Ephesians One is directed entirely at a group.
Every mention of its audience is written in the plural: We; us; our. Every "you" and "your" in the chapter is written as plural, in the Greek. Further, Paul addressed the whole letter to "the saints". He uses the word "saints' three times within the first chapter, but never "saint".
The letter is written to the Church and, like the word team, Church is a singular word that refers to many people. I have chosen to concentrate on Chapter One, and I can confidently state it is to and about the Church. It is only to you and about me to the extent that you and I are on the team, that we are members of the Church.
Let's consider a concept to help make my point:
Niagara Falls is certainly a singular structure. People make plans to go see it and are usually impressed with it when they do see it. But Niagara Falls is made up of billions of individual drops of water.
I have been to the Falls several times. It looked the same each time. Its shape, roar, and foam were the same. But the water that made up the Falls was different each time I went.
Well, there has been one Church for 2,000 years, even as the individuals that make it up have changed continuously across all that time. The Father has promised the Son a glorious waterfall, one that is infinitely greater than Niagara Falls.
Hence, my title: "It Is About Us". It is not about you or me individually.
As for Ephesians One, Paul declares the Church is predestined (verses 5 and 11, where he uses "us" and "we" with predestination). Individual members are not. We each tap into predestination by joining that which is predestined. And each gives up predestination whenever one divorces that which is predestined.
It was never good for the Man to be alone (Gen 2:18). Therefore, the Singular One has come so the many will be born and arise. We are longing for Jesus' return, but Paul says creation is longing for the sons (plural) of God to be revealed (Rom 8:19).
James says the Father agrees with this. Though that Farmer has the First Fruit at His right hand, He is still waiting patiently for a harvest. He has even sent the early and the later rains upon it, to bring it to full fruition (Jam 5:7).
Meanwhile, the Son, Jesus Christ, has chosen to not remain the Only Begotten, but to become the Firstborn of many brethren (Rom 8:29). But He is the only One. No other single one is needed. Instead, the Church is the many. We are the many-membered body of which Jesus Christ is the Head. Or, as Ephesians One declares, we are the fullness of Him Who fills all in all (Eph 1:23).
Which means it really isn't about us, after all. It is actually all about Him!
- Matt Schilling
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