That we should be holy ( aJgivou" ) and without blemish before Him in love.
The faith which is among you in the Lord Jesus and which ye shew to all the saints. (1:15.)
But ye are fellow-citizens ( sumpoli'tai ) with the saints. (2:19.) Which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men as now it was revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets in the Spiritthat the Gentiles are fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. (3:5.)
That being rooted and grounded in love ye may be strong enough to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth...... (3:17 f.)
With a view to the perfecting of the saints for a work of ministry. (4:12.) Watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (6:18.)
Christian Sacraments
Baptism.
One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism ( e}n bavptisma ). (4:5.) That He might sanctify it (the Church), having cleansed it by the bath of water accompanied by a confession of faith (with a word: ejn rJhvmati ). (Eph. 5:26.)
The rJh'ma the Baptismal Confessionwas, there can be little doubt, the simple creed that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9 eja;n oJmologhvsh/" to; rJh'ma ejn tw'/ stovmativ sou o{ti kuvrio" jIhsou'" ).
Detrahe verbum et quid est aqua nisi aqua? Accedit verbum ad elementum et fit sacramentum. (Aug. in Joh. 80.3, on John 15:3.)
[v. Add. Note on The Sacrament of Baptism.]
Holy Communion.
To the Sacrament of Holy Communion there is no reference in the Epistle.
The Christian Ministry.
Mention is made (in Eph. 4:11) of ( a ) apostles, ( b ) prophets, ( c ) evangelists, ( d ) pastors and teachers.
But, while there is thus evidence of specialisation of functions, there is no sign in the Epistle of the existence of any outward organisation or ecclesiastical hierarchy.
[See Additional Notes on
The Christian Society and the Apostolic Ministry. The Church in the Epistle to the Ephesians. Prophets of the New Covenant.]
ADDITIONAL NOTES.
On the expression ta; ejpouravnia . jEnevrgeia and ejnergei'n in the N. T. Wisdom and Revelation (Eph. 1:17). Intellectual claims and gifts of the Gospel.
(1:4.)