I N D E X
The seven doctrinal parts of Ephesians
(facing page 380).
There is a close correspondence between the seven sections of doctrine
which occupy Ephesians 1:3 to 3:13 and the seven sections of practice that
occupy chapters 4 to 6, but this is not the only set of correspondencies clearly
indicated in this great epistle.  If we take the seven doctrinal sections and
consider them as a whole, and unrelated to the practical portion, we shall still
find that this law of correspondence holds good.
INTRODUCTION  TO,  AND  STRUCTURE  OF,
THE  EPISTLE  TO  THE  EPHESIANS
The epistles written by Paul after Acts 28 fall into
two groups: five that were written in the capacity of
`the prisoner of the Lord' and, for convenience, are denominated by us `The
Prison Epistles', and two that appear to have been written between the
liberation of the apostle from the Roman imprisonment recorded in Acts 28 and
the imprisonment that ended in his death, which is the background of the second
epistle to Timothy.
A survey of these seven epistles seems to demand the following
subdivisions:
The Seven Epistles seen as a Whole
The New Revelation concerning the Mystery of the Body and the Head.
A Ephesians. The dispensation of the Mystery made known to and
t
hrough the apostle, as the prisoner of Christ Jesus.
B Philippians. Bishops and Deacons: Prize of the high calling;
Work out ... salvation; Try the things that differ.
C Colossians. The dispensation of the Mystery, and similar teaching to
Ephesians with the warning added concerning the prize.
D Philemon. Personal exhibition of the truth.
Teaching having special regard to individual servants with respect to work of
administration while the new teaching was being established.
A 1 Timothy. The Mystery of Godliness; Bishops and Deacons appointed; Special
instructions in view of the great dispensational change.
B Titus. Bishops appointed to maintain the truth against Judaistic
opposition.
The truth which is after godliness.
C 2 Timothy. No Bishops or Deacons; Intensely individual. The Crown;
Right Division; Opposers of the Truth.
Written alongside this outline might be placed the words of Ephesians
4:12,13, where Paul sets out the peculiar mission entrusted to those who were
appointed by the ascended Christ:
`For the perfecting (or re-adjusting after a rupture) of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ:
15