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The Goal of History - Ephesians 1
MLA citation style
The Goal of History - Ephesians 1. Moore Theological College. 1997. Retrieved from the Atla Digital Library, https://archives.moore.edu.au/documents/detail/174701.APA citation style
(1997). The Goal of History - Ephesians 1. Retrieved from the Atla Digital Library, https://archives.moore.edu.au/documents/detail/174701.Chicago citation style
The Goal of History - Ephesians 1. Moore Theological College. 1997. Retrieved from the Atla Digital Library, https://archives.moore.edu.au/documents/detail/174701.Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.
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- Doyle explores the goal of history from Ephesians 1. He begins by asking who has the last word, affirming that God is ultimately sovereign and in control. The ground and goal of predestination is God’s good pleasure in Christ, so that believers may live to the praise of His glory. This doctrine offers comfort to believers, enabling perseverance in the face of evil and discouragement. A key emphasis of the passage is on community. Paul addresses his letter to a group of saints, commends the Ephesians’ love for fellow believers, and highlights the corporate nature of faith. The Holy Spirit, promised in the Old Testament and depicted in Ezekiel as redeeming the community, now guarantees the inheritance of all believers. By faith, individuals are included in the larger body of Christ, which Paul describes as God’s possession. In contrast, the wider world stands as God’s enemy. Paul also points to the victory of Christ over vague but real spiritual powers, whether human, metaphysical, or demonic, that have been defeated by the Cross and Resurrection. This focus on community teaches that believers are bound together, with God working out His purposes not merely in individuals but through communities, aiming toward the ultimate reality of the new humanity. Finally, Doyle notes three themes in the passage. First, the gospel and the Spirit: believers receive the Spirit upon hearing and believing the gospel, which Paul proclaims. Second, prayer: Paul prays for God to continue His work in believers. Third, preaching: through what appears as the “foolishness” of preaching, God brings His plans to fruition in history.
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- In copyright - educational use permitted. This item may be used for the purposes of research and study. Please acknowledge that it is held by Moore Theological College