🇬🇧 Glory be to Jesus Christ! 🌞💙💛 Dedicated to Emma Kok.
Ephesians IV, 19 – ‘πλανης’ – ‘planes’ - ‘wandering, errors’.
Ephesians IV, 16 – ‘συναρμολογουμενον και συμβιβαζομενον’ - ‘synarologoumenon kai symbibazomenon’ – ‘was fit together and joined together’.
The reading again shows the contrast between the life and development of the Church of Christ and the pagan way of life. The authentic pagans of that time were indeed alienated (far away) from the life of God (in God), because they did not know the One true God, did not grow up in an environment where God’s values were at least prevalent, so they lived according to their own ideas of good and evil. The good pagans resembled Christians to a certain significant degree, to a certain degree of recognisability, and then often became them, but all the other pagans lived according to their own efforts. Therefore, their consciousness was occupied by passions along with good drives, and their lives were no better than their consciousness. Not knowing God, they often indulged in their own desires, passions, lusts, and eventually sins.
The Apostle Paul writes about this state. Similar descriptions of paganism and its supporters at that time are also found in other letters of Paul, as well as in the ecumenical Epistles of the Apostles Peter and Jude (Judas). As I wrote earlier, this state of affairs for the pagan way of life still exists today, although mostly in the form of a tendency, inclination, temptation, or opportunity.
With regard to the Church and the life of the faithful in God, we see development and progress. The faithful have commandments, models, and ideals that allow them to at least see when they are doing or thinking well and when they are not. They have a goal and can always get closer to it. This goal, these ideals, are indeed attainable, and the movement towards them is fruitful and productive, led by Jesus Christ Himself, the Head of the Church.
Paul says that growth occurs when the believers are joined together
with every necessary bond
. In other words, the unity of the faithful in
the Church is not limited in terms of the means to achieve it.
Everything that is necessary for the unity of the faithful is included,
added to the development of the Church and the growth of the faithful in
Christ. The situation may seem ideal, but in the nearly two thousand
year history of the New Testament Church we see many examples of just
such an organic incorporation of what is needed for unity and growth
into the life of the Church. Paul writes that such things happen
according to God’s love, the love of the faithful, and mutual building
up.
Continuation of yesterday’s reading, which I wrote
about here:
27092023.html
It must be said that the dialogue with Jesus would have been the same as the one concerning the baptism of John the Baptist, with the same logic, if the high priests, scribes and elders had said something more definite. This story also shows one of the reasons for John the Baptist’s preaching and baptism.
I wrote about the parallel passage in Matthew (Matthew XXI, 23-27)
with more explanations at the following link:
08082023.html
To the venerable fathers of the Kyiv Caves, who rest in the Near
Caves (the Caves of Saint Anthony):
For frequent readings from the Apostle, see the link:
17092023.html
For a frequent reading from the Gospel, see here:
22052023.html
Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!