matter of asserting privilege to live above sin, not wallowing in restrictions.

These final two chapters of the Ephesian letter are mostly exhortation that sounds very much like a summary of Christian Law. The life of privilege looks like this. Walk worthy of Election. Insofar as there is doctrine to extract, that would be it.

Of particular interest is the strong statement about a Christian household, which runs over into the final chapter. The patriarchy is rooted in God’s revelation of Himself as a Father figure who also happens to be Creator and Lord. The way that Christ handled His own Body is how a man deals with his wife. His wife is his greatest, most valuable treasure on earth, but she is not a deity. He is worthy of her submission because of willingness to sacrifice for her.

The issue with children is very firmly rooted in Moses. It bears no resemblance at all to American society in which youth and childhood are sacred. Also, there is a very strong parallel between fathers/children and masters/slaves. It’s a two-sided sword; being a Christian means it’s not a one-way relationship.

But a softening of ritual does not mean absence. If there is anything I might highly recommend believers today should turn into a ritual, it is the “Armor of God” passage. It should not be something that turns into a trademark that everyone shares everywhere. Rather, believers should prayerfully consider making it song, or a prayer ritual that guides our awareness, particularly in times of difficulty when you know the Enemy is attacking.

The courier who brought this letter was Tychicus, someone who had spent time with Paul in his Roman custody. In those days, a private courier was the only way correspondence could travel. It was for sure this courier would then return to Paul with whatever response the churches offered.