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▸ ± Eph1:1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
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| Paul [∞]
Paul "small or little one" was not renamed from Saul שאול "desired" by Jesus on the road to Damascus. He has a dual name.[1]
Saul is the Hebrew name of the first king of Israel. He was chosen because his looks were desirable to the people. This Saul (of the book of Ephesians) was not desirable, having a reputation for persecuting Christians. [2]
'Saul' also means 'obtained you שא to be separated ו for teaching ל', and was dramatically chosen to preach. [3] Saul was well trained in the Jewish scriptures. He is an example of the scribe in the parable who knows the old and is taught the new. [4] [5]
When he calls himself Paul, he is hinting at his claim to be the least of the apostles [6]; it is a humility, having persecuted the church.
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- ↑ ▸ ± Ac 13:9 Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
- ↑ ▸ ± Ac 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange cities.
- ↑ ▸ ± Ac 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
- ↑ ▸ ± Mt 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure [things] new and old.
- ↑
- ↑ ▸ ± 1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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| Apostle [∞]
An apostle was not a super Christian. The title indicates they were chosen by God to preach the gospel where it had not been preached; they were sent out. Paul brought the gospel to Corinth. [1] When he spoke to the Romans, he claimed only to be the apostle to the Gentiles, since Peter was in Rome for the Jews. [2]
∞ Q: Should people today have title of 'apostle'? Answer:
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- ↑ ▸ ± 1Co 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
- ↑ ▸ ± Ro 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
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| Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, and the Lord Jesus Christ [∞]
The variation in titles is not just a poetic variation; it is a focus on various aspects of Jesus. The emphasis is given to the first name and the transition to the second.
'Jesus Christ' says that he was the man who 'grew into' literal messiah as he purposefully fulfilled scripture and faced the cross.
'Christ Jesus' says that he was the prophesied messiah known as 'Yeshua': 'God humbled' and 'God in the flesh with a marriage in his heart'.
'Lord Jesus Christ' says that he was the Eternal God who became flesh and was the messiah.
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| Saints and faithful [∞]
According to the pattern of two, saints would refer to those in the visible church in Ephesus, and faithful would refer to those in the invisible church. This will become apparent when he answers the question of "How then should we live"?" he gives instructions to put away certain practices. They were still living in the flesh, as we all do, still having the goat nature. The visible church is filled with people of the flesh.
The faithful also refers to the same people being the sheep. In the spirit they choose to live by the word of God rather than by the instinctive goat.
His appeal will instruct the goat and commend the sheep.
He addresses the saints, or goats in the physical location of Ephesus. He speaks to the faithful in the spiritual reality of being 'in Christ'. He uses 'Christ Jesus' since 'Christ', the messiah (the spiritual), is the focus of the title.
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