A “Worthy” Calling?
Reflections on Ephesians 4
Recently my little local church “men’s group” met and read the first verses of Ephesians chapter 4. It’s hard in such a context to reflect substantively, as men’s groups are limited for so many reasons, even as they are essential nourishing oases for most who are forced to live life in spiritual desserts and book-less valleys (due to the structure of our decadent society). So Ephesians 4 is a nice meeting point.
But in the days following this group sharing of early Ephesians 4 I came to this text:
“The Easter Message explains this, for new and imperishable life was manifested with the resurrection of Jesus. The image of this second Adam that all are meant to bear is that of the Creator in the sense of Gen. 1.26f., after which we are now to be renewed or refashioned. As in Wis. 1:15, this includes righteousness (Ephesians 4:24), the basis for which now is the manifestation of new and incorruptible life in the resurrection of Jesus. The hope of participation in this life is guaranteed to believers by the fact that even now they put on the new man in the power of the Spirit, namely, by righteousness and true holiness, by mercy, kindness, and generosity, as Christ has taught and shown them (Col. 3:12f.)…
…
It is reinterpreted as our final destiny, which is manifested already in Jesus Christ and in which believers share already through the power of the Spirit, who is already effecting the eschatological reality of the new man in them.”
-Wolfhard Pannenberg Systematics Vol 2, pg 220.
Pannenberg reminds us the orientation we find ourselves in with such texts written to “persuade, inspire, and encourage” (see Wlizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza whom I also lean on here besides Pannenberg). That is, the end is our present predicament for a hope, and in the case of Ephesians a confidence that things will be made right by this God we find ourselves “one” with.
As with all occasional letters, especially Paul’s, they don’t mean what they say directly because their words imply a meaning presupposing an address and delivery to a specific crowd listening, with a specific type of voice reading it to them. It’s Church business, inside business stuff, and we’re let in on part of the conversation already in place at the negotiating table. So let me flesh out what stood out to me about these words “live a worthy life.”
Here in Ephesians 4 we’re introduced to one of these-the Bible doesn’t mean what it says-quandaries and it’s challenging. Paul “begs” the church he established to, “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Obviously this can’t be taken in moralistic terms, it’s not a deontology. Although it does speak in those terms, but more on that later. The question really is how could one live up to the immeasurable gift of grace the Lord gave us through his cross? Not possible. So what is Paul begging?
Famously others have pointed out Paul is expounding what we learn in Colossians 3-4, so we can call it a re-telling for the context the Ephesians (whomever they are) find themselves in.
Colossians 3:13–14 (NRSV): Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (NRSV): But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Applying Pannenberg here to Ephesians I see a sharing in the power of the Spirit though our participation in the Church community as an alternative source of survival from the impressive yet oppressive empire they found themselves, which allows Paul to contrast ways of life, for setting rules for life, for the sake of receiving liberation for eternal life through the eschatological freedom we have now despite its proleptic structure. Let’s go back to the verse in focus here and tease this guidance out for some implications.
Ephesians 4:1 (NRSV): I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Ephesians 5:1–2 (NRSV): Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
It’s not clear in English but the “lead” in verse 1 of chapter 4 and the “live” in verse 2 of chapter 5 are essentially the same verb, they’re conjugated differently but they’re the same root word. Often this word is translated “walk” which is technically the ethical rule I mentioned earlier. However, we don’t want to take such images as merely rules to live by because that would miss the point.
There is no living in a prison, as a slave, an uneducated poor wife. That’s a crappy life no matter how ethical you are. Submitting in these roles through simple truisms and easy ethics would be a fate worst than death. No, Paul despite the language of empire and practical language throughout, is trying to point Christians to a higher mode of life that’s in virtue of the death Christ has paved the way for us already. It’s not walk for the sake of finding this path but walk because this path has been paved.
Ephesians 2:19–22 (NRSV): So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Ephesians 4:9–10 (NRSV): When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.
So sure there’s a sandwiched ethic and practical household rules littered all through Paul’s letters but they are anything but to be taken at face value. How do you subvert being a prisoner? By confessing and imitating Christ who despite being a prisoner of Pilate is the Lord of all. A consonant harmony with this way will produce a life that will not only give us a way to cope and survive, but join us with Christ-and as a result with God-in the deepest sense because he’s been to hell and back.
The path to hell is paved with a road that leads to an exodus to heaven. Mimicking the Good means getting to be like God who is the good. But this is not an easy way, obviously, but it’s a way with hope, freedom that cannot be stollen, and a destiny in a kingdom that won’t burn in hell like all earthly kingdoms inevitably do. Human being is a destiny with God, God’s kingdom, which is more than a country shining a light on a hill, it’s a heaven shining the glory of God throughout all the heavens.
Ephesians 6:24 (NRSV): Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
If Paul can get you to hate evil, and love what is good, you’ll love not only doing good but THE GOOD. That’s a pastors’ heart, and one from jail with such a heart has been given the calling of apostle. May your calling, whatever it is, be as powerful to and for such a hope as the one set before us: an eternal glory.
Living a life that is “Worthy” is not personal knowledge and mastery of all things which daily life is based on. It is a way to walk a walkway already set out, which needs to be traveled for the journey, the pilgrimage, the exodus, and liberation for and to a destiny one with God.
Can I get a prayer and an Amen? Amen.
