Religion 121P
Prof. Anderson
The story of Ephesians is said to have been written by the Apostle Paul but there have been many speculations about this topic. While reading Paul's other works such as Corinthians, and Thessalonians its hard to notice the difference. But when you read Paul's letters they do not match, which brings up the discussion if Paul really wrote Ephesians. The most disputed letter in Ephesians seems to be “Apostles and prophets” as the church's history shows this belonging to the past, not Paul's generation. Most scholars are convinced Ephesians is a “deutero-Pauline” document, which is work composed in Paul's name by another author.
Breaking up the story of Ephesians starting off with thanksgiving. The first chapter consists of salutations, a blessing of god, and the reason for thanksgiving. A lot of praise and thanks are given to the lord in this chapter. “Praise be to the god and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians;1:3). The first aspect of calling is presented in the first chapter of Ephesians, “ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of glorious inheritance” (Ephesians 1:18). In chapter one the people are being called into a relationship with God through Christ. The thanksgiving portions of the text best explain the calling. For example, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23). In the last quote God goes on to say he is the head and the body of the church. God completes Jesus and in turn completes the church because it his here where people learn about God's plan. The church cannot function without God and so this a call to the community. The community is called upon to live a life of...