Quizzing the New Testament : Ephesians

Answer: All of these

The letter has sentences which, on average, are much longer than in Paul's other letters. In chapter 1, for example, 12 verses are taken up with translating just one sentence from the original Greek (Ephesians 1 v. 3-14). Likewise, there is only a limited overlap of vocabulary and, theologically, some issues are expressed differently whilst others, such as the second coming of Jesus, are completely omitted.

Answer: The uniting, in Jesus, of Jews and Gentiles

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2 v. 19-22)

Jesus, Paul writes, is peace - the one that, by his death on the cross, has torn down the wall of division between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2 v. 14).

Answer: He wishes people to "know this love that surpasses knowledge".

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3 v. 17-19)

This is reminiscent of Paul's letter to Titus, where he states that all Cretans are liars - on the basis that a Cretan had said so (Titus 1 v. 12).

Answer: Usher

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4 v. 11-13)

These verses, together with the three that follow, comprise another long sentence in the original text.

This is a theme that Paul also takes up in his first letter to the Corinthians, likening the church to the body of Christ and attributing God-given abilities to the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Other analogies that are used in Ephesians to describe the church include that of a temple (Ephesians 2 v. 21); a new man (Ephesians 2 v. 15); a bride (Ephesians 5 v. 32); and a vehicle through which God wants his wisdom to "be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 3 v. 10).

Answer: Speak the truth in love

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4 v. 14-15)

This is an idea that underlies the whole of the chapter as a mark of a new way of living. Thus, Paul returns to the idea a few verses later:
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body" (Ephesians 4 v. 25).

To anybody who got this question wrong, you're very welcome to come round and cut my lawn.

Answer: I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

"'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." (Ephesians 4 v. 26-27)

That's not Paul's only advice on the subject. He goes on to add that his readers should "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4 v. 32).

"I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released by Nik Kershaw in 1983.

Answer: God

"Be imitators of God, 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." (Ephesians 5 v. 1)

This might seem a strange choice, because elsewhere Christians are told to imitate Jesus as the one that has made the invisible God known to them. It does, though, link back to the closing verse of the previous chapter where Paul had written:
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4 v. 32).

Answer: Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5 v. 25-27)

Paul has taken a lot of flak for the preceding statement that wives should "submit to your husbands" (Ephesians 5 v. 22). What is less readily recognised is the radical nature of Paul's advice to husbands. This was a time when a wife was considered little more than a man's possession, to be treated as her husband desired. Paul's interpretation of the Christian gospel, therefore, that husbands should "give themselves for their wives" and "ought to love their wives as their own bodies" (Ephesians 5 v. 28) was revolutionary.

Answer: By putting on the full armor of God

Paul illustrates his point with reference to the armour worn by a Roman soldier of his day. His readers are urged to protect themselves with "the belt of truth"; "the breastplate of righteousness"; "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"; "the shield of faith"; "the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6 v. 14-17).

Answer: Love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love

"Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." (Ephesians 6 v. 24)

Unlike Paul's other letters, the only person mentioned by name in the closing verses is Tychicus. Elsewhere, Paul describes him as "a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord" (Colossians 4 v. 7). There are two other instances in the New Testament where Tychicus is linked to Ephesus. In Acts 20, Luke includes him amongst their travelling companions when Paul met with the elders of the Ephesian church. Also, in 2 Timothy 4, Paul writes of sending Tychicus to Ephesus.