Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works: The Integration of Soteriology and Ethics in Ephesians

The relationship between the so-called 'theological' (Eph 13) and 'paraenetic' (Eph 46) sections of Ephesians has been a matter of extensive scholarly discussion. Central to this debate is the question whether the ethical material found in Ephesians 46 is an integral part of the theological statements in Ephesians 13, or whether it is merely an appendage with its own self-contained theology. This study undertakes a fresh investigation into the relationship between the 'theological' and 'paraenetic' sections of Ephesians. It demonstrates the intrinsic integration of both parts of the letter by examining the soteriological pattern of Ephesians, and how salvation entails the moral and social transformation of believers; this, in turn, renders meaningless the category-distinction between 'theology' and 'ethics'.