e analogy between family life
and the Church, and the simile of the spiritual armour.

[Sidenote: Character and Contents.]

The Epistle is of the nature of a sermon, full of closely interlaced
doctrinal arguments on the greatness of that _one_ Gospel and that
_one_ Church by which all distinctions in mankind are bridged over and
salvation is made sure. The writer {185} fears that there will be some
lack of unity in the Church, and that the moral tone of his converts
will sink. He wishes for a Christianity both Catholic and deep. So he
presents his readers with the portrait of a Church predestined before
all ages, appointed to last through all ages, in which all men will be
united in holiness and love. If Galatians and Corinthians are more
vivid, Romans more rich, and Philippians more affectionate, Ephesians
gives us St. Paul's most mature and complete picture of Christianity.

St. Paul explains how his Gentile readers came to their present
position in the Church. They are not to regard it as a matter of
chance. They were called to Christ as the result of an eternal counsel
of God. God intended from eternity to adopt them in union with His
Son. This intention was now made known, to sum up all things again in
Christ (i. 10). The apostle prays for his readers that they may
receive enlightenment, and grow in knowledge, particularly concerning
the power of God shown in the resurrection and ascension of Christ and
his consequent relation _to the Church_.[2]

The unity of all things in the Son of God is explained in Colossians as
having been involved in His creation of them. In Ephesians St. Paul
assumes this relation, and shows that it is largely in abeyance through
_sin_. Estrangement has come between man and his God, involving man in
death and in the wrath of God (ii. 3-5). A wall of division has also
been made between Jew and Gentile (ii. 14). This division was visibly
embodied in the Jewish ordinances. But Jew and {186} Gentile alike
have now been reconciled to God, and in being reunited with God are
reunited with each other. This momentous change was effected by the
shedding of Christ's blood on the cross. The readers are to remember
that they are being built into God's own habitation, of which Christ is
the Corner-Stone (ii. 20).

To the end that they may be filled in their degree with God's
attributes, the writer bows his knees (iii. 14) unto the Father. He
prays for their strengthening because he