Unified Diversity

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Recommended: The importance of unity in diversity

Thesis Statement Underscoring the principle of unity embracing diversity, Ephesians 4:7-16 reinforces the fundamental importance of community within the catholic church. Introduction Rampantly pervading the Christian church, biblical illiteracy and poor hermeneutical methodologies actively undermine the sound teachings of Scripture. Accordingly, the Christian must become proficient in exegetical techniques, diligently studying the Scriptures and seeking to apply the doctrines faithfully. Serving as a case study, this paper will examine the context, significance, and practical application of Ephesians 4:7-16, demonstrating the passage reinforces the fundamental importance of community within the catholic (i.e., universal) church while underscoring the principle of unified diversity. Understanding the Context …show more content…

Writing between AD 59-63, the Apostle Paul pens this letter to the Ephesians during his imprisonment in Rome (cf. Ephesians 1:1; 3:1; 4:1; 6:20; Acts 28:16, 30). During the first century, Ephesus was a capital city in the region, representing the third largest city in Asia Minor and maintaining the most significant port on the western coast. Consequently, Ephesus became a city of predominant pagan worship, housing a plethora of temples each dedicated to one of approximately fifty different deities (including the Greek god Artemis and the Roman emperor). Uncharacteristically, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians appears to lack a specific setting (i.e., occasion) and distinct purpose, representing a straightforward message of exhortation with a theological (Ephesians 1-3) and ethical (Ephesians 4-6)

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