Ephesians

Ephesians Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld. Believers Church Bible Commentary. Herald Press, 2002.

Ephesians is a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom that speaks to Christians of every age and culture. Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld’s recent commentary on this letter, in the Believers Church Bible Commentary series, serves as a marvelous guide to these spiritual riches. In his own words, he has written this commentary “as one more attempt to make sure the church listens to the prompting of the Spirit as it speaks through Scripture” (15).

Yoder Neufeld teaches both New Testament and Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel College, University of Waterloo, Ont. His expertise in both biblical studies and peace-making makes this commentary particularly fresh and challenging. In the way he carefully deals with varying and sometimes conflicting interpretations, Yoder Neufeld shows that he is truly a “son of peace” (and so he is – for the New Testament word for peace is irênê; and Yoder Neufeld is the son of long-time MB missionaries Irene and Abe Neufeld).

Ephesians is a complex work, both in its themes and in some of the technical issues that surround the work (e.g. authorship, date, and historical context). Yoder Neufeld sees the heart of this letter expressed in Ephesians 1:9–10: God’s plan to “gather up all things in heaven and on earth in Christ.” This vision of “the great in-gathering” is a grand and inclusive scheme, flowing from the divine forgiveness accomplished at the Cross (1:7), but becoming something much larger than only “saving sinners.” Yoder Neufeld traces the threads of this divine plan through many of the familiar passages of Ephesians.

This commentary, like others in the series, has been designed primarily for disciples: thus each passage is developed in terms of Explanatory Notes, the Text in Biblical Context, and the Text in the Life of the Church. Yoder Neufeld uses this format to full advantage. He shows that Ephesians has much to say that both affirms and challenges believers from any Christian tradition. For example, for those in the evangelical Anabaptist tradition, Ephesians affirms a high view of the church. It shows the key role of Christ as peace-maker. Yoder Neufeld’s exposition on peace-making echoes the familiar wedding command: “what God (in Ephesians) has joined together, let no one put asunder.” In other words, evangelism (peace with God, spiritual birth) and social mission (peace between neighbours) cannot biblically be disentangled. In other areas, Ephesians might challenge our theology: for example, our thinking about human free will and divine election. Ephesians also portrays sin as not merely rebellion (individual acts which need forgiveness), but as a bondage to hostile spiritual enemies (an all-encompassing condition from which we need rescue). Ephesians may also challenge some of our strategies of church growth, namely targeting homogeneous social groups. Yoder Neufeld explains that one of the primary ways the church declares God’s wisdom to the spiritual powers (Ephesians 3:10) is “when it is diverse ethnically, racially, culturally, and socio-economically – when it is made up of those who should not be able to coexist.” (152)

Ephesians contains a number of texts that are central in several current issues facing Mennonite Brethren. Yoder Neufeld deals with these potentially divisive texts in a generous and even-handed way. For example, on the issue of mutual submission, Yoder Neufeld comments on Ephesians 5:21: it “is restoring, renewing, and empowering only if all in the church see others as greater than themselves. Only then will all experience themselves as beloved children of light, as Spirit-filled sages and singers.” (252) He wrestles with the apparently patriarchal vision of Ephesians 5 (both in the marriage relationship and the superiority of master over slave) and comments: “In Ephesians, Christ is presented as a model for the strong and the dominant. And what are they shown? A passionate lover whose love finds expression most profoundly in a servanthood to the death.” (283) “Surely the many husbands and fathers who have learned Christ well (4:20) are proof enough that to take up the challenge to love as Christ loved will fatally corrode the structures of support for male privilege.” (286)

A second pertinent issue for Mennonite Brethren is “spiritual warfare,” and Ephesians 6 is one of the key texts. Yoder Neufeld adds wisdom to the discussion, both in his exposition of the text, and in the very helpful essay on “Powers” which is found at the end of the book. Yoder Neufeld sees that the primary key to understanding Ephesians 6:10–20 is the Old Testament theme of the Lord as Divine Warrior (e.g. Isaiah 59:17). Ephesians transforms the image by applying it now to the Lord’s (i.e. the Messiah’s) Body, which is the church. Here, as in other passages, Ephesians is shown to be full of divine, grace-filled irony: peace is portrayed as warfare; headship is shown to be sacrifice; Christ’s death on the cross is God’s act of “murdering hostility” (2:16).

Yoder Neufeld has gifted us with a superb guide into the riches of Ephesians. I would commend it to any and all pastors, teachers, Bible study leaders, and students who want to dig deeper into this theological mother-lode. And given the many pressing issues our churches are facing – our understanding of church, baptism, male–female relationships, healthy marriages, ministry and leadership, music in the church, spiritual warfare, peace-making in a war-crazy world (all of which are addressed in Ephesians), perhaps every Canadian MB church should be urged to set aside several months this year for the study of Ephesians. Yoder Neufeld’s commentary would be an excellent addition to such a study.

Randy Klassen is instructor at Bethany College, Hepburn Sask. and member of the West Portal MB Church, Saskatoon.