{"id":53908,"date":"2023-08-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=53908"},"modified":"2024-06-11T10:49:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T17:49:50","slug":"how-is-the-church-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/how-is-the-church-one\/","title":{"rendered":"How is the Church One?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When we as Christians affirm the unity of the Church, what is it that we\u2019re affirming? Or when Jesus prays for those who will believe in him through the preaching of the apostles \u201cthat they may all be one\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Jn+17%3A21&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jn. 17:21<\/a>). How should we understand this oneness, a oneness shared by the Father and the Son (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Jn+17%3A22&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jn. 17:22<\/a>)? At least one way to understand this is through Paul\u2019s teaching on the oneness of the Church in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A4-6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ephesians 4:4\u20136<\/a>. Let\u2019s look at what he has to say about the Church\u2019s unity with some help from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=33195\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ephesians volume<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pillar New Testament Commentary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=33195\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ephesians<\/a> by Constantine R. Campbell is the long-awaited volume in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pillar New Testament Commentary<\/a> that replaces the previous volume by Peter O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paul-s-oneness-list\"><strong>Paul\u2019s \u201cOneness List\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The theme of oneness and unity comes into sharp focus now, with a \u201coneness list,\u201d comprising one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A4-6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:4\u20136<\/a>). The list does not concern exhortation, but establishes the basis for it (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A1-2&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:1\u20132<\/a>). Since Paul has already addressed the importance of keeping the unity of the Spirit (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A3&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:3<\/a>), it is unsurprising that the first two items in his \u201coneness list\u201d are \u201cone body\u201d and \u201cone Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One Body<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The body metaphor is Paul\u2019s primary image in this letter for depicting the unified people of Christ, and it is a key motif in this section (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A1-16&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:1\u201316<\/a>). It is a brilliant metaphor that underscores the essential importance of unity, while also demanding diversity\u2014a body must be unified to function properly, and it depends on its diversity of parts (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=1+Cor+12%3A12-31&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Cor 12:12\u201331<\/a>). Immediately after the \u201coneness list,\u201d Paul turns his attention to the vital importance of diversity for building and strengthening the unity of the body (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A7-16&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:7\u201316<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul already stressed the importance of the Spirit for the oneness of the body in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A3&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:3<\/a>\u2014he manifests the presence of God among all believers, dwelling among them as God\u2019s holy temple (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A18&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:18,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A22&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">22<\/a>). As the third person of the Godhead, the presence of the Spirit naturally seals all believers as one (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A13-14&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:13\u201314<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A30&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:30<\/a>), since he is one person dwelling within the many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One Hope<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The third item in the list is \u201cone hope,\u201d which God called believers to (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A1&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:1<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A18&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:18<\/a>), after having had no hope (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A12&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:12<\/a>). Though Paul does not here specify the content of this hope, the letter itself contains many grounds for hope, including the blessings of God in Christ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A3-14&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:3\u201314<\/a>), the supremacy of Christ over his enemies and his headship for the church (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A20-23&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:20\u201323<\/a>), salvation by grace through faith (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A8-9&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:8\u20139<\/a>), and the revelation of the mystery of Christ to the gentiles (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+3%3A1-13&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3:1\u201313<\/a>). God has been working his purposes out through history, and the ultimate reconciliation of all things in Christ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A10&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:10<\/a>) is an enduring hope that binds all believers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One Lord<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The fourth, fifth, and sixth items on the oneness list are offered in quick succession\u2014\u201cone Lord, one faith, one baptism.\u201d In keeping with virtually all of Paul\u2019s uses of the term\u2014even when citing Old Testament texts in which \u201cLord\u201d refers to the God of Israel\u2014the \u201cLord\u201d refers to Christ Jesus. Indeed, as Arnold points out, the confession of \u201cone Lord\u201d would echo the daily confession of the Jewish Shema, in which Yahweh is acknowledged as the one Lord. Jesus is thus identified with the God of Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Spirit (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A3&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:3<\/a>), the Lord Christ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A5&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:5<\/a>), and God the Father (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:6<\/a>) are each included in Paul\u2019s oneness list, demonstrating the unifying power of each person of the Godhead. The inclusive power of Christ is obvious in the letter, since he is the head of the body, the church (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A22-23&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:22\u201323<\/a>), all believers are blessed \u201cin Christ\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A3-14&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:3\u201314<\/a>), salvation comes from being made alive with, raised, and seated with Christ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A5-6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:5\u20136<\/a>), and he brings peace between Jew and gentile (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A14-16&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:14\u201316<\/a>). Every person who knows Christ as Lord is united to each other person in Christ as members of his body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One Faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul says \u201cone faith\u201d unites believers, which here most likely refers to the set of commitments shared by believers rather than their subjective experiences of faith (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A13&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:13<\/a>). Just as the \u201cone hope\u201d of their calling refers to a shared objective hope (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+4%3A4&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:4<\/a>), rather than the subjective experience of hope, so too the one faith refers to an objective set of beliefs. This use of \u201cfaith,\u201d then, finds a parallel in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Jude+1%3A3&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jude 3<\/a>, in which Jude\u2019s readers are \u201cto contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all\u201d (see also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Rom+1%3A5&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rom 1:5<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Rom+10%3A8&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10:8<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Gal+1%3A23&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gal 1:23<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=1+Tim+3%3A9&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1 Tim 3:9<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=1+Tim+4%3A1-6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4:1, 6<\/a>). The common set of beliefs and commitments are, then, yet another factor that establishes the oneness of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One Baptism<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The sixth item on the oneness list is \u201cone baptism.\u201d Parallel to \u201cone faith,\u201d this baptism does not likely refer to individual experiences of the act of water baptism\u2014though water baptism was the common practice of the early church (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Acts+2%3A38&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acts 2:38<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Acts+2%3A41&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">41<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Acts+8%3A12&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">8:12<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Acts+10%3A47-48&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10:47\u201348<\/a>). It more likely refers, rather, to believers\u2019 common participation in the death of Christ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Rom+6%3A3&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rom 6:3<\/a>). Each individual\u2019s experience of water baptism is, therefore, a personal expression of their participation in Christ\u2014the one baptism into his death. Since all believers participate in the death of Christ, this common sharing further establishes their oneness in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>One God and Father of All<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The final item on the oneness list is one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Being the last item on the list, with its own relative clause adding weight, Paul presents God the Father as the dramatic conclusion to the list of major factors that create the oneness of believers. It is not accidental that God is also the seventh item on the list\u2014seven being \u201cGod\u2019s number,\u201d the symbol of divine fullness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The ultimate cause of the oneness of the body of Christ is God the Father\u2014whose own oneness undergirds the oneness of the body (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Deut+6%3A4&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Deut 6:4<\/a>). In Ephesians, the one God has blessed believers with every spiritual blessing in Christ (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A3&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:3<\/a>). He raised Christ from the dead, seating him above all other authorities and appointing him head over everything for the church (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+1%3A20-23&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1:20\u201323<\/a>). God has made believers alive with Christ, raising them with him, and seating them with Christ in the heavens (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+2%3A5-6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2:5\u20136<\/a>). And it was God who appointed Paul apostle to the gentiles to reveal to them the mystery of Christ, thus granting them the opportunity to become partners in the promise in Christ Jesus (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Eph+3%3A1-6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">3:1\u20136<\/a>). Through all these acts and more, the one God is the ultimate agent for the oneness of the body of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pick Up the Pillar New Testament Commentary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PillarNewTestamentCommentaryBookSetSocial-1024x580.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53034\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PillarNewTestamentCommentaryBookSetSocial-1024x580.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PillarNewTestamentCommentaryBookSetSocial-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PillarNewTestamentCommentaryBookSetSocial-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/PillarNewTestamentCommentaryBookSetSocial-1536x870.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We love to see excellent commentary sets like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77404\">Pillar New Testament Commentary<\/a> keep adding volumes like the one above. Have you considered adding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77404\">Pillar New Testament Commentary<\/a> to your Olive Tree Library? Visit our website today to learn more about the volumes available in this series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77404\" style=\"background-color:#77aa3c\">PILLAR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we as Christians affirm the unity of the Church, what is it that we\u2019re affirming? Or when Jesus prays for those who will believe in him through the preaching of the apostles \u201cthat they may all be one\u201d (Jn. 17:21). How should we understand this oneness, a oneness shared by the Father and the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":53915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7849],"tags":[6028],"class_list":{"0":"post-53908","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-commentaries","8":"tag-pillar-new-testament-commentary"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How is the Church One? - Olive Tree Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/staging-blog.olivetree.com\/how-is-the-church-one\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How is the Church One?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When we as Christians affirm the unity of the Church, what is it that we\u2019re affirming? 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