St Mary’s Woodford

Home Group Study Notes Ephesians 4:17 - 5:21

Introduction These notes are meant to be your servant and not your master. The aim of your group meeting should be to understand God better, and to get to know one another better, through your study of the text and discussion.

Background This part of the letter has three sections:

• 4:17-4:24 Paul reminds his readers that they have left the old life of sin, and begun a new life of holiness.

• 4:25-5:21 Practical advice on Christian behaviour - mixed with a few general principles.

Starter activity Read the passage out loud. Afterwards allow time to note which verses refer to:

Issues and questions The starter activity may lead you into discussing any of the issues overleaf. Don’t try to tackle them all, but do cover those marked with *.

a) 4:17 some translations say ‘the gentiles’, some ‘other nations’ which is more true to the Greek. Many in the church were of non-Jewish background, and Paul had a low view of those outside the fold. Are we less sweeping in our judgement of those around us? Do we see God at work for good in those who are not Christians?

b) The word used for hardening in 4:18 is also used of hard calluses – tissue that has lost all flexibility and ability to react: their hearts have lost sensitivity to the will of God or the needs of others. When were you last shocked by the callousness of others? Are our hearts ever hardened to the needs of victims of exploitation or disaster?

c) * 4:24 ‘created according to the likeness of God’. Adam was made “in God’s image” - which was spoilt by sin but is restored in Christ. One of the confession prayers in Common Worship says: We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. How do we recognise that image, in ourselves and in others?

d) The ‘seal’ of the Spirit was mentioned also in 1:13. Paul is thinking of an official letter, or a valuable package, sealed with wax and marked with the sign of the sender. As God’s people, we have been ‘branded’ by the Holy Spirit . Can we lose that mark?

e) 5:14 is thought to be a quote from an early baptism service, using imagery from Isaiah, and reminding us Ephesians 2.

f) * The first half of 5:16 is translated in various ways: ‘Redeeming the time’(AV), ‘making the most of the time’(NRSV), and ‘making the most of every opportunity’(NIV). The Greek verb here is one that would be used of a trader buying up a scarce commodity in the marketplace. Most translations end the verse with ‘because the days are evil’. So what is Paul calling his readers to do? Is this about being fruitful rather than unfruitful (5:9 and 5:11)?

For prayer and reflection You may want to join in singing or listening to an appropriate hymn. And/or pray this prayer:

Heavenly Father, we mourn for the darkness and the hardness in our hearts; by your Spirit, fill our hearts with light and with love, as we leave behind the old self, and clothe ourselves with the new; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

what God has done for us

the words we speak

theft

sexual morality

our attitude towards other people

our attitude towards God

worship