Please read all of Ephesians. Choose one of these questions, and select a verse that particular helps in answering that question. - 1. What seem to be the most import ethical challenges the Ephesian Christians are facing?
2. In what ways does Ephesians seem different than Romans and Corinthians?
3. What specific standards does Paul set for servants, masters, children, wives, and husbands? Is he right is saying that the husband is the “head” of the wife? How do Paul’s ideas differ from those of contemporary society?
4. What is Paul’s advice to leaders on handling ethical problems?
22 comments:
In response to question #3
The standards that Paul sets for each one is one of submission and loyalty to each other and to Christ.
Wife & husband - Paul states that wives should be subject to their husbands, "[5:24] Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands." In exchange for the wife's loyalty, the husband must love his wife. They must love their wives, Paul says, like they love their own body. "[28] He who loves his wife loves himself." Paul sums up this subject by saying "[33] Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband."
Servants & masters - Ephesians 6:5-9 deals with slaves and masters in it instructs slaves to obey their masters on Earth and do it with enthusiasm, "[8] knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free." In the next verse, Paul instructs masters to be kind to their slaves because they both live under the same God, "[9] and with Him there is no partiality."
Children - Children are instructed by Paul to obey their parents in accordance with the commandment that says "Honor your father and mother" so those that obey it will live on this earth will live long and prosper. In exchange for honoring the parents, the parents, especially the fathers, must bring their kids up in discipline and instruct them in the ways of the Lord.
Is it right to say the husband is the "head" of the wife? Yes because husbands are the ones, according to Paul, that protect their wives, keeping her safe and secure from those that threaten her like Christ protect the holiness of His church through His Word.
Paul's ideas differ from those of societies because society perception of marriage, the rearing of children, and servants-masters have changed.
Marriage has devolved in ways that some couples marry due to financial or others reasons that are not rooted in respect, loyalty, love, and protection that Paul saw marriage as. Divorces are common because the married couple do not understand how to respect and love each other as Paul envisioned it.
Child rearing has devolved to such a point that some kids have little respect for their parents, especially when some celebrity kids "divorce" from their parents. On the flip side, parents are not discipling their children and not teaching them to obey God or His Word. These children eventually get into various situations that could get them in trouble, killed, or living a life contrary to God's way.
Servants & masters has changed from slave-master to worker-CEO and executives of major corporations. The workers want more pay and more benefits, far from obeying their masters "[5] with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart," while the CEO and executives threaten them with the loss of their jobs and benefits if they strike while counting their money greedily.
Today's world is far from Paul's vision of respect and love for each other. If people embraced Paul's view of the Christian household and worked with one another in reverence to Christ and His message to love one another, the world would be a whole lot better in God's holy way.
I chose to comment on Ephesians 6. Children should obey their parents in the name of the lord. It is important to follow your parents teaching and honor them. Fathers should be good to their children. They shouldn't expasperate them as Ephesians says. The fathers should teach their children good values and instructions that will help them grow up and make future decisions. I try to follow most of the lessons my parents taught me. Nobody is perfect, but they should follow some of the main lessons they were taught
Alex Mason
I think that the things that the Ephesian Christians are facing are just everyday problems. They do not seem to know how to act to each other or what to do. Perhaps this is because their previous society was so differnt that they need this guidance. It seems that everything is spelled out to a certain extent. How a man should treat his wife and how a wife should treat her husband. How children should be raised and how they should treat their parents. It seems to just address all aspects of society.
Wives and husbands:
Wives should submit to husbands, just as you would submit to the Lord. This does not mean that women are limited in their decisions, but the husbands have the final say. Husbands should be the head of the household just as Christ is the head of the church. Husbands must love their wives just as Christ loved his church. Furthermore, men should love their wives as if they were the same body.
Children:
They must obey their parents as if they were obeying the Lord. Also, Paul states that children should first and foremost honor their mothers and fathers. Children should be trained by their fathers by the instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters:
Slaves should obey their masters with respect just as they would show respect to Christ. They should be obedient, because they are doing the will of God. Eventually, they will be rewarded for doing the will of God whether they are free or not. Similarly, master must show the same respect and obedience, because masters and slaves are “both” in heaven and they should not show favoritism.
I don’t know if it is necessarily right or wrong for a husband to be the “head” of a wife. Although I do believe that women and men should be equally important in the decision making process, it is a matter of compromise. Women should be seen as the “head” of men and vice versa. It’s a cyclical relationship. I do believe Paul’s advice concerning loving each other as one and in the name of Christ’s love. This is an important concept, because although husbands may have the title of “head” they are doing so in the name of the Lord not for personal power. Immediately, I would say that women should never be under the authority or direction of anybody else, but this is the contemporary view. Increasingly, it has become more popular to view wives/women as equals. The idea of the “head” of anything gains negative attention, especially concerning gender roles. Paul’s ideas would be very controversial at first glance in today’s society. It would show discrimination and male domination. I still contest that wives/women should never have to follow what their husbands/men have declared, however, it is important to note that Paul is saying that this is done for the Lord and not for any other benefit. In order for wives and husbands to prosper they must follow each other, because ultimately it is all for the Lord.
Our views and ideas of love cannot be further from what Paul was advising. There is no longer a relationship of respect between workers and “masters” officials. Relationships are based on the principle of inequities today and work relationships are shrouded in money and corruption. I highly doubt Paul would be pleased with our current values and practices.
Kirsten Saunders
The Ephesians seem to have problems with their faith and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. In chapter 2, Paul tells the Ephesians that by God's grace they are saved and that they are His workmanship and instead of using their hands for doing evil and wrong that they should use their hands and gifts to help others and do good deeds.
They also seem to have a problem falling into sin. Paul tells them to put the whole armour of Christ, so that we can fight better for the Lord that they worship. He was basically telling them that there is a way to fight the temptations that come over our lives. Now, in today's society, it is hard for us to find time everyday to read the Bible and have a well-built helmet on our minds to protect us from the mind games of the Trickster.
-Amanda Blood
What specific standards does Paul set for servants, masters, children, wives, and husbands? Is he right is saying that the husband is the “head” of the wife? How do Paul’s ideas differ from those of contemporary society?
For servants (6:5-8)--Paul states here that servants are supposed to obey their masters with respect and fear, just as they respect and fear (revere) the Lord. They shouldnt do so just to get noticed by thier master as being a good servant; they should obey also because it is the will of God. Thus, he tells servants to serve with their whole heart, just as their master was the Lord and not a man--doing so will receive reward in Heaven.
For masters (6:9)--Masters should treat slaves just as Paul tells slaves to treat their masters. Their should be almost a level of respect towards one's servants. Masters should not be violent and inflict pain on their servants, because the Lord would never do such a thing as master of all men. Paul also tries to supress feelings of superiority among the masters in Ephesus, telling them that God sees both servant and master in the same light; both are equal in his sight.
For children (6:1-3)--Children, according to Ephesians, are to obey their parents, honoring them by doing so. He even points out that the ten commandments reveal a promise to those that obey their parents--so that their life will be well and long in years.
For wives (5:22-24, 33)--Women are supposed to submit to their husbands, for a husband is the 'head' of his wife just as Christ is the head of the church, which submits to the will of God.
For husbands (5:25-29, 33)--husbands are to love (is it agape here?) their wives just as Christ loved the Church and died on the cross for its members. Husbands are to love their wives just as they love themselves; they should do all in their power to present their wives in an amazing, pure light. Husbands should care for their wives out of love.
Verse 33 of chapter 6 reveals how this system of obedience and love is supposed to work. Women are supposed to be obedient to their husbands, for the male is the head of the wife, the head of the relationship. This isnt so that women will be inferior and cower under their husband's power, never to utter a word of thier own or express their own view and opinions. It is an act out of respect--by obeying the simple law of society that a wife should submit to and support her husband, she gives him respect out of love. One must admit that men appreciate respect, and women, by repsecting their husband in all situations, show a great example of good characters to believers and non-believers alike (what does it show non-believers when Christian marriages fall apart because of a lack of love and respect?). And, the love of husbands for their wives will be an amazing type of love, an 'agape,' a love just like that Christ has for the Church. Similarily, what women doesnt want to be loved, especially loved just like Christ loved the church and died for it? I doubt that any husband who harshley forced the submission of his wife, who made her feel inferior to the point of fear, ever really loved his wife. Thus, those who claim that the teachings of Paul about submission and love in a marriage are too strict and overbearing fail to see how exactly he meant for them to be executed. If obedience and submission are done out of love and respect, they arent bad and horrible and primitive, but rather beautiful and the way to a successful marriage.
Like I said, contemporary society doesnt seem to think that Paul was on the right track. Society would have no problem with Paul as he tells husbands to love their wives. The problem society has with this section of Ephesians, however, comes when Paul instructs wives to submit to their husbands (verse 22). Society sheds a negative light on this teaching, picturing such a relationship as one where a woman would have to cower in a dark corner in fear of her husband. She is forced to wait on him hand and foot and cease to have thoughts and rights and a mind of her own. It's no wonder society thinks this way, for I'm sure some men have taken this verse out of context and used it as justification to be unusually overbearing and powerful in a relationship. However, if understood correctly, this verse simply tells women that men are the head of the relationship and that they, out of love and respect, should obey their husbands just as the Church obeys Christ. Christ loves the church and would never hurt it; so it will be with husbands towards their wives when the wives submit out of respect. Women can still continue to have education and employment and natural and civil rights while still obeying their husbands, thus this instruction is one with little sacrifice and a lot of gain (love) for women.
Love and respect is all Paul gives as the ingredients for a godly marriage. And I believe that if contemporary society were to follow these simple rules with no objections there would be noticable differences in everyday life. One huge effect, for example, would be that 1 out of every 2 American marriages wouldn't end in divorce.
Rachelle Rasmussen
I chose question 1. It seems that the Ephesian Christians are having problems dealing with all sorts of challenges that occur in the living of our everyday lives. Paul simply tells them that first of all they can no long live as the Gentiles do, that they must change not only their actions but thinking as well. 4:17 "So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking." Paul then goes on the cover the basis of society with them, as in how to treat wives and husbands, what the relationship between children and parents should be, and the relationship of slaves and masters. Since Paul is covering these specific topics, which are the basis of their society, he is telling the Ephesians how to live from scratch.
1) The particular ethical challenge that the ephesians face is that they are living as other gentiles live. In Ephesians 4:17 Paul says "Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of ther minds." Then he says in 4:22 "You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts."
Paul is telling the Gentiles they need to leave their old, corrupt lives and begin new lives with Christ.
Kevin Dahlberg
question 3 -
wives and husbands: I do believe that husbands should love their wives as they love themselves, i also feel that women should do the same for their husbands - from loving eachother the pair should be able to come to any agreement, wives don't need to 'submit' to their husbands and let the husband have the most to do with something, it's a joint thing, a together thing, a love thing. Just like a relationship with Christ, a love thing.
Servants and masters - You could possibly relate this to school - students (servants) and professors (masters) and their relationship, the students should obey their professors and do so in a kind manner, and professors should be nice to thier students, because he adheres to the school as does the student - plust without the students, there are no professors.
Children - Paul wants children to follow the commandments, it says that you should listen to ma and pa, because they know the ways of God and can pass this on to the child, this helps with the growth of church, if parents didnt' pass their values on, where would we be today?
-Landon Lawson
I believe that the almost all of the problems in a society can be fixed if you make the children of that society realize the need for change. This is most true of ethical issues. By telling the children to listen to their parents not just because they are their parents but because they know the ways of God as well as telling the children to be trained by their parents ensures that the society does not regress.
John Schirado
3. Paul says that servants should obey their masters as well as sons and daughters obeying their parents and that each should treat their counter with respect and treat them as you wish to be treated and raise them with discipline and instruction in the Lord. Paul draws the parallel between the relationships of husband, wife, sons and daughters, slaves and masters with the church and Christ. He is pointing out that there is an order in relationships but also a reciprocal relationship. The master is not just to be a master but to treat a slave in a way he wishes to be treated by his master, God. The best parallel Paul draws is between husband and wife. He shows how the husband parallels Jesus and the wife parallels the church. One needs the other and become the same being or flesh. In our contemporary society this seems to be untrue as women become more independent of men. Women and men share the 'head' position in families now. However, one could argue the same parallels are drawn but reversed as needed making Paul's ideas no different than ours today.
In response to question two, Ephesians 5:21 - 6:9 seems different than Romans or Corinthians. Paul doesn't write anything so specifically about the relations of wife and husband, or parent and child, or slave and master in his other letters. To me, these verses gives the letter a touch of simplicity and tangibility. The letter seems to be written for a common family, in a more straight forward way that doesn't require so much philosophy for it's utility.
In response to question 2.
Ephesians seems to summerize what is in Corinthians. One area that seems to be summerize is the diversity of gifts.
Ephesians 4:11-12 "(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
While Ephisians seems just to imply that the church was given apostles, prophets ,
evangelists,pastors and teachers
Corinthians however seem to go in deeper detail in what the gifts do.
Corinthians 12:8-10 "(8) to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (9)To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"
While both Ephisians and Corinthians speeks of the unity of the church Corinthians gives more metaphors in what it means
Corinthians 12:15,16
"(15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?"
These verse are making a point that just like the body needs to work together so does that of the church because if the body did not work together it would fall apart. Just as in the church if we don't work together we will fall apart.
Margaret Schiley
1. What seem to be the most import ethical challenges the Ephesian Christians are facing?
Similar to Romans and Corinthians, a large ethical problem is treating people of different ethnicities. Paul continually speaks of unity (Eph. 2:11-22,4, 5:22-33,6:1-9) in all areas of life. Unity as a Church, as a married person, as a child, a servant... the idea of getting along and loving one another does not leave after a verse, paragraph, or chapter. It keeps showing up over and over again.
-Amber Eich
Some of the important ethical issues that Paul addresses include fornication, impurity, greed, and vulgar talk. He tells them to be careful in how they live, for their private lives do not remain private to God. Another focus of this book is that of being kind to others. Paul says that it is ok to be angry, but that it is what you do with that anger that matters. I found this book to be interesting, because a lot of the ethical issues Paul addresses are still major issues today.
Alyson Guthrie
It seems ti me that Paul is sending a much different messegae in Epheasians than in his other letters. His message is a message of grace it seems like. I never had read Ephesians before this assignment and I really like this book. Its message is one that is close to me. It shows that even through all of our brokenness, Jesus still reaches out to find us.
The previous response is from Matthew Scott
After reading Ephesians twice, I feel that one of the ethical questions facing the church was false teachings and problems with sexual morality especially in marriage. In Chapter 4, Paul tells them to put away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are, members one of another. Be angry but do not sin, do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil. He also says that all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you along with all malice.
This gives us a glance into the moral issues that are facing the new Christian Church. It is a more universal message compared to the other letters that were written that expressed a more local issue. Taking what Paul had to say into consideration, we could see that he is teaching us the two commandments. Love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself.
I also say that they were having marriage problems because Paul dedicates a good chunk of his letter comparing the Church and Christ to a man and woman who were married. He tells us that marriage is a sacred and we have certain obligations to each other as we have obligations to the church. It is up to us as to how we choose to develop our relationship. Paul gives us the guidelines to follow in our married life as well as the life of the church.
What is Paul’s advice to leaders on handling ethical problems?
Advice for leaders could be seen in the verses of chapter 4. It warns against corruption and trying to turn the word of God to your advantage. There is great emphasis on forgiving others for their transgresses.
Jin-Seop Lee
In Response to No.3
In Ephesians, there are something different standards from these days concepts.
First, between wives and husbands.
In Ephesians, the wife must respect her husband. (In 5:33) and also said that a husband is the head of his wife as Christ. (in 5:23). That is to say, in the relationship between wife and husband, husband is upper than wife, however, in contemporary society, they are equal...
Second, between Slaves and Masters, ephsians were written "Slaves obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear." (in 6:5) and also "And in the same way, masters must treat your slavesright, Don't threaten them." (in 6:9)
Third, between Children and Parents, Children should obey their parents because children belong to the Lord. (in 6:1).
Ephesians said those things somewhat forcefully, but it is the same kind of concept of to treat others.
Question # 2. Ephesians is different than Corinthians and Romans basically on how Paul addresses the church. Paul talks to the Romans about the church…that they should accept everyone b/c Christ accepted us. So pretty much Romans could be considered the book that helps establish the church. Then in Corinthians he addresses immoral issues. Now, in Ephesians it is a book mainly focused on those who are already Christians. It helps expand our ideas and in doing so it helps us understand the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace. This helps us appreciate the goals that God has for the church.
Ephesians 1:9-10 talks about God’s main purpose for us: He made known to the mystery of this will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Corinthians address divisions in the church in chapter 3. Chapter 5 has a section on sexual immorality, 7 talks about the sanctity of marriage. I could go on and on.
Romans 3 talks about God’s faithfulness, 4 gives an example of faith, and 8 talks about the Spirit giving us life. Again, I could go on and on.
Reading some of these comments without the comments proof-read before posting suggests either people who might not have done well in school or people who are quite insecure about their inextricable connection to The Creator. Some, or maybe most of the comments I read about submission and respect and obedience and fear (somehow linked to reverence) show me how atheists, not only survive but, thrive in their objections and rejections of of religious books, articles, artifacts and people who promote them. PERSONAL perception and will are vital to growth and understand and they have ALWAYS been gifts of The Creator. It has, in MY perception, been a responsibility to use those gifts. Everyone has used them to some degree since birth but, FEAR comes in and we give in and 'submit' which is linked to 'fear of first, displeasing or disrespecting the "HEAD". Some should try to remember what has been expressed hear a few times about there is NO 'HEAD' without a body. They are inextricably connected and the 'HEAD' would never condemn the body or any part of it to even an imaginary 'hell' because of something(s) the body has done. Even more than the connection, the head supposedly has UNCONDITIONAL love for the body. Ooops! I went to far.
Post a Comment