A Rhetorical Analysis Of Ephesians

The first verse is the Apostle Paul urgently compelling the listeners examine their lives and walk in a manner worthy of the calling the God they serve has placed on them (v1). The transliterated meaning of the word “worthy” in the context of this verse is “deserving”. This means the expression of this first verse is that God has placed something special in our lives that we should honor in high regard. It is also meant to exhort believers to conduct themselves properly toward on another because of their oneness in Christ (Wilmington 1997). The passage is the manifestation of three metaphorical attributes Paul uses to relate his message of the whole book. First: he relates the relationship with Christ as a building, secondly: Body;

Paul, then immediately begins to describe the attributes associated with walking in the desired manner. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (v.2). This shows that Paul understands the human struggle and realizes that sometimes personalities won’t allow use to always get along in harmony. However, if we are led by the Spirit, and evoke these mannerisms, we can achieve the desired state of harmony in Christ. According to the expositors bible commentary; Ephesians is above all a hymn of unity (Barker 1994). Our particular passage again exposes that unity in the form of a healthy human body. Verse 3 dove tails in with two compelling us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (v3). However, verse four is where Paul really starts to bring the tangible concept of unity home. He begins to use the repetition of the word “one” to emphasize each metaphorical point: ONE body, ONE Spirit, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE Baptism, ONE God and Father of us all

Paul follows that illustration of the “one’s” by expounding even further on how Christ has equipped us spiritually to achieve this oneness. He begins the new explanation by explaining the meaning and purpose of Christ’s ascension and dissention. The purpose was to fill the whole universe (v10). In doing so he equipped men with divine gifts affording us the opportunity to rejoin a standing relationship with God. Some of the tools or “gifts” are what in todays’ common biblical vernacular are referred to as the fivefold ministries described in verse eleven. Then verses twelve through sixteen are the results of utilizing the gifts and walking in the ways of the Lord. They are the results we should all seek to achieve which is spiritual maturity, rightly joining us as the body of Christ to the head which is Christ (v15).

Consulting the