The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-21
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.

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The eplstle to the Ephesians is one OF the most
remarkable things ever done with a pen. 1t has
the effect upon the reader of something artcu-
lated not something written. IT Is fairiy rap
turous-a trumpet call to the soul. And it has
this ecstatic quality in spite Of its having been
written in prison. 1t has been aptly called an
afternoon Epistle" referring to the mature
period in PauPs life in which 1t was written, and
the corresponding maturity of its contents 1t
In said to have the reflective tone natural to
prison life. Adolph Monod affirms that, In spite
of its brevity il embraces the whole field OF
Christian religion. Coleridge believes IL one OF
the divirest compositions Of man, and Chrysos-
tom says ii overfiows with lofty thoughts. The
Epistle has been likened to the sixty-eighth
Psalm, which, in turn. is described as an exhor-
tation to praise God for His great mercies and
works, and for His care of the church.
Ephesians is written by the prisoner apostle
"a. ID. 59-e2), possibly as an ercyclical to the
cluster of churches Of which Ephesus is chief.
The writer has a clear and full view of the en-
vironment of the church addressed. He abounds
i'm local illusions to temples, mysteries. manners
and customs, persons and places The Epistie
has a general likeness to the Epistle to the Co
lossians. and the identity Of certain passages
shows them to have been written about the same
time possibly about four years after. the part
ing with the Ephesan elders at Miietus
Tychcus is the honored messenger by whose
hand il is sent.
II is curiously asserted that the Epistie to the
Irphesians is not the Epistle to the Ephesians-
In the oldest manuscripts OF the New Testament.
such as the one in the Pope's library, called
''yaticanus" and the one discovered by Ttsch-
endorf in the monastery on Mt. Sinai, and called
..Sinaiticus," the words lat Ephesus" Il. - do
not appear in the text. but in the margin. and
by later hand The internal evidence against
the Ephesian destination is: !. The Epistle con-
tains no personal greetings. although Paul lived
three years in Ephesus 2 Could not describe the
Ephesian church OF whose conversion he
knew only by report. q, 49, 5. Could not de-
scribe the Ephesian church knowing him TO
be an apostle by hearsay only. dii, - e. Could
not describe the Ephesian church as being Cen
tile exclusively. Gil, IL; iv, I'D In explanation
some affirm, this to be the Epistle 10 the Laod-
ceans (Col, Nv. ls), which is otherwise lost; 9TH
ers, that 1t IS encyclical which went possibly
first to the church at Ephesus, or which was is
sued in duplicate.
This question of immediate destination of the
Epistle is. however, largely question OF curios-
ity. not affecting In any way the authenticity.
genuineness, OF value of the writing.
Chapters Nv, V. vi. constitute what Theodoret
has aptly called THE Moral Admontion" the
most complete system OF Christian precepts
tant, duties to God, self and others. In a gen.
eral way the whole Epistle is a contrast between
Christian and heather principles and practices
The heart and motif of the Episte is the por-
trayal OF the glory and excellence of the church
in Christ. The finding of the long-sought ideal
ICED. ethical cosmos in the real and realized
church; the ground. extent. course. object and
destiny Of the church are portrayed. This para
graph In particular presents vivid double por-
traiture: First, believers they were: second
believers they
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
The royalty, extent, turpitude and ultimate
outcome OF the sinful state needs emphasis In
our day. Sin not just or accident.
1t is not so much series Of acts. but state Of
mind and heart out OF which they spring and
which makes them possible. Sin of sins is the
fostering Of an evil disposition. either negative
or positive toward God.
Out OF this condition one needs TO be aroused
as from sleep death. The divine agencies for
the accomplishment OF this end manifold and
constantly operating. but cannot be effective ex-
cent by human consent and cooperation.
When 10 operating the resultant is the Chris
tian character. In striking contrast to the un-
Christian, a character which, in successive
epochs. keeps exhibiting. in increasing measure.
the riches OF grace and the kindness OF God.
The old apparent antagonism OF faith and
works is always asserting itself. Some one aptly
says: THE Christian is saved by
works. but the Christian man works"
Paul. himself the Roman citizen. the wide and
observant traveller. was the most fearless and
forceful among the Christian critics OF heather
immortality He threw the gauntlet OF his in
x,ncible logic down before the famed and priced
,nvsteries-the holy OF holes of classic heathen-
ISM He declared the things done In these mystic
rites under cover OF night TO be so vile that II
would be an onense against modesty to mention
them: that the heather justified their crimes by