Created In Christ Jesus For Good Works

The relationship between the so-called ‘theological’ (Eph 1 – 3) and ‘paraenetic’ (Eph 4-6) sections of Ephesians has been a matter of extensive scholarly discussion. Central to the debate is the question whether the ethical material found in Ephesians 4-6 is an integral part of the theological statements in Ephesians 1-3, or whether it is merely an appendage with its own self-contained theology. This study undertakes a fresh investigation into the relationship between the ‘theological’ and ‘paraenetic’ sections of Ephesians. It demonstrates the intrinsic integration of both parts of the letter by examining the soteriological pattern of Ephesians, and how salvation entails the moral social transformation of believers; this, in turn, renders meaningless the category-distinction between ‘theology’ and ‘ethics’.