Just about every married couple has read about (or argued over) the issue of husband having to love the wife and the wife having to be submissive to the husband. The Biblical text that speaks to this matter comes from this letter. Of lesser notice is the fact that this letter to the Ephesians places these human relationships within the context of a struggle “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”(6:12), which the recipients of this letter are told, has already been won in Christ.   

Biblical scholars now generally agree that based on the more reliable manuscript evidences, the recipients of this letter should not be limited to just those in Ephesus, but could very well include those churches in the province of Asia (currently Turkey), just as those described in Revelation 1-3. The way letters were received back then, they were read amongst the churches (see Col 4:16). Since the prevailing culture of the province of Asia was one that feared and worshiped spirits, Paul asked Tychicus to bring this letter to the churches in that region (6:21).

Which spirit is the highest and most powerful? Readers of this letter soon find out:

1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

1:10 “to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”

1:19 -21 “… and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

Therefore anyone who feared the spirits after reading Chapter One should turn to Christ. It is even more significant for the Church because since Christ is her head, God has also placed all things under her (1:22). 

            Related to their worship of spirits is the emphasis on “mysteries.” But Paul tells them that the mystery of God’s will was that to bring things in heaven and on earth under Christ (1:10), without any exception. Then Paul uses chapters 2 and 3 to speak of the incomparable might of God’s power, even exceeding that of creation, is shown in His reconciliation in Christ Jesus, so that humanity (spoken of as Jews and Gentiles) is re-created into a “new man” (2:16), just as Adam was created as the first man. And God’s forgiveness in Christ of all humanity, even those Gentiles who “were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (2:12), so that they could be turned into the temple of God’s Spirit (2:22), is precisely the mystery that demonstrates His wisdom (3:9).  

            It is not difficult to see from Chapter One to Three Paul’s understanding that only a new man, the Church, which is composed of Jews and Gentiles, could exhibit God’s mystery and His overriding power. If this new man remains in schisms, then so is her ability to serve such a function. No wonder in 4:1-6:9 Paul teaches them to live out the unity of the new man in daily lives. Pay attention to the repeated occurrences of “one” in 4:1-6 and this emphasis will not be lost. In these chapters, there is practical guidance as to how to conduct oneself in different roles and under various circumstances. Of significance is the common attitude: “know Christ” (4:20); “just as in Christ/just as Christ” (4:32; 5:2); “just as Christ…so also” (5:22-6:7), suggesting that no matter what, there is one supreme example.

            Finally I wish to suggest a point not covered by Gordon Fee. That is in the reading of 6:10-20 which suddenly changes the subject to spiritual warfare, the preceding context is important. In other words, the apparently mundane familial and social interactions have been described as the stage on which the spiritual warfare will be fought, not something to be dismissed lightly. For Christians to live like a strong new man, 6:10-20 presents the ideal of a divine warrior who maintains righteousness and faithfulness—because the Church is the body of that Divine Warrior (1:23 and Isaiah 59:14-17).