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Ephesians and Colossians: Prison Epistles, Part 1

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Ephesians (Ephesians 1–6)
    22 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    Authority and Power (Ephesians Review)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Author and Audience (Ephesians Review)
    16 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Colossians Overview (Colossians 1–4)
    19 Activities
  5. Lesson Five
    Paul's Ethics (Colossians, Romans 6 Review)
    14 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

Read Ephesians 1:19-21.

  1. Notice Paul’s comment about Christ being “far above . . . every name that is named” while keeping in mind the Ephesians’ preoccupation with magic and celestial powers. Why might he have used this phrase in this context?

Naming the names of spiritual forces or beings was one way of doing magic in the Greco-Roman world. Lists of names were circulated and repeated in moments of need in order to manipulate celestial powers. References to this practice have been found on ancient magical papyri:

I conjure you by the great names.

 

You, these holy names and these powers, confirm and carry out this perfect enchantment.

 

A phylactery, a bodyguard against demons, against phantasms, against every sickness and suffering . . . When worn it works mightily, for it is the name of power of the great god and his seal, and it is as follows: [fourteen magical names are given]. These are the names . . .

Rather than debunking this practice of naming of magical names in this passage, Paul simply insists that Christ is, and always will be, far above them. Christ is in the celestial realm, “the heavenly places,” and He towers over any divine power the people have yet imagined.

Quotes from: Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background: Volume 3, Romans to Philemon, 2002, p. 311.