Ephesians 1:1-2 - Homilies By R. Finlayson

Address and salutation.

The great verity of which the Epistle to the Ephesians treats is the Church of Christ . It has its place along with other everlasting verities in the twelfth chapter of the Hebrews. It exists in no visible community as it exists in the mind of God. This letter is addressed to the Ephesian Church; but there is nothing peculiarly Ephesian about it. There are no Ephesian errors which are combated. There are no salutations sent to particular members of the Church of Ephesus. This gives it a catholic form; and it may have been that it was addressed as a circular letter to a number of Churches of which Ephesus was the center.

I. ADDRESS .

1. The writer . "Paul." He was the founder of the Ephesian Church, as of many Churches besides. Of all Christian workers he clearly bears the palm. It seems as if it would take many of our lives to make up what he succeeded in putting into the latter half of his. And yet what was Paul? He at once brings himself into relation to two personalities, two and yet one . For the first mentioned, Jesus (Accomplisher of salvation) is the Christ (the Anointed) of the second mentioned.

2. The persons addressed .

II. THE SALUTATION .

1. The two words of salutation .

"For merit lives from man to man,

And not from man, O Lord, to thee."

We feel that, if it were only to fare with our friends according to their deserving before God, it would not be well with them. There would be innumerable things for which they could not answer. We therefore recognize the great condition of their welfare to be that there should be the outgoing of undeserved favor and of loving care toward them. And so that is the first thing we put into our greeting.

2. The twofold source to which we look in salutation .