The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-13


the apostles welfare he said (Cor. iv: =
| 81: All my affairs shall Tychicus make
known to you, the beloved brother ard
faithful minister and fellow-servant in
the Lord: whom l have sent unto you
for this very purpose, that ye may know
our estate, and that he may comfort
your hearts; together with Onesimus,
the faithful and beloved brother. who is
one of you. They shall make known to
you all things that are done here.
The other letter comes to US with the
title, "The Epistle of Paul to the Ephe-
SLAMS" There are good reasons how
ever for believing that it was not written
exclusively, nor even primarily, to the
church in Ephesus. 1t seems to have
been rather circular letter, of which
several copies were made for separate
churches. each bearing Pauls auto
graph; these churches all having vital
connection with the church at Ephesus.
This explains why the Epistle in one
ancient manuscript is entitled 1.-The
Epistle to the Laodiceans." 1t accou ats
also for the fact mentioned in the
margin of the revised version) that in
some of the ancient manuscripts the
words at Ephesus ara omitted; the salu-
tation being, to the saints arhich are at
-. This also explains the similarity
of the contents of this Ep;stle to that OF
the one directed to the Colossians both
being written for the same general pur-
pose and virtually at the same time.
This Letter, by its passage through
Ephesus, was not unnaturally supposed
to have been directed originally to the
church at Ephesus.
This hypothesis. as seems to US, makes
far less strain on credibility than the
conjecture that this is not letter of
Paul at all, but forgery of later date.
written in the interest of un Christian
church politics.
The Letter to the Ephesians is full of
the spirit of Paul. In its first three
chapters it discourses on the spiritual
headship of Christ over the church; in
the three remaining chapters it exhorts
believers to the daily living which the
Christian faith requires.
Our lesson passage, buge-call
to Christians to take on the whole
armor of God. becomes plain when we
rocall that it was dictated by Paul when
his right hand was chained to soldier
in Roman armor. All the pieces of
armor which he spiritually commends
to Christians, he could literally see on
the form of the soldier always at his
side.
In the modernized rendering of Cony-
beare and Howson our lesson-passage
reads:
/. The Christians Enemies.
VS.. 1912
Finally. my brethren, let your hearts
be strengthened in the Lord, and in the
conquering power of his might. Put on
the whole armor of God. that ye may be
able to stand firm against the wiles of
the Devil. For the adversaries with
whom we wrestle are not flesh and
blood, they are the Principalities, the
Powers. and the Sovereigns of this pres
ent darkness, the com pany of evil spirits
| in the heavenies.
The Devil which Paul names as the
willy enemy of Christians. he immedi-
ately describes as the Pagan and Phari-
sale governments and the prevalent
evil powers, that we're now striving to
annihiate the new religion of Christ.
2. The Gospel ArmOr,-vs. -
II.
Wherefore take upon you to the battle
the whole armor of God, that you may
be able to withstand them in the evil
day, and having overthrown them all, to
stand mistaken. Stand, therefore. girt
with the belt of truth, and wearing the
breastplate of righteousness. and shod
as ready messengers of the Glad-tidings
of peace: and take up to cover you the
shield of faith. wherewith you shall be
able to quench all the fiery darts of the
Evil One. Take likewise, the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
which is the word of God.
The apostle could not fail to observe
that whenever Roman guard was con.
verified to the Gospel. he needed to be in
visibly panoplied for the battle he must
fight. as completely as he was mailed by
his armor for the literal defensive and
aggressive warfare.
3. The Privilege of Prayer
vs. 1920
Continue to pray at every season with
all earnestness of supplication in the
spirit; and to this end be watchful with
all perseverance in prayer for all
Christ's people, and for me, that utter
ance may be given me. to open my
mouth and make known with boldness
the mystery of the Glad-tidings for
which / am an ambassador in letters.
Pray that l may declare it boldly, as l
ought to declare.
Paul has, observe, now dropped the
symbolism of the armor. He knew the
effectiveness of the armor of the Roman
soldier depended on the strength and
courage of the soldier himself. So the
| Christians armor is of no avail eXcept