Exegesis Research Paper: Ephesians 4:7-16
Richert Manjarres
RTCH 500 – B09 Research Writing, and Ministry Preparation
October 3, 2023
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 4: 7-16..............................................................................3
THESIS/PURPOSE STATEMENT..............................................................................................3
CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS 4: 7-16...........................................................................................4
The Historical Context.................................................................................................................4
The Cultural Context...................................................................................................................5
The Literary Context....................................................................................................................6
THE MEANING OF EPHESIANS 4: 7-16.................................................................................7
SIGNIFICANCE............................................................................................................................7
APPLICATION..............................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................11
BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS 4: 7-16
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why
the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to
his people.” Notice that it says, “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to
our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the
heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. Now these are the gifts Christ
gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their
responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of
Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s
Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every
wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever,
they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and
more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together
perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole
body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:7-16, NLT1).
THESIS/PURPOSE STATEMENT
Initially, “Exegesis Research Paper Ephesians 4:7-16,” will address the historical,
cultural, and literary contexts of the passage cited. It will address the passage’s timeframe, the
culture present at the time of the writing, and the specific genre and how it compares with the
rest of Paul’s Epistles. It will also examine the passage’s importance to the life of the Christian
and to the Church, its application(s) and finally, its conclusion. Ephesians 4:7-16 illustrates how
each church member is gifted in a spiritual manner and how those gifts are meant to be used for
the edification of the Church which is the body of Christ.
1 Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, 2015), Eph 4:7–16.
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CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS 4: 7-16
The Historical Context
While we can be certain about many historical facts surrounding the Epistle, there are
others we are not sure about. For example, Paul identifies himself as the author of the Letter to
the Ephesians when he describes himself as “chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ
Jesus… writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus*, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.”2
It is also quite possible he was a prisoner in Rome at the time of the writing as he describes
himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ and an ambassador in chains. Due to similarities in writing
between Colossians and Ephesians, we can surmise that it was written in early AD 60. There is,
however, some uncertainty on whether he personally knew the church members in Ephesus when
he calls into question whether they are aware ‘of the special responsibility’ that God has
entrusted him. This is especially unusual as Acts 19: 8 states that “Paul went to the synagogue
and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of
God.”3 There is, also, the matter of whether Ephesians was really intended for the Ephesians or
if it ‘rather was a circular letter intended for a number of churches.”4
2 Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, 2015), Eph 1:1.
3 Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, 2015), Ac 19:8.
4 Clinton E. Arnold, Frank S. Thielman, & Steven M. Baugh. (2002). Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians,
Philemon. Zondervan Academic.
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The Cultural Context
First century Ephesus was a pagan world steeped in practices where 1st century gentiles
were challenged daily on their religious beliefs. It was a constant, almost minute by minute
decision-making as to which master to worship, Jesus, or Artemis. This was further exacerbated
by the significant presence of the Roman imperial cult. Sexual immorality permeated every
instance of life in Ephesus and Paul was very concerned that the erotic environment of the
celebrations and festivals in honor of the pagan goddess would deviate the new faith. In addition
to the sexual immorality present, Paul was also concerned with how the Ephesian gentiles
worshiped. They had previously practiced a ‘votive’ religion in which the followers of Artemis
would pray in hopes their requests for a healthy harvest, a good husband/wife, etc. would be
granted if the worshipper made the request, offered the right type of sacrifice and promised
devotion to Artemis. Paul did not want to see these erroneous beliefs being transferred into the
proper worship of Jesus Christ.
In addition to pagan worship, the primitive church had to contend with the Roman
imperial cult. This practice involved a few aspects of worship that also imperiled Christian
beliefs. The Roman emperors, as well as the members of the Roman imperial family, would
become ‘deified’ if they led exemplary lives. This honor was imparted by the Roman senate.
Roman emperors such as Augustus and Julius Caesar were made Gods when they ended the wars
of conquest, and the subjugated lands enjoyed a ‘forced upon’ peace – Pax Romana.
It is in this culture that Paul faces the unenviable task of trying to keep the incipient
church on track. Lynn Cohick, in her Letter to the Ephesians, describes how Paul uses this
forced peace to pivot the early believers’ gaze towards Jesus, “Such peace, Rome proclaimed,
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was due to the gods’ favor, but Paul drew on this enforced peace to speak of Christ’s generative,
creative, empowering peace that grants life now and eternally”. Paul makes an inspired
argument on how the only true peace worth experiencing comes from that given by Jesus Christ.
It is Jesus’ sacrifice that reconciles us with God and our fellow man. Paul, “…pulls the rug out
from under imperial political claims that domination and violence could serve good ends. Christ
our peace has vanquished evil cosmic powers and has opened a way to the very throne of God.
His gospel peace culminates in the unity of all things in heaven and earth, in the establishment of
the kingdom of Christ and of God, wherein all believers share an inheritance.5
The Literary Context
There is a certain beauty in writing clear, simple statements that reflect true simple
realities and that is the case with Vincent P. Branick who states that, “perhaps the most obvious
and easily overlooked thing about Paul’s letters is simply that he wrote letters.6 This is not to say
that the reader should underestimate Paul’s letter for being just that – letters. Letter writing was
the preferred way the early Christians communicated their faith. For good reason, twenty out of
the twenty-seven books of the New Testaments are letters. Clement, St Ignatius of Antioch,
Polycarp and Papias all wrote letters expressing their faith to others after the writing of the New
Testament.
5 Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2020. ProQuest Ebook
Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=6407719.
6 Branick, Vincent P. Understanding Paul and His Letters, Paulist Press, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5802170.
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Paul’s letters were basically conversations to people he could not speak to in person.
Like most letters, they had a purpose in communicating specific situations to specific people or
audiences. They were not essays in that the specific purpose of an essay is to organize a set of
ideas for the future. Letters usually have a life span in which they are read and then discarded.
The only time you might want to keep a letter is to document or serve as a tool for remembrance.
The former was the case with Paul’s letters.
THE MEANING OF EPHESIANS 4: 7-16
In this section, I will present my interpretation of Ephesians 4:7-16 based on how the
church body is compared to the human body where each organ plays a different and unique role
and where each parishioner or church member is an organ given a special gift with which to
strengthen the church/spiritual body and carry its mission forward. I will present my
interpretation in three sections as follows: Significance, Application and Conclusion. I will also
use other examples of Pauline writings to make my point.
SIGNIFICANCE
Paul uses the human body as a metaphor for the church. He basically uses a physical
body to explain a spiritual one. In the same way the human body relies on different body parts to
carry out a function, so is the church, as the body of Christ, made up of different people with
different capacities to carry out its mission.
Perhaps reflecting Romans 12:3–7, the author of Ephesians relates the diversity of authoritative
ministries in the church to “the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12), again touching on Paul’s union with
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Christ trajectory. Seen as “gifts of Christ” (4:7), the offices include the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, and the pastors and teachers (4:11).7
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure
of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same
function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy,
let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who
teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads,
with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”8
Paul makes the same reference in Corinthians…
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being
many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a
hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I
am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an
eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But
now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they
were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet
one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the
feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be
weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on
these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our
presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that
part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have
the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if
one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and
members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations,
varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of
7 Branick, Vincent P.. Understanding Paul and His Letters, Paulist Press, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5802170.
Created from liberty on 2023-09-24 16:53:39.
8 The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ro 12:3–8.
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miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But
earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”9
Christ is now, not only the Head of this spiritual body, but He also provides, or supplies,
this body with talents and gifts for the accomplishment of its mission. Furthermore, Paul
enumerates four groups of people who receive special gifts from Jesus exalted: the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. They receive special gifts to carry out the
ministry “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ.”10 It is especially important to note that this passage should best be taken in the context
of Paul’s other epistles where he mentions the importance of humility so that no one imagine
themselves as more importance than the next, instead displaying Jesus’ nature.
Strictly speaking, Ephesians 4:7– 16 is a narrative of Christ’s activity as the giver of gifts
and source of the church’s growth. Yet this story implies several imperatives that elaborate
further what it means for us to walk worthy of our calling (4:1). The “is” of what Christ is doing
in the church implies the “ought” of our participation in the ministry of building up Christ’s
body.11
APPLICATION
We followers of Christ see ourselves as part of something much bigger than ourselves.
We are members of the body of Christ having each received a special gift to be used within our
church communities. We are, without a doubt, intertwined with one another and “every part is
9 The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 1 Co 12:12–31.
10 The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Eph 4:12.
11 Roberts, Mark D.. Ephesians, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 2016. ProQuest Ebook Central,
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=5397600.
Created from liberty on 2023-09-24 17:04:26.
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joined together in such a way as to affect each other for mutual better or worse.” “In the same
way, Christians who are to “grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” must
reflect growth in all of these aspects or dimensions of our created personhood if we are to
achieve “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” 12
One of the worst things that can happen to a church, or church community, is the division
or fragmentation of its community. It flies in the face of what Jesus tried to accomplish during
His life here on earth – unity. Paul could not have been clearer when he wrote, “There is one
body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”13
Unfortunately, it seems that people want to bend their churches to their will or to their
understanding of what scripture is or to force their churches to accept views which are not
compatible with their church norms. It would seem, at first glance, that people are not interested
in accepting church teaching on different subjects. There seems to be unbridled jealousy, envy
and contempt in the different church areas and it ranges from the silly, like different ministries
wanting to outshine each other, to the serious, like the LGBTQ challenge.
The questions before us then are, how can we build up and strengthen the body of Christ
and yet be flexible enough to embrace the existing differences? How are our conversion, our
church membership and the spiritual gifts related? How can we better promote the idea that
spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit?
12 Stephen D. Lowe and Mary E. Lowe, Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through
Online Education (Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2018), 17–18.
13 The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Eph 4:4–6.
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CONCLUSION
In conclusion, there are three points we can gather from Paul’s theology. First, the Church
isn’t a human creation. It wasn’t created by human hands for human purposes. It is God’s
creation which He, Himself, sustains for its mission. Second, as it reflects the Triune God, the
Church must be one as He is. Third, God uses ‘special gifts’ to advance this oneness and growth
of His Church and, finally, unity in peace requires work on our part (Ephesians 4:3).
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Arnold, Clinton E. Ephesians. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2010.
Arnold, Clinton E., Steven M. Baugh, and Frank S. Thielman. Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians, Philemon. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2016. Print.
Branick, Vincent P. Understanding Paul and His Letters. New York: Paulist Press, 2009.
Cohick, Lynn H. The Letter to the Ephesians. Chicago: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2020.
Print.
Harvey, John D. Interpreting the Pauline Letters: An Exegetical Handbook. Grand Rapids, MI:
Kregel Publications, 2012.
Hering, James P. The Colossian and Ephesian Haustafeln in Theological Context: An Analysis of
Their Origins, Relationship, and Message. New York: P. Lang, 2007.
Moisés Silva, “How to Read a Letter: The Meaning of the Epistles,” in Introduction to Biblical
Hermeneutics: The Search for Meaning, ed. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. and Moisés Silva (Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 172.
Roberts, Mark D. Ephesians. Grand Rapids: HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 2016. Accessed
September 10, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central.
Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers, 2015), Ac 19:8.
Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale
House Publishers, 2015), Eph 4:7–16.
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., “Concluding Observations,” in Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics: The
Search for Meaning, ed. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. and Moisés Silva (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2007), 334.
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