Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 48:3 (Sep 2005)
Article: Ephesians 6:10–18: A Call To Personal Piety or Another Way Of Describing Union With Christ?
Author: Donna R. Reinhard

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JETS 48:3 (September 2005) p. 521

Ephesians 6:10–18:
A Call To Personal Piety or
Another Way Of Describing Union With Christ?

Donna R. Reinhard

Donna R. Reinhard resides at 8 Sullivan Oaks Place, Florissant, MO 63031.

The imperatives of Ephesians 6:10–18 are often interpreted simply as a call to personal piety for the development of an ethical character. However, while this is an important aspect of the message of this passage, it is critical to evaluate the larger message of this pericope that comes from its relationship to the rest of the letter. Recognition of the indicatives empowers individuals within the Church to strive to become who they already are in Christ by reminding them from whom they draw their strength and virtues. Recognition of the reason for the spiritual warfare against the individual as a part of the corporate body places individuals within the corporate setting of the Church, helping them to recognize that their personal piety is for the sake of the universal Church, not just for themselves. This wider vision of the passage offers an explanation for the difficulties faced in striving to "walk in a manner worthy of our calling" (Eph 4:!).1 Thus, this paper will explore the function of this pericope in the letter and the use of key verbs in the passage in order to present a case for expanding the use of this passage from a simple call to personal piety to a call to put on Christ for the sake of the unity and maturity of the Church.

I. The Function Of The Pericope In The Letter

1. The flow of thought of the letter. The style and organization of the letter to the Ephesians have been widely debated among scholars. Most agree that the letter contains two primary sections, indicatives followed by imperatives. In the indicative section, 1:3 to the end of chapter 3, Paul begins by recounting some of the riches in Christ, then prays that believers will better understand their rich inheritance in Christ and the power of God toward them. He reminds them of their past deadness and slavery, contrasting their past with their present aliveness in Christ and then reveals the mystery of the gospel, which is the unity of believers in their inheritance through Christ. In the concluding prayer of this section, Paul reveals that the strengthening of believers through God's power is in accordance with the riches of Christ's glory for the purpose of Christ dwelling in the hearts of believers (3:14–19).

JETS 48:3 (September 2005) p. 522

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