Ephesians

by Lynn H Cohick

Overview

Ephesians Speaks to our Deepest Questions about God: the redemptive plan of God written from ages past now revealed; the work of Christ complete and effective now and for eternity; the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives and build a community. The clear message of God's unfathomable grace establishes the believer's hope and undergirds the call for faithful living. Down through the centuries, the clarion call to unity that permeates Ephesians has inspired and challenged the faithful to live out the promises found in Christ. This short letter speaks to the twenty-first century's longing for friendship and wholeness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781606081419
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	05/06/2010
Series:	New Covenant Commentary
Pages:	190
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Lynn H. Cohick is Associate Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. She is the author of Women in the First Christian Century (2009) and co-author with Gary Burge and Gene L. Green of The New Testament and Antiquity (2009).

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Abbreviations xi

Introduction 1

Ephesians 1 38

Fusing the Horizons: God's Plan, Uniting All Things in Christ 51

Fusing the Horizons: Election, Predestination, and Free Will 53

Ephesians 2 60

Fusing the Horizons: Citizenship 73

Ephesians 3 80

Fusing the Horizons: Prison Ministry Then and Now 84

Fusing the Horizons: Paul the Servant 85

Ephesians 4 100

Fusing the Horizons: Paul's Sermons and Letters 103

Fusing the Horizons: Ministry and the Church 111

Fusing the Horizons: Refusing to Walk the Walk-So What? 113

Ephesians 5 120

Prolegomena to the Household Codes 127

Fusing the Horizons: Marriage Then and Now 141

Ephesians 6 143

Fusing the Horizons: Infanticide and Abortion 145

Fusing the Horizons: Seated with Christ and Standing Firm 155

Fusing the Horizons: Christian Obedience 158

Fusing the Horizons: Christian Nominalism and Life in the Spirit 159

Bibliography 163

Scripture Index 167

Ancient Sources Index 174

Author Index 176

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has been one of the top five most influential New Testament books in the history of the church and Christian theology. It deserves to be read with care and prayer by each new generation. With the skill of a clear thinker and writer, Lynn Cohick explains the text succinctly, opens the letter up suggestively for those who are called to teach and preach the text, and—even more—leads us to adore the God of grace who brings together all people in Christ. This commentary will be long recommended for the parish pastor and Bible study teacher.”

—Scot McKnight, Visiting Professor, Houston Theological Seminary



”Lynn Cohick brings together decades of research, writing, and teaching on Ephesians and makes it accessible to readers in this new volume in the Proclamation series. An ideal resource for pastors and students who want to understand Ephesians and its many complexities in a way that is comprehensible, useful, and even exciting.”

—Michael F. Bird, Deputy Principal, Ridley College



“Utilizing her trademark skills as an exegete and historian, Cohick’s clear prose and efficient comment make this commentary incredibly accessible and a delight to read. Even more, especially in the most complicated passages, Cohick’s exacting insights brought multiple moments of clarity and deeper appreciation for this magisterial epistle. I will return to her insights in my study and in my classroom many times over.”

—Amy Peeler, Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College



“Cohick, who has already published significant scholarship on Ephesians including an excellent technical commentary, lends her wisdom to preachers who aim to present this Pauline text as a compelling word for the people of God today. Her exegesis is trustworthy, her exposition is clarifying, and her homiletical counsel is practical and insightful.”

—Nijay K. Gupta, Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary



“Biblical expertise expressed in clear and compelling language. Exegetical insights aimed at preaching and teaching. Scholarship for the church. These are the gifts that Lynn Cohick offers to preachers and teachers of Ephesians. Her scholarly history with this Pauline letter and her love for the church mean that readers can rely on her wisdom. I highly recommend this book.”

—Jeannine K. Brown, David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations, Bethel Seminary



“Already established as an expert commentator on Ephesians, in this volume Lynn Cohick brings her skills to the text for preaching and teaching. The result is a powerful, perceptive, and practical guide to the cosmic, saving work of the Triune God and its significance for the nitty-gritty of real life today. A gem of a book.”

—Michael Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary’s Seminary and University

Editorial Reviews

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has been one of the top five most influential New Testament books in the history of the church and Christian theology. It deserves to be read with care and prayer by each new generation. With the skill of a clear thinker and writer, Lynn Cohick explains the text succinctly, opens the letter up suggestively for those who are called to teach and preach the text, and—even more—leads us to adore the God of grace who brings together all people in Christ. This commentary will be long recommended for the parish pastor and Bible study teacher.”

—Scot McKnight, Visiting Professor, Houston Theological Seminary



”Lynn Cohick brings together decades of research, writing, and teaching on Ephesians and makes it accessible to readers in this new volume in the Proclamation series. An ideal resource for pastors and students who want to understand Ephesians and its many complexities in a way that is comprehensible, useful, and even exciting.”

—Michael F. Bird, Deputy Principal, Ridley College



“Utilizing her trademark skills as an exegete and historian, Cohick’s clear prose and efficient comment make this commentary incredibly accessible and a delight to read. Even more, especially in the most complicated passages, Cohick’s exacting insights brought multiple moments of clarity and deeper appreciation for this magisterial epistle. I will return to her insights in my study and in my classroom many times over.”

—Amy Peeler, Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College



“Cohick, who has already published significant scholarship on Ephesians including an excellent technical commentary, lends her wisdom to preachers who aim to present this Pauline text as a compelling word for the people of God today. Her exegesis is trustworthy, her exposition is clarifying, and her homiletical counsel is practical and insightful.”

—Nijay K. Gupta, Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary



“Biblical expertise expressed in clear and compelling language. Exegetical insights aimed at preaching and teaching. Scholarship for the church. These are the gifts that Lynn Cohick offers to preachers and teachers of Ephesians. Her scholarly history with this Pauline letter and her love for the church mean that readers can rely on her wisdom. I highly recommend this book.”

—Jeannine K. Brown, David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations, Bethel Seminary



“Already established as an expert commentator on Ephesians, in this volume Lynn Cohick brings her skills to the text for preaching and teaching. The result is a powerful, perceptive, and practical guide to the cosmic, saving work of the Triune God and its significance for the nitty-gritty of real life today. A gem of a book.”

—Michael Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary’s Seminary and University

From the Publisher

...this commentary is a short, valuable guide to Ephesians. It succeeds in accomplishing one of the key aims of the series, 'to provide an occasion for authors to reflect on how the New Testament impacts the life, faith, ministry and witness of the New Covenant Community'. I would recommend the work to any interested lay readers or ministerial candidates who are looking for an informed, but non-technical, commentary on Ephesians.

The Expository Times, Vol 125, No 7, April 2014 - Seth M. Ehorn

Of particular interest is Cohick 's discussion of what she regards as Paul's teaching on wives, families and slaves. She writes out of an American situation and wants both to take Ephesians very seriously and relate it to contemporary thought and the origins of contemporary thought on these subjects. [...] This is a useful book in the study of Ephesians.

Theological Book Review, Vol. 25, No.2, 2013 - Donald A. Bullen

This is a well-written commentary, which is easy to read and infused with dashes of ironic humor… A worthwhile commentary for ministers and students, for Cohick combines well-crafted explanations and arguments with fresh insights.

Reviews in Religion and Theology, Volume 21, issue 3, July 2014 - Julie Woods

The brevity of the overall book probably weighs in its favour as a resource for pastors.

Biblical Studies Bulletin - Richard Briggs