CONTENTS.
| INTRODUCTION. | |
| Chapter i. 1, 2. | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| THE WRITER AND READERS. | |
| PAGE | |
|---|---|
| Contrast of Galatians and Ephesians—Pauline qualities ofEphesians: intellectual, historical, theological, spiritual,ethical—The Idea of the Church—The Person of Christ—Ephesiansand Colossians—Style of Ephesians—CircularHypothesis—Epistle from Laodicea—Designationof the Readers—Faithful Brethren | [3] |
| PRAISE AND PRAYER. | |
| Chapter i. 3–19. | |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| THE ETERNAL PURPOSE. | |
| The Apostle’s Hymn of Praise—Blessed be God!—Blessingspiritual, heavenly, Christian—In the Beginning theElection of Grace—The World and its Founder—Redemptionembedded in Creation—God’s prescientChoice—Our Holiness His Purpose—Divine Adoption—Whoare the Elect? | [21] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE BESTOWMENT OF GRACE. | |
| Structure of the Paragraph—Grace an Experience—Christthe Beloved—Forgiveness and its Price—The Valueof Forgiveness—Wisdom a Gift of Grace—The Gospelas an intellectual Force—God’s Will the Goal of humanThought—Sonship and Heritage—The Fulness of theTimes—The Christian Inventory of the Universe—Reconciliationand Reconstitution—Gathering in andGathering out | [34] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| THE FINAL REDEMPTION. | |
| Mutual Inheritance—Jewish and Gentile Heirs—Uses of theSeal—The Stamp of Sanctity—Promise fulfilled and tobe fulfilled—Hearing and Believing—Salvation by theTruth—Salvation for the Gentiles—Faith and the HolySpirit—The two Redemptions—The encumbered Property—TheEarnest of our consummate Life | [50] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| FOR THE EYES OF THE HEART. | |
| Thanksgiving for the Readers—The God of Christ, theFather of Glory—Christian Enlightenment—Seeing withthe Heart—What is our Hope?—God’s Wealth in Men—Thetrue Standard of Value—The Power of Christ’sResurrection | [65] |
| THE DOCTRINE. | |
| Chapter i. 20—iii. 13. | |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| WHAT GOD WROUGHT IN THE CHRIST. | |
| Prayer and Teaching—Historical Effect of Christ’s Resurrection—TheStages of His Exaltation—Christianity withoutMiracles—The efficient Cause of Christianity—Theperfect Resurrection—The First-begotten out of theDead—The Risen One, the Holy One—Resurrectionand Ascension—Ascension to Rule—Christ and theAngels—Christ glorified God’s Gift to the Church—Christthe Fulness of God | [81] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| FROM DEATH TO LIFE. | |
| Raised with Christ—Sin is Death—Jesus Christ in a deadWorld—Alive in Body, dead in Spirit—Religious Difficulties—Antipathyto God—The Power of the Air—God’sAnger against Sinners—The Soul’s Awaking—Consciousnessof God—Fellowship in Salvation | [95] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| SAVED FOR AN END. | |
| Beginning and End of God’s Plan—Mercy, Love, Kindness,Grace and Gift—Not of Works—Boasting excluded—EvangelicalAssurance—In the heavenly Places—Gracea Task-master—Creation and Redemption—The apostolicChurch and the coming Times | [109] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| THE FAR AND NEAR. | |
| Wherefore remember!—Sudden and gradual Conversion—TheGentile World: Godless, hopeless, Christless—Awaywith the Atheists!—The double Pessimism—TheUncircumcision—Nigh in the Blood of Christ—Reunionin Guilt and in Pardon | [120] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| THE DOUBLE RECONCILIATION. | |
| The Jewish War—The two Parties in the Church—TheJewish Enmity typical—The new Christian Humanity—TheChurch in the first Century and the nineteenth—Hindrancesto Unity: external, internal—The Groundof Reconciliation—Enemies of God—The Atonementof the Cross—Moral Communism—Personal Faith—TheFraternization of Mankind | [131] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| GOD’S TEMPLE IN HUMANITY. | |
| The Divine Occupant—The Service of Man and of God—OneTemple and many Buildings—The Variety of theapostolic Church—The primitive Catholicism—Churchand Dissent—Union by Approximation—Our Lord’sPrayer for Unity—The apostolic Basis—The BuilderSpirit—The sure Foundation Stone | [143] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| THE SECRET OF THE AGES. | |
| St Paul’s Style of Composition—Christ the Mystery of God—Christin the Old Testament—The Exploration ofChrist—The Portion of the Gentiles in Israel—TheOrgans of the new Revelation—The unique Office andInfluence of the Apostle Paul | [155] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| EARTH TEACHING HEAVEN. | |
| Christ the Bond of Angels and Men—Our Lord and theirs—Jesusof Nazareth the Lord of the Ages—The Realityof the Angels—Their Interest in the Church—ThePeculiarity of the human Problem—The Docility of theheavenly Potentates—The angelic Standpoint—TheGrandeur of Christianity inspires Courage | [167] |
| PRAYER AND PRAISE. | |
| Chapter iii. 14–21. | |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| THE COMPREHENSION OF CHRIST. | |
| Contents of St Paul’s Prayer—The Father of Angels andof Men—Strength of Spirit and of the Spirit—Christabiding in the Heart—Christ and the Christ—Christ’sClaim on the Intellect—Neglect of Theology—Dimensionsof God’s Building—Strength to grasp the Magnitudeof Christianity—The true Broad Churchman | [183] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| KNOWING THE UNKNOWABLE. | |
| Knowledge in the Growth—Paul’s Study of the Love ofChrist—Christ’s manifested Love—God’s Fulness ourfinal Aim—The Fulness more than Love—Praise out-soaringPrayer—God’s Gifts beyond our Requests—TheDivine Power immanent in Men—The Inspirer of Prayerits Fulfiller—The Union of the Church and Christ inGod’s Praise—The eternal Glory | [197] |
| THE EXHORTATION. | |
| ON CHURCH LIFE. | |
| Chapter iv. 1–16. | |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| THE FUNDAMENTAL UNITIES. | |
| The Prisoner in the Lord—The Foes of Church Peace:Low-mindedness, Ambition, Resentfulness—The Basisof Unity: sevenfold, threefold—One Body despiteDivisions—One Spirit makes one Body—Unity of Lifeand Hope—One Lord in all Churches—Baptism a Signof Christ’s Rule, the Seal of a corporate Life—The oneGod, and the many | [213] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| THE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST. | |
| Unity in Diversities—Christ the Administrator—The Ascensionof David and of David’s Son—Height and Breadth—TheGiving of Jesus—Christ’s Descent and Ascent—TheWarfare of Christ—The Spoils of His Victory—TheEnlistment of His Prisoners—Apostles and Prophets,Evangelists and Pastors—Paul, Augustine, Luther,Knox, Wesley—The Demands of the Future—IndividualResponsibility | [227] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. | |
| The Aim of the Christian Ministry—A perfect Manhood—Sleightor Sport?—Junctures of Supply—Reunion in theKnowledge of the Son of God—The Stature of Christour Standard—The Dangers of Childishness—SpeculativeError—Gnosticism and Agnosticism—Conditions ofSafety—Church Organization—The Framework of theBody of Christ—Its Continuity of Tissue | [244] |
| ON CHRISTIAN MORALS. | |
| Chapter iv. 17–v. 21. | |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| THE WALK OF THE GENTILES. | |
| The old World and the old Man—Impotence of Gentile Reason—Scienceand Pessimism—Loss of the Life ofGod—Ignorance the Mother of Indevotion—Indurationof Heart—Impudicity of Paganism | [261] |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| THE TWO HUMAN TYPES. | |
| Defective Views of Christ amongst Paul’s Readers—Thehistorical Jesus the true Christ—Paul and the Traditionof Jesus—Jesus the human Model—Nero a Type of thePagan Order—The Fraud of Sin—The Growth and theBirth of the new Man—Righteousness and Holiness | [275] |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| DISCARDED VICES. | |
| The seven Gentile Sins—Truthfulness and the Truth—ThePerils of Anger—The Antidote to Theft—Sinfulness ofvain Speech—Malice and its Brood—Imitation of theDivine Love—Filthiness and Jesting—The goldenLeprosy | [290] |
| CHAPTER XXII. | |
| DOCTRINE AND ETHICS. | |
| The Intrinsic and Experimental in Morals—Originality ofChristian Ethics—Ethical Art and Science—Four Principlesof Pauline Ethics—Personality and Morals—EthicalCharacter of Christ’s Forgiveness—AugusteComte and the Gospel—The moral Import of the Resurrection—Andof the Atonement | [305] |
| CHAPTER XXIII. | |
| THE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT. | |
| Right the Fruit of Light—All Virtue from one Source—Unbeliefand Immorality—Christian Goodness—The Wayof Righteousness—Truth the Hall-mark of Sanctity—Verityand Veracity—Specialists in Virtue—Reproof ofopen and of hidden Sins—Manifestation and Transformation | [321] |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | |
| THE NEW WINE OF THE SPIRIT. | |
| Soberness and Excitement—The heedful Look—Evil Daysfor the Asian Christians—Wisdom to know God’s Will—Wineand social Pleasure—The Craving for Excitement—Fulnessof the Spirit—The Rise of ChristianPsalmody—The Music of the Heart—Enthusiasm andOrder | [336] |
| ON FAMILY LIFE. | |
| Chapter v. 22–vi. 9. | |
| CHAPTER XXV. | |
| CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE. | |
| The Divine Character of Marriage—Religious Equality ofthe Sexes—The Glory of the Man—Women’s Rights—Christ’sundivided Headship—Masculine Selfishness—GreekTerms for Love—The Husband and the Priest—Thedouble Self—Indelibility of Wedlock | [353] |
| CHAPTER XXVI. | |
| CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE. | |
| Marriage and the Doctrine of the Church—The Individualand the Church—The Glory of the vicarious Death—Christthe Sanctifier of His Church—The Significationof Baptism—The Water and the Word—The Bridemade ready—The Church a Christocracy—Adam’sWedding-song—The Church inherent in Christ | [366] |
| CHAPTER XXVII. | |
| THE CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLD. | |
| Children in the Church—The initial Form of Duty—Commandmentand Promise—Gentleness of fatherly Rule—SpoiltChildren—The Lord’s Nurture—Greek andRoman Slaves—The Church and the Slaves—Christ aPattern for Slaves—Servants of Society—Care, Honesty,Heartiness in Work—The heavenly Master’s Reward—Responsibilityof the earthly Master | [380] |
| ON THE APPROACHING CONFLICT. | |
| Chapter vi. 10–18. | |
| CHAPTER XXVIII. | |
| THE FOES OF THE CHURCH. | |
| Henceforth be strong!—The two Panoplies—The Personalityof Satan—The Devil and his Angels—Paul’s Demonology—Thespiritual Combat—Interior Temptations—Persecutionand Heresy—The Region of the Struggle—TheSiege of the heavenly City | [397] |
| CHAPTER XXIX. | |
| THE DIVINE PANOPLY. | |
| The coming evil Day—Comparison with Revelation ii., iii.—TheGirdle of Truth—The Breastplate of Righteousness—Shoesof Gospel Readiness—The great Shield ofFaith—Fire-tipped Darts—The Helmet of Salvation—TheSpirit’s Sword—The Weapon of All-prayer | [410] |
| THE CONCLUSION. | |
| Chapter vi. 19–24. | |
| CHAPTER XXX. | |
| REQUEST: COMMENDATION: BENEDICTION. | |
| Paul’s Need of the Church’s Prayers—Christ’s Ambassadorbefore the Emperor—Speaking the Word given—GoodNews for the Asian Churches—Character and Servicesof Tychicus—Peace to the Brethren—Love with Faith—Lovetoward Christ and Grace from God—The Loveincorruptible | [427] |
THE INTRODUCTION.
Chapter i. 1, 2.
Οὐ μόνον Ἐφέσου ἀλλὰ σχεδὸν πάσης τῆς Ἀσίας ὁ Παῦλος οὗτος πείσας μετέστησεν ἱκανὸν ὄχλον (Demetrius the Silversmith).
Acts xix. 26.