Ephesians And The Created Order

When reading through the book of Ephesians while at the same time having the creation account bookmarked, one can’t help but notice the parallels and examples that Paul draws from the opening chapters of Genesis. In the most basic sense, Paul acknowledges that God created all things (3:9) and that all families of heaven and earth are named after Him (3:15). All things, Paul says, are placed under the authority of Jesus Christ (1:22).

Man, the crown of the creation, is made in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:27). This image was distorted through the Fall; therefore, Paul urges believers- those created in Christ for good works (2:10)- to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (4:24). Paul mentions in the opening salutation of the letter that believers have been adopted as sons into the family of God (1:5), echoing the fact that Adam was recognized as being the “son of God” in Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:38; cf. Gen. 5:1-3).

Drawing parallels to man’s position and calling in the Garden of Eden, Paul mentions that we have been given an inheritance in Christ, and have been given His Spirit as a guarantor until that inheritance has been realized (1:11, 14). He also recognizes the stewardship with which we were entrusted, a stewardship of grace (3:2). Furthermore, we are called to labor in the church for the building up thereof (4:28-9). As part of the delegation of our stewardship, God has lavished us the riches of his mercy and saving grace (1:8, 18-19, 3:16).

Moreover, Paul directly quotes from the institution of marriage in Genesis where a man is called to leave his family and cling to his wife, joining into a one-flesh union (5:31). This he parallels with the unity between Christ and His Church. This theme of unity has been woven throughout the letter by Paul who revealed the mystery of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the family of God. Through His death and resurrection, Christ made both Jew and Gentile one (2:14-15); we are now “members one of another” in Him (4:25). In this corporate unity we move forward, are conformed more and more into the image of Christ, and in Him are together fulfilling our cultural mandate established at creation.

Through the creation language and parallels that Paul uses in this letter (and elsewhere in Scripture), we see that even the creation, declared by God to be very good, was meant to point us forward to even greater realities and glory in Christ.