29. The letter to the Ephesians - bubbling with warmth and enthusiasm

Needing a break from the old testament I've turned to Paul's letters - I'd forgotten quite how much that apostle tries to cram into a sentence - so my sentences are a bit cumbersome and I've cheated by adding a sign off and a post script at the end.

1. Hello Ephesians, I'm so thankful for you - so thankful that you know God's saving power revealed throughout eternity, but known most perfectly through Jesus Christ - and I'm praying for you, praying that you will draw even closer to God and grow as a church

2. Remember that you are the church; once you were completely separated from God, but now you are united with all of God's people and with God, through the death of Christ Jesus

3. You have discovered God's secret plan (which has in fact been there from the beginning of time) to be reconciled to all peoples through Jesus, and so my prayer for you now is that you will come to know the fullness of God's love - I'm very excited and thankful about this!

4. Remember that you are now like one body, with Christ at the head; so do not let yourself be torn apart, but bind tightly to one another with love, by exhibiting the gifts of the Spirit in your life together

5. To this end remember that marriage is a good allegory for God and God's church; they should fit together, each showing love and attention to the other - Christ perfected God's part of the relationship, we must do our best to achieve perfection too 

6. In fact all relationships - even that between slave and master - should reflect God's grace; it will help you to be strong in your faith, so that you can wear it like amour, and know God's protection.

Peace and grace be with all followers of Jesus forever, love Paul xx

P.S. Tychius is bringing this letter, so he can update you more fully about what's happening to me - I'm still a prisoner, but doing okay

It's funny to me how Christian teachers pore over Paul's writings, analysing each word and turn of phrase. It creates the image of a very complicated man, with convoluted thought processes.

Stepping back and looking at the bigger trends Paul seems simple if rather forceful; he wants to see growth, unity and kindness. And he cares - he cares so much. This letter just feels chocked full of love and tenderness. The line in chapter 5 about marriage being a significant allegory closely follows the CEB translation of Ephesians 5:32 because I thought it was a good summary of what Paul was trying to communicate. Unmarried himself, Paul must've seen something in the marriages he observed that spoke to him strongly about an ideal tender, loving relationship. Fortunately Paul was not backward about using as many allegories and metaphors as possible when describing what people's relationship to God could be like, so there is plenty to reflect on for those not inspired by a marriage model in this and in Paul's other letters!