There’s often a temptation to read Ephesians in two parts: chapters 1-3 as doctrine (what to believe) and chapters 4-6 as ethics (how to behave), and at one level perhaps that’s helpful. But what we need to realise is that belief and action are inseparable. What we truly believe will always eventually be demonstrated through how we live. Importantly, this is not the same as, ‘what we say we believe…’ but what we really believe, deep down. Fundamentally, wrong actions stem from wrong beliefs about how we should live.
Paul spent the first half of this letter detailing the truth about Jesus, and what this means for human life. This is because right belief and understanding about what Jesus has accomplished, will inform our actions and our lives; which are lived out in response to that reality. Paul then goes on to describe what it looks like to “walk in a way that is worthy of the calling” (4:1). As God’s people, we live according to an entirely different pattern of life, to that which the world around us is familiar with.
This part of Ephesians, then, is effectively saying ‘out with the old’ (the way of living which essentially ignored God’s way) and ‘in with the new’: to a way of life which is completely oriented toward God, and thus “worthy of the calling.”
Paul spends the last part of chapter 4 contrasting this new life in Jesus with the old pattern of life:
Ephesians 4: 25-32 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
It’s helpful to summarize these contrasts in a table:
| DON’T | DO |
| Lie | Speak truth |
| Steal | Work, be generous |
| Speak destructively | Speak constructively |
| Be malicious | Be kind, forgiving |
And it’s with these contrasts in mind, that we read on into chapter 5…
Ephesians 5: 1-10 (NIV)
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: no immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Let’s look at this section in a bit more depth:
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
We are to “follow God’s example” in the same way that children imitate their own father. But notice what we’re imitating (from the end of chapter 4): kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. We need to keep this at the forefront of our thoughts, throughout the rest of this passage.
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Continuing the unpacking of chapter 4, Paul explains how we are to live a life of love: that is, in the same way that Jesus loved us, by sacrificing himself. So we are to live a life of self-sacrifice, too. That’s how we walk in love.
The reference to sacrifice here is reminiscent of the traditional Jewish temple sacrifices (or, at least, would have been for Paul’s original audience), which reminds us of Paul’s metaphor – of God’s people as the new temple – from earlier in the letter (chapter 2). Now this is important for what comes next: some pretty clear ‘do nots’, which lay down some lines that God’s people should just not cross. Paul is prompting his listeners and readers to think of the temple practices. In such a setup, before you could have any hope of offering a sacrifice, there were procedures and rituals that had to be followed. You wouldn’t even be allowed into the temple courts if you were ritually unclean or impure. This is what Paul wants his audience to keep in mind.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: no immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
These are the behaviours which are completely out of place amongst God’s people. Note the contrasts again (do not… but do), e.g. don’t speak badly, but rather give thanks. Whereas the Old Testament law prescribed who had access to the temple, and how (through purifying rituals etc.), Paul has already explained that the people of God (through Christ) are, collectively, the new temple themselves! So it really matters how we live our lives, if we are to remain a part of God’s dwelling place.
Paul then reiterates the three ‘do not’ behaviours (immorality, impurity, and greed), and sums them up as idolatry – that is, putting something in place of God – and insists that such behaviour makes us unfit for God’s kingdom. This is the central point. Why does idolatry keep us out of God’s kingdom? The logical answer is that God’s kingdom is where God reigns, and is recognised as the only ruler. To practice any of these things, is to ignore God’s standard, and effectively follow them instead of Him; ignoring God’s way, for one which seems more attractive.
In our time (as in the Greco-Roman era) it’s easy to think of examples of immorality, impurity, and greed. What’s unique to the 21st century, however, is the way in which these things are often promoted and held up to be good things. It seems that people aren’t content to merely somehow justify their wrong actions; they’re keen to recruit others to the same way of life.
Now, the mention of temple practices, fornication, and idolatry would have provoked a very specific image in the minds of the Ephesians. They would almost certainly have been thinking about their local temple, which was dedicated to the worship of Artemis. What’s more, Paul would no doubt remember his own experiences in the city (described in Acts 19). This link is one which a casual reading of Ephesians could easily overlook, but one which I think is key to understanding what this section of Paul’s letter means for us today: as we will see in part 2.
Paul S. Baker 