Of all the New Testament writers, Paul uses the phrase “I therefore” (or similar) the most frequently. This reflects his tight logical reasoning. Certain truths result in certain logical inferences or corollaries. Paul was a master thinker and communicator and the Lord used his intellectual gift of insight and deduction to convey what is called propositional truth. By propositional truth we mean truth that is arrived at through the logical connection of propositions or factual statements. This is distinguished for experiential truth. For example, gravity is true because when you step off the cliff you fall to the ground; you know it by experience. It can also be contrasted with revelatory truth, where God speaks directly, therefore, by definition, what He says is true.

Paul, of course, conveys revealed truth, but notice that much of what he says does not begin or end with, “Thus says the Lord,” as happens with so many of the prophets. There are certain revelations that Paul has indeed received in this letter to the Ephesians. For example, the mystery of the one church. However, God used Paul’s logical abilities to build on and elaborate the revealed truth. Further, these teachings, we believe, are also revelations with the same authority as the “Thus saith the Lord…” statements in other portions of Scriptures—the method of revelation is simply different.

Often, these elaborations of Paul’s come in the form of admonishments to his particular audience, in this case the Ephesians. However, these admonishments extend to all believers everywhere, for we see by the illumination of the Holy Spirit the truth as it applies to each of us. So, from a prison cell some 2000 year ago, comes the challenge to walk worthy (the same as is echoed in Col 1:10, 1 Thess 2:12). From his incarcerated, limited confines, Paul knows the value of walking free. But it is not just freedom of physical movement, but the manner of life he speaks of.

The controlling standard for the Christian’s behavior is the “calling with which you have been called.” This calling doesn’t change, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29). While Paul goes on to describe the manner of the calling, the calling itself is to preserve the unity of the Spirit (verse 3). Prejudice is set aside, whether Jew or Gentile. Hardly would it be a stretch of inference to set aside all other prejudices, whether black, white, male or female, wealthy or poor (Gal 3:28). We are one body in Christ!