以弗所書

這是以弗所書的大綱，是我為2007年的夏令會預備靈修資料時寫下的。我和Sue正在閱讀Timothy Keller (with Kathy Keller) 的新書：The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God (New York: Dutton, 2011) 。這書是按著以弗所書5：22-33的教導探索基督徒婚姻的意義和目的。在閱讀中，我想到保羅在以弗所書提到「同歸於一」的道理(參1:10),曾服侍的教會和這份大綱。

以弗所書的整體内容

以弗所書兩個主要的部分：第一至三章和四至六章。前三章探討教義的問題。後三章探討生活的倫理。在保羅的思想中，教義和倫理是不能分開的。教義是生活倫理的基礎；生活倫理是基督教教義的表達。

在以弗所書1:3-3:21中，保羅用一段頌詞開始，講到神在基督裏賜给我們各樣屬靈的福氣—神的揀選，基督的救贖，和聖靈應許的印記（1:3-14）。因著三一神在信徒身上的工作，保羅感謝及禱告神（1:15-23）。禱告的主要目的是求神賜「人智慧和啓示的靈」，使我們「真知道」神三方面的知識（1:17）--他呼召的指望（1:18上），他豐盛的榮耀（1:18下），和他浩大的能力（1:19）。這大能在他使基督「從死裏復活」和「坐在自己的右邊」彰顯出來（1:20-21）神運行這大能將萬有服在基督和教會的腳下（1:22-23）。

在榮耀的神的底下，人是敗壞的。過去，我們行事爲人得罪神，死在過犯中（2:1-3）。現在，因著神豊富的恩典，叫我們在基督裏得救（2:4-6）。神拯救的目的是要將他豐富的恩典藉着我們顯給將來的世代看（2:7）。保羅繼續解釋這救恩的本質是神在基督裏的工作。這全是神自己的工作，不是人的工作（2:8-9）。這並不本乎人的行為的救恩，我們更要行出這恩（2:10）。不然，將來的世代如何看。

外邦人原本在這救恩之外，與神無份。但如今藉基督救贖的工作，以經親近神了(2:11-13）。這是因爲基督他是我們 [特指：外邦人和以色列人] 的和睦。基督藉著他的死廢掉所有難阻我們的冤仇，將兩者歸為一體。作爲一個新的羣體，與神和好。更藉著聖靈進到父神面前（2:14-18）。這樣，外邦人是神家裏的人。基督是這家的根基，亦是聖靈居住的地方（2:19-22）。

保羅繼續講到這「同歸於一」（1:10）的事實原是一個奧秘—就是外邦人在基督裏成爲神家的人，與以色列人一樣（3:6）。神籍著他的恩典和大能托付保羅這福音的職事（3:2-7）。 這恩典賜给他有三個目的：傳基督的豊盛给外邦人（3:8），使外邦人明白神的計劃是如何安排（3:9），最後 籍這「教會」[外邦人與以色列人] 使人知道神的智慧（3:10）。這拯救的智慧，不是神突然的安排，而是神在創世在基督裏已經定下的旨意（3:11）。雖然保羅因爲外邦人的原故被囚（3:1），這苦難不應叫這些外邦人喪膽，反而是榮耀，因爲因著基督的信實[或因信基督]，一同進到神面前（3:12-13）。因以，保羅禱告神（3:14-15），這禱告的内容有兩個目的：第一，籍著聖靈，使我們心裏的力量剛強，這力量是基督籍著信住在我們心裏（3:16-17）。第二，能有力量明白基督的愛和認識這超過人知識的愛（3:18-19上）。最终的目的是叫神充滿我們（3:19下）。在這教義探討的部分，保羅用榮耀頌结束（3:20-21）。

在以弗所書4:1-6:20 中，本於第一至三章「同歸於一」的教導，保羅指出信徒應有的生活。這倫理的教導是針對教會的合一，由普遍（4:1-16）到特殊的生活應用（4:17-6:9）。保羅開始講到我們行事為人當與「同歸於一」的信息相稱（4:1-6）。我們要正確運用基督賜給我們的恩賜來建立基督的身體。使我們「同歸於一」，更像基督（4:7-13），凡事長進，在愛中建立自己（4:14-16）。

保羅然後提到世俗的生活，學了基督真理的人要「脫去」這此表現。不單如此，更要「穿上」新人的樣式（4:17-24）。在4:25-6:9中，保羅仔细地講到這新人應有的表現。例如：說實話，控制惱氣，不偷盜，勞力，分給那無得人，用清潔的言語，說造就人的話，要謹慎行事，要愛惜光陰，要被聖靈充滿，要讚美和感謝神等…（4:25-32；5:3-20），都是效法神的表現（5:1-2）。保羅然後將這此原則應用在生活三個主在的層面：婚姻（5:22-33）；家庭（6:1-4）；主僕（6:5-9）。存敬畏基督的心，彼此順服（5:21）是這三個層面的大原則。

最後，保羅用三個命令語句作结（6:10-20）--要做剛強的人（6:10），要穿戴全副軍裝（6:11），和要站穩（6:14）。

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A Synopsis of the Letter to the Ephesians

Ephesians has two main sections: Ephesians 1-3 is the doctrinal section; Ephesians 4-6 is the practical section. In Paul’s thought, doctrine and ethics are inseparable. Doctrine is the foundation of Christian ethics while Christian ethics is the expression of Christian faith.

Ephesians 1:3-3:21: Paul begins with a eulogy, describing how God has blessed us in Christ. We are chosen by God (1:4-6), redeemed by Christ (1:7-12), and sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13-14). Due to the work of the triune God, Paul praises and gives thanks to Him (1:15-23). The purpose of his prayer is that God may give us the “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” so that we may truly know him (1:17)—to know “the hope to which he has called us” (1:18a); to know “the riches of his glorious inheritance” (1:18b); and to know “his incomparably great power” (1:19). This power is fully manifested when God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand (1:20-21). With God’s mighty power, all things are placed under Christ and his Church (1:22-23).

In the past, we were dead and only followed our sinful impulse. We were the object of God’s wrath (2:1-3). But now, because of God’s great love and immeasurable mercy, we have been saved by grace in Christ (2:4-6). The purpose of saving us is to show God’s grace in Christ to the coming generations (2:7). Paul then continues to elaborate that salvation is accomplished through God’s work in and through Christ Jesus. It is solely God’s work, not human work (2:8-9). However the focal point of this section is in 2:10. Yes, we are saved by grace. But most importantly, we are saved for doing good works. That is how we express God’s grace to the coming generations in a concrete way.

Gentiles were far from God’s salvation, but they have been drawn near through the work of Christ on the cross (2:11-13). Because of what Christ had accomplished on the cross, he became our (referring to Gentiles and Jews) peace. He accomplished three things: made us one, destroyed the barrier, and abolished the law (2:14-15a). And the work of Christ has two purposes: to create a new community of God and to reconcile this new community to God through Christ (2:15b-16). As a result, this new community can enter into the very presence of God through the Spirit (2:17-18). Therefore, Gentiles are members of God’s household. Christ is the foundation of this household in which the Spirit dwells in it (2:19-22).

“To bring all things under the authority of Christ” (1:10) is the leading theme of the book of Ephesians. Paul continues to elaborate this theme and says that the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s salvation is a mystery (3:6). And God entrusted this mystery of revelation to Paul (3:2-7). This grace is bestowed upon him for three reasons: to preach to the Gentiles about the riches of Christ (3:8), to help Gentiles understand the hidden plan of God that has been now revealed in Christ (3:9), and to unfold God’s wisdom through the Church [Gentiles and Jews] (3:10). This saving wisdom did not happen accidentally or suddenly, but it has been already planned out in Christ according to his eternal purpose (3:11). Even though Paul is in prison for the sake of Gentiles (3:1), this predicament should not become a stumbling block to them. Rather, it is for their glory, for with the faithfulness of Christ, we [Gentiles and Jews] can have access to God’s presence (3:12-13).

Thus, Paul prays to God (3:14-15). This prayer has two purposes: First, we may be strengthened with power through the Spirit. And this power comes from our faith in Christ who dwells within us (3:16-17). Second, we may have power to understand Christ’s love and to know that this love is beyond human knowledge (3:18-19a). The ultimate purpose is that we may be filled with life that comes from God (3:19b). At the end of the doctrinal section, Paul concludes with a doxology (3:20-21).

Ephesians 4:1-6:20: Based on the theme of “all things are united as one in Christ”, Paul exhorts how believers should live in light of it. He moves from general (4:1-16) to particular teachings (4:17-6:9). Paul first begins to talk about Christian living—walk (or live)—in light of the oneness of the Trinitarian faith and the unity of the Body (4:1-6). We must rightly use the gifts given by Christ to build up the body of the church in order to help one another to reach unity in Christ, to become more like Him (4:7-13). In this body, we will grow up into Him and build up one another in love (4:14-16).

Paul then shifts his attention to the Gentiles’ former way of life—secular lifestyle. Those who belong to Christ do not come to know Him in this lifestyle. Not only do they have to put it off, but also put on a new way of living that reflects God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true (4:17-24). In 4:25-6:9, Paul elaborates this new way of living in details, such as speak in truth, anger management, do not steal, work hard, give generously to the needy, no abusive language, find out what is pleasing to the Lord, be careful how to live, and be filled with the Spirit, etc…(4:25-32; 5:3-20). This way of living demonstrates that we follow God and Christ, and God is pleased (5:1-2).

Paul then addresses three specific areas of life that must also reflect God’s likeness—marriage (5:22-33); family (6:1-4); slaves and masters (6:5-9). In these areas of life, 5:21 is the fundamental principle—“submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” At the end, Paul exhorts believers in Ephesus once again with three imperatives: Be strong (6:10), put on all of God’s armor (6:11), and stand your ground (6:14).