Bible Study Resource
What a Difference
a Year Can Make
by W. Eugene March
The victorious army of Titus with
the spoils from Jerusalem. c. 90 c.e. Marble.
Part one in a three-part series
A little more than a year
has passed since "9/11" entered our common vocabulary.
9/11 is now an immediately recognized reference to one of the
most horrendous acts of hate ever perpetrated on American soil.
More than 3,000 people, citizens of some 82 nations, died. Countless
others had their lives torn apart by injury, the death of loved
ones, the destruction of property and the loss of any sense of
security. Those of us who lived through this terrible event have
been unalterably changed.
In the year 70 C.E. (Common Era), Roman
troops, at the order of Emperor Vespasian, destroyed Jerusalem.
Their attack had been prompted by a Jewish insurrection against
Roman rule. The Roman soldiers were merciless as they ravaged
the city.
While there is no way to demonstrate conclusively when Ephesians
was written, the matter of dating does have implications.
Was Ephesians penned before the destruction of Jerusalem
or after? Was it written by Paul from Rome somewhere between
61--63 C.E. or by a follower of Paul somewhere
around 90 C.E.? These are the two positions
most frequently advanced among scholars, as noted by Kay Huggins
in No Longer Strangers: A Study of the Letter to the Ephesians.
Good evidence drawn from the text of Ephesiansitself
can be marshaled for each point of view.
Those who lead a study of No Longer Strangers,as well
as those who participate in a Bible study group, owe it to themselves
to reflect on this issue. The historical context of the documents
that comprise the Bible differs from book to book. In so far
as possible, we need to try to determine when and where something
originated in order to better appreciate the nuances of the writer.
In the case of Ephesians, absolute certainty is not possible.
Nonetheless, a consideration of some of the implications of each
position is worthwhile.
W. Eugene March is the Arnold Black Rhodes Professor of
Old Testament and Professor of Bible at Louisville Presbyterian
Theological Seminary.
Back to top | Previous
Resource
Read more of this and other great articles in the
current issue of Horizons.
Call 800/ 524-2612 to subscribe or Order
Now.
|
