A study of the book of Ephesians at Northern Seminary enlightened me on communication methods in Bible days and today's methods - and how timeless truths continue to guide us today. Paul’s tender, profound greeting in Ephesians 1:2 — “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ”—is a powerful reminder of the intimate relationship believers share with the triune God.

	Jeaneane Payne

In his "Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Ephesians," Dr. Wilfred Graves, Jr. states, "Paul describes the tremendous authority and power of the Lord Jesus Christ evidenced in his being raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father, far above every rule, authority, power, and dominion. What is so wonderful and mind-blowing is that this same resurrection and ascension power works within the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit affects the power of God within believers and applies to our lives the benefits of God's salvation.”(1)

As a newspaper publisher, I see the correlation between communication methods in Bible days and today's methods, along with the importance of the authenticity of writings in publications. For example, pseudepigrapha is often used in U.S. Department of Defense press releases to sway public opinion. Most large businesses contract with a public relations firm to write press releases on their behalf. In that case, the PR firm offers more flowery writing than an employee submission. A press release sent by a small company is normally not written as well as others, but it is authentic. A sports article is written in the eyes of the beholder, and four different writers writing about the same game are going to submit totally different viewpoints of how the game was played. Articles submitted by CIA operatives usually contain conspiracy theories, supposedly based on their actual experiences, yet their stories can be found on the Internet in conspiracy theory articles. Most of these types of submissions are aimed at influencing the public concerning political parties.

It is with guidance by the Holy Spirit that church leaders can guide their flock according to the scriptures. It is with the help of the Holy Spirit that I can distinguish between truth and fiction when publishing my newspaper.

I now wonder how much of the writings during Paul's era were authentic, how many were written to influence political opinions, and which writings were intended to cause individuals to worship false idols. His scribes/secretaries must have been very devoted to him since they wrote precisely what he intended. Much like today’s society, many writings are intended to distort the truth and lead others down a path of destruction. Paul’s writings were inspired by the Holy Spirit to instruct and edify the church.

I particularly appreciated how Lynn Cohick's book, The Letter to the Ephesians, explained Paul's writings and how it explained his interpretation of the relationship between God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus.

Paul's efforts to ensure that the churches understood who God the Father is and his relationship to Jesus and the Holy Spirit were elaborate and thorough. In his writing "Ephesians: Purpose, Background and Structure," Matt Dabbs explained "It is highly possible that Ephesians was written primarily to ex-pagan Christians who had made their way out of a pagan past but needed to be taught why and how (in that order) to live for Christ and to the Jewish Christians there in Ephesus to explain to them the mystery (1:8, 3:3,9) of God’s including the Gentiles into the family of faith."(2)

This also explains why Paul's letter to the Ephesians was quite lengthy.

A particular impact this portion of Ephesians had on me is how tender Paul was in his writings. It is quite evident that he had a deep love for the church. His compassion for people who had once followed false gods and practiced pagan rituals was far-reaching. His letter is filled with understanding and guidance. The study, thus far, has changed my perspective of who Paul was and how much he was committed to God and to his calling.

Learning that Paul was not physically in prison when he was writing the Ephesians letter was eye-opening. It shows that we can do our best work when imprisoned in circumstances beyond our control. That kind of imprisonment allows God to free our chains so that we can serve Him and allow Him to accomplish His work through us as his servants.

On the topic of carrying out the true mission of the church in individual communities, I was impressed with Mark Labberton’s presentation, particularly his statement that “White American evangelicalism is a commitment to form and not to essence.” His concept of listening to the stories of individuals who are not connected to a church, hearing other realities, other contexts, and other issues, even though we stand together as a community, is something that should be implemented in many churches.(2) We desperately need to listen to the unchurched who are in desperate situations – hear their stories, offer spiritual support, moral support, and other means of support as needed. That is what the church should be about. I think that is what Paul is trying to tell us.

In sum, my study invites all believers to embrace a deeper understanding of Scripture’s origins, cherish the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, and commit to genuine outreach rooted in love and truth. By doing so, we honor God’s design for the church and participate fully in His redemptive mission in the world today.

1. "Introduction to Paul's Letter to the Ephesians", wilfredgraves.org/ephesians-introduction/
2 . "Ephesians: Purpose, Background and Structure", by Matt Dabb. mattdabbs.com/2014/05/12/ephesians-purpose-background-and-structure/

Jeaneane Payne earned several certificates at Northern Seminary, including NT 100 Ephesians, taught by Dr. Lynn H. Cohick in 2021; a certificate in Justice and Reconciliation; a certificate of Ministry; and a certificate in Exodus: Leading & Preaching. Jeaneane also took many other courses at Northern.