Ephesians: “For the Perfecting of the Saints” (October 2-8)

The Great Theatre of Ephesus (See Acts 19:21-41.)

After establishing the church in Corinth, Paul sailed to a city named Ephesus. His message was well-received there, and some people begged him to stay, but Paul was determined to continue on to Jerusalem. However, he promised to return and spend more time with them. (See Acts 18:19-21.)

Upon his return, Paul lived in Ephesus for about three years. (See Acts 20:31.) During that time, he faced significant opposition but also had great success. In a letter to church members at Corinth, he said, “I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentacost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:8-9).

Ephesus was a massive city, one of the largest in the Roman Empire. The Great Theatre could hold 25,000 people. Imagine the noise as large assembly in the theatre shouted down Alexander, one of Paul’s colleagues, for two hours. No wonder Paul’s friends wouldn’t let him enter the theatre to face that angry mob! (See Acts 19:28-34.)

Later, as Paul returned to Jerusalem for the last time, he asked church leaders from Ephesus to visit him in the nearby city of Miletus. In that tearful reunion, he reminded them of the obstacles they had overcome together, warned them to protect their flocks against the “grievous wolves” who would come among them, and informed them that this was the last time they would see him. (See Acts 20:17-38.)

But it was not the last time they would hear from him. As a prisoner in Rome, Paul wrote the epistle to the Ephesians, expressing his love for them, urging them to live in unity, and fortifying them in their faith. Here are some lessons I’ve learned from this epistle, with related blog posts:

1. Participation in the church is vital for our spiritual growth.

Why is membership and service in the church so important? Isn’t it possible to grow spiritually on your own?

The apostle Paul speaks to this topic as he discusses the structure and purposes of the church in this epistle.

1. God appointed Jesus as head over the church, and the church is “his body.” He accomplishes His work on the earth through our organized efforts. (See Ephesians 1:22-23.)
2. Jesus Christ not only brings us back to His Father, He also breaks down the barriers between us, enabling us to enjoy a rich fellowship with one another. (See Ephesians 2:11-19.)
3. Church leaders and teachers provide structure and stability, enabling us to move forward with more confidence and fewer missteps. (See Ephesians 4:11-15.)

The Book of Mormon also teaches the importance of church participation. Alma organized the people he taught into a church, and he instructed them to meet together “as often as it was in their power” (Mosiah 18:25). Jesus gave the same instruction to the people as He reestablished the church when He visited the American continent. (See 3 Nephi 18:22.)

Here’s a blog post about the blessings we receive through participation in the church:

• The Church Did Meet Together Oft – Moroni 6:5-6

2. Parents should teach their children with love and gentleness.

Paul warned parents not to “provoke [their] children to wrath.” Instead, he urged them to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

The Greek words translated “nurture” and “admonition” in this passage have similar meanings. Paideuó (παιδεύω) means to discipline, correct, or train a child. Nouthesia (νουθεσία) means to set a mind in order by providing instruction and guidance.

Discipline children, and educate minds, Paul tells parents, but don’t do it harshly. Don’t make your children angry. Effective training depends on a loving relationship between parent and child. Don’t ruin the relationship, but do provide the instruction.

In the Book of Mormon, Enos uses the same phrase to describe his upbringing:

I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me…in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it…

Enos 1:1

What a great tribute to his father, the prophet Jacob. We can infer from Enos’s delayed response to his father’s teaching that Jacob didn’t always get the reaction he hoped for as he taught his son. But Enos’s description indicates that Jacob didn’t give up, that he went on patiently teaching his son until one day, his words “sunk deep into [Enos’s] heart” (Enos 1:3).

Here’s a blog post about teaching children effectively:

• Nurture

3. Jesus gained power over all things by descending beneath all things.

David rejoiced in the Messiah’s supremacy: “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men” (Psalm 68:18).

The apostle Paul pointed out an implication of the word “ascended” in this passage: If you ascend, that means that you were previously lower, perhaps much lower. “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” (Ephesians 4:9). Somehow, the Savior was empowered to give us miraculous gifts because of His willingness to descend to earth and to suffer on our behalf.

Alma prophesied that His mortal experience would enable Him to bless us in ways that He couldn’t without experiencing our pain first-hand:

He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Alma 7:11-12

A December 1832 revelation to Joseph Smith describes Jesus using a paraphrase of the passage from Ephesians above: “He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6).

Somehow, ascending above all things (by being glorified) and descending below all things (by submitting to the limitations of mortality) allowed the Savior to master all things: to understand them and to fill them with His light. His suffering and death give Him both power and empathy. He has the ability to save us, and He knows by experience what we need to be saved from.

See the following blog post:

• Ascension, Descension, and Comprehension

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