QUESTION: “Pastor Ronald, paano kaya kung Ephesians ang naging base ng theology ng Reformers, imbes na Romans at Galatians, mag-iiba kaya ang takbo ng Christianity?”

 

QUESTION:

“Pastor Ronald, paano kaya kung Ephesians ang naging base ng theology ng Reformers, imbes na Romans at Galatians, mag-iiba kaya ang takbo ng Christianity?”

ANSWER:

This is a thoughtful observation, and it’s classic N.T. Wright pushes us to think beyond our traditional categories. Pero kailangan nating suriin with sound hermeneutics.

Una, tama siya that the Reformers, lalo na sina Luther at Calvin, leaned hard on Romans and Galatians. Bakit? Kasi ang immediate issue nila was very specific: paano maliligtas ang isang makasalanan sa harap ng banal na Diyos? The medieval church was selling indulgences, promoting purgatory, at naka-ikot ang buong religious system sa works-righteousness. Naturally, Romans 1–5 at Galatians 2–3 (justification by faith apart from works) ang naging lifeline. Kung iba ang context, baka iba rin ang naging emphasis.

Ikalawa, Wright is right that Ephesians offers a “cosmic” lens of unity in Christ (Eph. 2:14–16), the church as God’s temple (Eph. 2:21–22), and God’s plan to unite all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10). But notice: hindi ito kontra sa Romans and Galatians. Instead, complementary. In fact, Ephesians assumes the doctrine of justification. Halimbawa, Eph. 2:8–9 explicitly repeats the Reformation rally cry: “by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works.”

Ikatlo, kung Reformers had started with Ephesians, would Christianity look “radically different”? Maybe an emphasis on corporate unity and cosmic renewal. Pero, the heart issue of the Reformation assurance of salvation would still drive them back to Romans and Galatians. Unity in Christ (Ephesians) makes no sense kung wala munang settled issue ng justification by faith (Romans/Galatians).

Things to think about:

1. Kung Ephesians daw ang “starting point,” eh bakit sinulat ni Paul ang Ephesians after Romans and Galatians? Dahil ba cosmic unity ang foundation, o ang forensic declaration ng justification muna?

2. Kung walang malinaw na doctrine of justification, paano mo ipapaliwanag ang “unity of the church”? United into what? Kung hindi muna justified, you’re just uniting guilty sinners.

3. Sa Ephesians 6, cosmic vision nga pero anong armor ang susi? The breastplate of righteousness. Whose righteousness? Christ’s the very doctrine na Reformers hinugot mula sa Romans at Galatians.

Bottom line: 

Wright raises a helpful “what if,” but biblically, the Reformers started where Paul himself started. Romans and Galatians settle the root: justification by faith alone. Ephesians shows the fruit: a cosmic church in Christ. Hindi ito “either/or” it’s both/and, but in the right order.

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