4 - The powers and the spiritual world

Summary

Ephesians

The problem of the authorship of Ephesians is far more acute than that of Colossians. The question may for the time being be left in doubt, but this cannot be made an excuse for the omission of the epistle from a study of Pauline thought on the powers. In dealing with any theme of Pauline theology attention should at least be given to any common ground between the recognised writings and Ephesians. The present approach, therefore, will be to consider the subject of the powers and connected ideas in this epistle and then to compare the findings with Paul's writings elsewhere.

The heavenly world is mentioned frequently in the letter. The terms αἱ ἀρχαὶ καὶ αἱ ἐξουσίαι; occur in three passages, each of which is an exegetical difficulty. In addition, the Devil appears under several guises, and the widespread language of τὰ ἐπουρἀνια and of οι οὐρανοί demands careful investigation.

The heavenly places

Two terms for the heavenly world occur in Ephesians: τὰ ἐπουράνια is found in 1: 3, 20; 2: 6; 3: 10; and 6: 12. οἱ οὀρανοί occurs in 1: 10; 3: 15; 4: 10; and 5:9. The latter is used for the heavens when they are simply contrasted spatially with the earth. Thus in 1: 10 the earth is specifically mentioned, and in 3: 15, where the image of ‘families in heaven and earth’ is introduced, the discussion is less about the organisation of the heavenly world than about the universality of God's fatherhood.