BIBLICAL PASTORAL FORMATION

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BIBLICAL PASTORAL FORMATION

• VERBUM DEI FAMILY-MANILA

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St Pauls Letterto the Ephesians
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Paul in Ephesus (See Acts 19)

• He met some people who already believed in Christ
• He spent 2 years there and had many adventures
• Caused a riot banning worship of Artemis, the
  goddess of fertility
• Driving out evil spirits
• Challenging magicians

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Horoscope
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To explain the way more accurately

• A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an
  eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an
  authority on the scriptures. 25He had been
  instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with
  ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about
  Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.
  26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue but
  when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took
  him aside and explained to him the Way of God
  more accurately.
  (Acts 1824-26 )

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Why to have bible formation?
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Letter to the Ephesians

• Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of
  God, to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus) 2
  faithful in Christ Jesus 2 grace to you and
  peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
  Christ. (Eph 11-2 )
• The author did not put in Ephesus in his
  original letter but it was added later on the
  outside of the scroll. Ephesus was one of the
  most important churches in the Roman province of
  Asia.
• Very few details of a letter only that Paul is
  in prison (3,1) and that Tychicus will bring the
  letter (6,21)

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• One third of the words of Colossians are found
  also in Ephesians

Why?
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• The enigma of Ephesians!

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Similarities but differences
Colossians Ephesians
Christology Ecclesiology
Mystery revealed to Saints Revealed to apostles and prophets
Recapitulation of the Cosmos New man in Christ
The author of Ephesians used Colossians as a
source for the composition of Ephesians but
freely and independently developed themes and
introduced ideas to fit his own purpose (NJBC)
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Style

• Solemn and ornate with an initial blessing of 12
  verses (1,3-14)
• The thought is developed slowly in long phrases
• Not written by Paul so thus Deuteropauline and
  part of the Pauline corpus
• Secretary or disciple?

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Structure of Ephesians (NAB)

• 1, 1-14 Address
• 1,15-2,22 Unity of the Church in Christ
• 3,1-4,24 World Mission of the Church
• 4,25-6,20 Daily conduct, an expression of unity
• 6,21-24 Conclusion
• Refer to handout

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St Pauls Letterto the Colossians
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The Christian community

• Pagan converts
• House churches existed
• Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and
  to Nympha and to the church in her house.
  (Col 415)

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Paul and Colossae

• Community there not founded by Paul
• Founded by his collaborator Epaphras
• Paul had never been there
• Epaphras came to visit Paul who was in prison and
  tell him about the Church in Colossae
• Paul writes his response

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Christ hymn (Col 1,15-20)

• 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the
  firstborn of all creation. 16 For in him were
  created all things in heaven and on earth, the
  visible and the invisible, whether thrones or
  dominions or principalities or powers all things
  were created through him and for him. 17 He is
  before all things, and in him all things hold
  together. 18 He is the head of the body, the
  church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from
  the dead, that in all things he himself might be
  preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness was
  pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to
  reconcile all things for him, making peace by the
  blood of his cross through him, whether those on
  earth or those in heaven. (Col 115-20 )

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The Christ Hymn

• 15 He is the image of the invisible God,
• the firstborn of all creation.
• 16 For in him were created all things in heaven
  and on earth, the visible and the invisible,
  whether thrones or dominions or principalities or
  powers
• all things were created through him and for him.
• 17 He is before all things, and in him all things
  hold together.
• 18 He is the head of the body, the church. He is
  the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that
  in all things he himself might be preeminent.
• 19 For in him all the fullness was pleased to
  dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile all
  things for him, making peace by the blood of his
  cross through him, whether those on earth or
  those in heaven. (Col 115-20 )

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The spiritual powers etc

• 15 He is the image of the invisible God,
• the firstborn of all creation.
• 16 For in him were created all things in heaven
  and on earth, the visible and the invisible,
  whether thrones or dominions or principalities or
  powers

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Rejoice heavenly powers

• Trying to mix the Gospel with Jewish and pagan
  elements
• Giving importance to powers which functioned as
  mediators between God and man or between man and
  the cosmos.

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• GOD
• cosmos

Powers?
CHRIST
MAN
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• The false doctrine was denying the role of Christ
  in the creation and redemption.
• The fullness of the divinity is not shared
  between many powers but lies uniquely in Christ.
• In Christ is the fullness of the divinity in
  bodily form (Col 2,9)
• He is the Head of the Cosmos and the Church which
  is his Body(2,10)
• He conquers and leads all the celestial powers
  (2,15)

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• These things are all shadows, the reality is
  Christ
• (Col 2,17)

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The Church

• 18 He is the head of the body, the church.
• Church in Pauline writings usually refers to the
  local Church in a specific and concrete way. In
  Col the church is a universal entity, the body of
  which Christ is the head. Ecclesiology is
  connected to Christology.

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What is your vision of the Church?
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Concluding
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How can we improve the Church?
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What needs to change?

• You and Me !!!

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SALAMAT!

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