Paul’s Ecclesiology Of Ephesians -- By: Gary R. Gromacki

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 19:1 (Spring 2015)
Article: Paul’s Ecclesiology Of Ephesians
Author: Gary R. Gromacki


Paul’s Ecclesiology Of Ephesians

Gary Gromacki

Professor of Bible and Homiletics
Baptist Bible Seminary
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Introduction

Biblical theology is an exegetical, inductive, historical, and theological study of a book of the Bible or the biblical writings of a particular author of the Bible that analyzes the key words, themes, and motifs of a Bible book or author and arranges them in an outline that reflects the biblical author’s views of doctrine. Pauline theology would include a study of Paul’s epistles to determine his views on various doctrines (Pauline Christology, Pauline pneumatology). Pauline theology can also include a study of a particular book written by Paul to determine his doctrines. This article will focus on Paul’s ecclesiology of Ephesians. This article will explain how the word church is used in Ephesians. Then it will examine the Pauline metaphors and descriptions of the church in Ephesians: saints, the body of Christ, the fullness, one new man, citizens, the household of God, a holy temple, the whole family in heaven and earth, children, and the “bride of Christ.”1

Church

The apostle Paul used the word church (ἐκκλησία) in several different ways in his epistles. He used the word ἐκκλησία to refer to the local church (cf. 1 Cor 11:18; 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28,

35) and Christians meeting in a house for worship (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phlm 2). Paul used the word church to describe Christians that met for worship in a particular city or geographical region. (1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; Rom 16:1; Col 4:16). Paul used the plural word churches to refer to a group of churches in a particular region (Gal 1:2, 22; 1 Thess 2:14; You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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