Abstract
The letter to the Ephesians employs various communicative strategies in responding to the rhetorical situation of its implied recipients. Focusing on the recipients’ new identity and ethos ἐν Χριστῷ [in Christ], the text emphasises supernatural elements such as resurrection, ascension, heavenly places, revealed mystery, Spirit and power. At the same time, it adopts a rich mosaic of traditional materials, inter alia echoing the Hebrew Scriptures, Hellenistic traditions and early-Christian liturgical traditions. This article explores the dynamic yet complex intertextual fusion and reappropriation of (mainly Jewish) traditions in Ephesians as the author’s experience and understanding of the ascended Christ. Special attention is given to the probable functioning of Psalm 68:18 (LXX 67:19) in Ephesians 4:1–16. In conclusion, the essay investigates the intended rhetorical effect of material from the Hebrew Scriptures in the letter – as construction of Christian identity in continuation with the story of Israel and from within the context of Empire.
Highlights
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In short: By destroying the barrier of hostility (2:14–16), Christ gave birth to a new humanity. Such a rhetorical situation may help to explain the large number of reinterpreted Jewish motifs and traditions that occur in the letter whilst the majority of its audience probably consisted of non-Jewish Christians
Motifs from the Hebrew Bible seem to have played an important part in the understanding of the author of Ephesians concerning the Christian gospel
Summary
Scholarship on the Ephesians letter over the past decades reveals a growing awareness of its high degree of intertextuality. The second aspect defines the first in a profound way: In the context of Ephesians, Christ’s power and honour is decisively yet paradoxically defined in terms of his sacrificial love, humility and care as servant (1:7; 2:13, 16; 4:32; 5:2, 25, 29) This position is characterised by the memory of his death on a cross, his resurrection and his ascension.. This would be the case with the author and early recipients of the Ephesians letter They were forced to interpret new experiences and changing circumstances in the light of a pluralistic 1st-century Mediterranean symbolic world, constituted by diverse and complex combinations of inter alia Roman rule, Greco-Roman ( Hellenistic) culture and the religious symbols of Judaism (the Torah, prophets and ‘writings’). In order to guide the church towards the full experience of God’s presence, God provided Christ as a gift to the church (1:22), grace to each believer according to the measure of Christ’s gift (4:7), together with the gifts of gifted people – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (4:11–16)
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