PROMOTING THE BODY'S GROWTH (52 OF 52)
Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16
This content is part of a series.
Promoting the Body's Growth (52 of 52)
Series: Discipleship Part Two
Christopher B. Harbin
Ephesians 4:7-16
Society has many competing concepts for what the church is and should be. We have choices to make in regard to which voice we will heed. If we choose to listen to the definitions God has for us, they may well be much more involved than we would hope for. Are we willing to own up to what God wants?
I have conflicting thoughts on Paul's writing, especially when he quotes from Hebrew scriptures. Too often, he may rip a quote from its context. At times, he drastically changes the text, misrepresenting the original quote as a new saying. We see that in this passage. Paul quotes Psalm 68, but he changes it according to a new understanding of God's redemptive activity.
Psalm 68 spoke of Yahweh taking captives into a new land, receiving gifts from the redeemed. In Ephesians, Paul shifts these words to address Christ taking captivity itself captive and giving gifts to those of Christ's Reign. It is a significant shift. This is a not a practice for reading Scripture responsibly. It is, however, also a responsible and true understanding of God as revealed in Christ Jesus. We may not always like the way Paul interprets Hebrew Scriptures, but the way he presents the gospel has been canonized by the church in the passage before us. That is where our focus should lie.
Paul set down new understandings or at least new expressions of the gospel message. His focus here is to help a young and growing church understand the mission set before them, along with the resources at their disposal for carrying out that same mission. This mission was established by Christ, but it is also undergirded by this same Christ who equips the church for our commission. While the original Psalm had reflected Yahweh's redemption of the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt and touched on the extension of this protection and guidance through David, Paul transforms it into a Messianic text.
...
Series: Discipleship Part Two
Christopher B. Harbin
Ephesians 4:7-16
Society has many competing concepts for what the church is and should be. We have choices to make in regard to which voice we will heed. If we choose to listen to the definitions God has for us, they may well be much more involved than we would hope for. Are we willing to own up to what God wants?
I have conflicting thoughts on Paul's writing, especially when he quotes from Hebrew scriptures. Too often, he may rip a quote from its context. At times, he drastically changes the text, misrepresenting the original quote as a new saying. We see that in this passage. Paul quotes Psalm 68, but he changes it according to a new understanding of God's redemptive activity.
Psalm 68 spoke of Yahweh taking captives into a new land, receiving gifts from the redeemed. In Ephesians, Paul shifts these words to address Christ taking captivity itself captive and giving gifts to those of Christ's Reign. It is a significant shift. This is a not a practice for reading Scripture responsibly. It is, however, also a responsible and true understanding of God as revealed in Christ Jesus. We may not always like the way Paul interprets Hebrew Scriptures, but the way he presents the gospel has been canonized by the church in the passage before us. That is where our focus should lie.
Paul set down new understandings or at least new expressions of the gospel message. His focus here is to help a young and growing church understand the mission set before them, along with the resources at their disposal for carrying out that same mission. This mission was established by Christ, but it is also undergirded by this same Christ who equips the church for our commission. While the original Psalm had reflected Yahweh's redemption of the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt and touched on the extension of this protection and guidance through David, Paul transforms it into a Messianic text.
...
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