Exactly how does the reality of Christ's heavenly church direct us to what is essential in our church life now? Let's learn from how Paul makes that move in Ephesians.
Really enjoyed this edition and found helpful your work from Ephesians. For example, on preaching/proclaiming sharing the word with the world and your comment on prayer, which was a real rebuke on my lack of prayer and encouraged me to pray for my friends and contacts in ministry.
I found your footnote on Eph 3:10 interesting.
I cannot remember where I read or heard it, (was it Phillip Jensen?) but I seem to recall that the comment was made that Tyndale, when translating Eph 3:10, went for church and not (local) congregation which, in view of the person who wrote or made the comment, reckoned that it changed the emphasis quite a bit, moving away from the role and significant place of the local church and its witness to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms - thoughts?
Thanks John! As you'll see from the post that comes out tomorrow (which is a collaboration with Andrew Heard), not everyone thinks that 3:10 is a reference to the heavenly church. Even if we think it includes a reference to the local visible expression of that united congregation — the point is much the same: that what Jesus is building through the gospel is a cosmic reality. It testifies to the authorities in the heavens of God's infinite wisdom in creating a new people in his Son.
Hi Tony
Really enjoyed this edition and found helpful your work from Ephesians. For example, on preaching/proclaiming sharing the word with the world and your comment on prayer, which was a real rebuke on my lack of prayer and encouraged me to pray for my friends and contacts in ministry.
I found your footnote on Eph 3:10 interesting.
I cannot remember where I read or heard it, (was it Phillip Jensen?) but I seem to recall that the comment was made that Tyndale, when translating Eph 3:10, went for church and not (local) congregation which, in view of the person who wrote or made the comment, reckoned that it changed the emphasis quite a bit, moving away from the role and significant place of the local church and its witness to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms - thoughts?
Keep up the good work
Thanks John! As you'll see from the post that comes out tomorrow (which is a collaboration with Andrew Heard), not everyone thinks that 3:10 is a reference to the heavenly church. Even if we think it includes a reference to the local visible expression of that united congregation — the point is much the same: that what Jesus is building through the gospel is a cosmic reality. It testifies to the authorities in the heavens of God's infinite wisdom in creating a new people in his Son.
Thanks Tony - looking forward to hearing the next instalment :)