notes

Special note

This page was automatically converted from a module that was shared prior to the release of Published Pages.

notes 1452680589517 Special note This page was automatically converted from a module that was shared prior to the release of Published Pages.

Notes

2013-02-25 02:58:05

2013-02-28 14:31:26

Question 1 : The eternal plan/purpose that God made with/in Christ of vs. 11 is intriguing. Is it that this plan was "realized" (ESV) through the work of Jesus or is this a reference to the plan that "was made with Christ"? Calvin follows the idea of "purpose" in this passage by stating that "the present discussion does not relate solely to the execution of the decree, but to the appointment itself, which, though it took place before all ages, was known to God only--till the manifestation of Christ" (Calvin, Ephesians , 256). The idea of the eternal purpose of God standing behind the making of the manifold wisdom of verse 10 known seems consistent. However, this does not address the use of the preposition 'en', which with a dative can carry the idea of either "in" or "with." So, the question remains despite the words of the great Genevan reformer. Peter Obrien helpfully observes that this eternal purpose is consistent with what Paul has already stated in this letter. Namely, the choosing of the elect was according to the "purpose" of God from eternity past. The same phrase ( κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ) stands behind both English passages. Obrien, however does not engage our current question. Thus, once again, the question remains. Hoehner agrees with both Calvin and Obrien in that the force of the passage does indeed inform the reader that this plan of God "was not the result of last minute" brainstorming. Instead, "the demonstration to angelic leaders of God's multifaceted wisdom was according to the standard of God's eternal purpose" (Hoehner, 463). Hoehner goes on to address the question at hand but does not give the alternate reading that we have suggested is a possibility. Instead, Hoehner simply assumes that the prepositional phrase indicates "sphere or locale in which God's purpose was fulfilled" (Hoehner, 464). The question, at this point, seems to hang in large measure upon the translation of the verb ἐποίησεν . It is true that the word could be rendered "to conceive, form." This option would open up the possibility of taking the latter prepositional phrase as stating God "conceived/formed" the eternal plan "with Christ." However, it is also true that the word can carry the idea of "to accomplish, achieve." Hoehner thinks this is the better rendering of the word in the present context. He cites Eph 2:3 Matt 21:31 and John 6:38 of instances where the verb is so used. If we take this latter view, as Hoehner suggests, the idea "is not the conception of the plan in Christ but the achievement of the plan in (emphasis mine) Christ's death" (Hoehner, 464). Thus, the eternal plan was accomplished, not with Christ in the sense of something conceived of earlier, but in Christ as he died to bring the Gentiles near (Eph 2:13). It seems that Hoehner is convincing and the sense of the passage thrusts us upon the death of Jesus, not a planning meeting that the Father and Son had in the past. Question 2 : How is all the statements that Paul makes in this passage supposed to keep them from losing heart when they hear about what Paul is suffering!?! Paul has been given the task to preach the gospel to Jew and Gentile. And to the Ephesians, he has the task of proclaiming to them that the mystery which has been hidden for ages is no longer hidden. Namely, that Gentiles have "boldness and access with confidence through [their] faith in [Jesus]." This is supposed to comfort and strengthen? How? Calvin gets at the heart of this as he states, "How powerfully is the faith of the people confirmed, when a pastor does not hesitate to seal his doctrine by the surrender of his life!" Paul has told his readers that he is in prison for Jesus and on their behalf (3:1). It is because of the mystery, which they had heard about, and of which Paul was commissioned to preach, that he finds himself in his present situation. Yet, the very fact that he is willing to endure imprisonment and hardship, refusing to compromise his doctrine, should bolster the faith and resolve of the people in Ephesus. One can imagine that after they had said their tearful goodbye's in Acts when Paul left them for the final time, that they walked away encouraged and ready to fight the fight of faith as their spiritual father was doing before their eyes. Although Snodgrass accepts the idea that verse 12 is best understood as referring to the faithfulness of Christ (an erroneous view, I think), he nonetheless connects verse 13 with the larger preceding discourse. He asserts, rightly I think, that "Paul viewed his imprisonment as part of his service for Christ, as service that exalted the Gentiles" (Snodgrass, 165). The Gentiles were indeed fellow heirs and no longer strangers to the promises of God. And, this imprisonment by Paul proves that there was one who was willing to go to great lengths to proclaim that the Gentiles had indeed by brought near to God through Christ and now enjoyed access to him (Rom 5;1).

11361761085482 1361759593655 Notes 2013-02-25 02:58:05 2013-02-28 14:31:26 Question 1 : The eternal plan/purpose that God made with/in Christ of vs. 11 is intriguing. Is it that this plan was "realized" (ESV) through the work of Jesus or is this a reference to the plan that "was made with Christ"? Calvin follows the idea of "purpose" in this passage by stating that "the present discussion does not relate solely to the execution of the decree, but to the appointment itself, which, though it took place before all ages, was known to God only--till the manifestation of Christ" (Calvin, Ephesians , 256). The idea of the eternal purpose of God standing behind the making of the manifold wisdom of verse 10 known seems consistent. However, this does not address the use of the preposition 'en', which with a dative can carry the idea of either "in" or "with." So, the question remains despite the words of the great Genevan reformer. Peter Obrien helpfully observes that this eternal purpose is consistent with what Paul has already stated in this letter. Namely, the choosing of the elect was according to the "purpose" of God from eternity past. The same phrase ( κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ) stands behind both English passages. Obrien, however does not engage our current question. Thus, once again, the question remains. Hoehner agrees with both Calvin and Obrien in that the force of the passage does indeed inform the reader that this plan of God "was not the result of last minute" brainstorming. Instead, "the demonstration to angelic leaders of God's multifaceted wisdom was according to the standard of God's eternal purpose" (Hoehner, 463). Hoehner goes on to address the question at hand but does not give the alternate reading that we have suggested is a possibility. Instead, Hoehner simply assumes that the prepositional phrase indicates "sphere or locale in which God's purpose was fulfilled" (Hoehner, 464). The question, at this point, seems to hang in large measure upon the translation of the verb ἐποίησεν . It is true that the word could be rendered "to conceive, form." This option would open up the possibility of taking the latter prepositional phrase as stating God "conceived/formed" the eternal plan "with Christ." However, it is also true that the word can carry the idea of "to accomplish, achieve." Hoehner thinks this is the better rendering of the word in the present context. He cites Eph 2:3 Matt 21:31 and John 6:38 of instances where the verb is so used. If we take this latter view, as Hoehner suggests, the idea "is not the conception of the plan in Christ but the achievement of the plan in (emphasis mine) Christ's death" (Hoehner, 464). Thus, the eternal plan was accomplished, not with Christ in the sense of something conceived of earlier, but in Christ as he died to bring the Gentiles near (Eph 2:13). It seems that Hoehner is convincing and the sense of the passage thrusts us upon the death of Jesus, not a planning meeting that the Father and Son had in the past. Question 2 : How is all the statements that Paul makes in this passage supposed to keep them from losing heart when they hear about what Paul is suffering!?! Paul has been given the task to preach the gospel to Jew and Gentile. And to the Ephesians, he has the task of proclaiming to them that the mystery which has been hidden for ages is no longer hidden. Namely, that Gentiles have "boldness and access with confidence through [their] faith in [Jesus]." This is supposed to comfort and strengthen? How? Calvin gets at the heart of this as he states, "How powerfully is the faith of the people confirmed, when a pastor does not hesitate to seal his doctrine by the surrender of his life!" Paul has told his readers that he is in prison for Jesus and on their behalf (3:1). It is because of the mystery, which they had heard about, and of which Paul was commissioned to preach, that he finds himself in his present situation. Yet, the very fact that he is willing to endure imprisonment and hardship, refusing to compromise his doctrine, should bolster the faith and resolve of the people in Ephesus. One can imagine that after they had said their tearful goodbye's in Acts when Paul left them for the final time, that they walked away encouraged and ready to fight the fight of faith as their spiritual father was doing before their eyes. Although Snodgrass accepts the idea that verse 12 is best understood as referring to the faithfulness of Christ (an erroneous view, I think), he nonetheless connects verse 13 with the larger preceding discourse. He asserts, rightly I think, that "Paul viewed his imprisonment as part of his service for Christ, as service that exalted the Gentiles" (Snodgrass, 165). The Gentiles were indeed fellow heirs and no longer strangers to the promises of God. And, this imprisonment by Paul proves that there was one who was willing to go to great lengths to proclaim that the Gentiles had indeed by brought near to God through Christ and now enjoyed access to him (Rom 5;1). notes