Reading for May 23rd

Read Ephesians 1.3-14 Praise to God.
The repetitions of praise (vv. 6, 12, 14) divide the one Greek sentence into three parts
(vv. 3-6, 7-12, 13-14).
In verse 3 heavenly places occurs nowhere else in the New Testament but Ephesians
(1.20; 2.6; 3.10; 6.12).
In verses 5-6 adoption, a favorite concept for Paul (Gal 4.15; Rom 8.15, 23; 9.4);
Paul never uses beloved to characterize Christ though later Christian writers, like Ignatius, do.
In verse 7 for Paul, redemption (a purchase payment) covers all of the believers' lives and is completed only at the second coming ("parousia").
(See 3.24; 8.23; 1 Cor 1.30; see also 1 Cor 15.23).
Ephesians holds a similar view but never mentions parousia.
In verse 8 wisdom and insight emphasize adequate perception; the recipients should avoid deceit
and spread truth (4.14, 25; 5.6; 6.14).
In verse 9 mystery, Colossians reserves this expression for Christ (Col 1.26-27; 2.2; 4.3); here it indicates God's reconciliation of all things, including Jews and gentiles in the body of Christ
(3.3-4, 9).
In verse 10 gather up, "head up": Jesus is head of the body and the church grows toward that head.
In verse 11 Paul links adoption to inheritance (Gal 3.29; 4.7; Rom 8.17).
In verses 12-14 we, you connects vv. 7-12 to 13-14, anticipating the direct address to
gentiles in 2.1 and 3.1.
A seal confirms authenticity; a pledge is a deposit against a full amount to be paid later;
both are used similarly in Paul's undisputed letters (2 Cor 1.22; 5.5; Rom 8.23).
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