Letter to the Ephesians

Put on the whole armor of God

The authorship of the letter to the Ephesians is uncertain: the different lexicon compared to the other Pauline writings, the quotes of whole passages from the letter to the Colossians, the idealization of Apostle Paul suggest to the reader that maybe it is one of his disciples’ work. However, questions about the exact author/s of a biblical Book have little relevance due to the ancient pseudepigraphic practices (see the Introduction to the gospels); the Tradition puts the letter under Paul’s name and the Church recognized the effectiveness of its message to Christians’ salvation by inserting it in the New Testament: that is enough for us. Even the starting address «in Ephesus» (Eph 1,1) is puzzling: it is not present in several important ancient manuscripts. Who is then the recipient of this text? Maybe the letter was originally addressed to the Laodiceans (see Col 4,16), that began to circulate in the Christian communities of the Lycus river valley (Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colossae: see Col 4,13) and that was finally headed to the Ephesian Christians due to the great distinction of their city, a relevant seaport, location of the majestic temple of Artemis and center of Apostle Paul’s preaching for three years (see his third missionary journey). The letter to the Ephesians has noteworthy similarities with other two Pauline writings: the letter to the Colossians, as we wrote above, and the letter to Philemon. In addition to the affinity in themes and style all of those works mention that Paul is a prisoner (maybe his Roman house arrest? See e.g. Eph 3,1; Col 4,3; Phlm 1) and the same mission partners of the apostle (see Col 4,9 and Phlm 12 for Onesimus; Col 4,7 and Eph 6,21 for Tychicus; Col 4,10-14 and Phlm 23-24 for Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras, Luke, Demas).
The letter to the Ephesians can be divided into two parts: the first one is about doctrine (that is the contents of the Faith: chapters 1-3) and writes of the Christians’ vocation into the Church, according to the marvelous project of God in Christ; the second one (chapters 4-6) contains some practical recommendations (see Eph 4,1: «I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you [...]»). I present extracts from both of them.
«Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” (in the flesh, made by hands); that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which he put to death their enmity. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit» (Eph 2,11-22).
Even if the enemy «spiritual forces» were definitely defeated by Christ (see Eph 1,21-22) they continue to threaten the Christians, who can beat them exactly putting on the Lord’s «might» and His «armor» (see the precedents in Isa 11,5; 59,17; Wis 5,17-20: in those passages God Himself or His Messiah wear the equipment, while in Eph it is given to every believer). «Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.



Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints» (Eph 6,10-18). The «evil day», more than an apocalyptic scenario, indicates the present Christian life in which the believers fight their spiritual battle (see Eph 5,15-16). Among the defensive equipment «faith» stands out; in the Hebrew culture this word comes from a verbal root that means the “stability in God”: in every difficulty He is the exclusive anchorage the Christians can trust in without fearing that He could fail. The only attack weapon is instead «the word of God»: it is «the sword» by which the Christians, together with the Holy Spirit, conquer new hearts for Jesus and His Gospel. Finally, the prayer «at all times» points out the way they can wear the whole special «armor», obtaining from the Lord all the necessary energy to fight. How can we pray «at all times»? The Fathers of the Eastern Churches had the same question and they found a solution in the “prayer of the heart” (a spiritual practice that connects in a particular way words and breath). Who wishes to know more about that can read the classic book The way of a pilgrim and the document at this link (in Italian).
In chapter 5 of the letter to the Ephesians the relationship between Christ and the Church is the model for Christian marriage, distinguishing it from other unions between man and woman that are present in today’s society: about it we will write the Special of the next post.