Ephesians as Pauline Halakhah

Photo by Frank Busch on Unsplash

This semester I’ve been teaching through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and I was once again struck by the prevalence of the “walking” language that appears across the letter.

Consider the following:

In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. (Eph 2.2).

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2.10).

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. (Eph 4.1).

 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (Eph 4.17).

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5.2).

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Eph 5.8).

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. (Eph 5.15).

In Judaism, the way one interpreted the Torah was called halakhah, literally, one’s “walk.” Paul is definitely thinking in halakhic categories across Ephesians as he uses the Greek word περιπατεω to signify how the Ephesians once walked/lived as pagans, and to declare how they should now walk/live as Messiah-followers.

The walking motif is highly significant for the theology of Ephesians. The walking motif unites the theological indicative (i.e., gospel) and the personal imperative (ethics) because one’s walk is now determined by reconciliation to God and union with Christ.

F.F. Bruce once described Ephesians as the “quintessence of Paulinism,” a sentiment I would agree with, but I’d add that Ephesians can also be described as Pauline halakhah, encouraging believers to walk the path that their union with Christ requires of them.