On theology and practice

With one word, Paul initiates a significant change in his letter to the Ephesians.

With the singular (and easily overlooked) word, “therefore,” Paul moves his letter from theology to practice, from instruction to application.  It is Paul’s regular habit to make such transitions (see the transitions between Romans 1-11 and 12-16 and Colossians 1-2 and 3-4 as other examples).

And with this change from informing the mind to appealing to the conscience, a couple possibilities emerge:

• Some might think, “Great, now we get to the good stuff…finally, something I can understand and grasp.”
• Others might think oppositely, “If only there were more truth and theology — that’s what I need to stimulate my mind.

Yet Paul sees no such dichotomies:  throughout chapters 4-6 in Ephesians, there are repeated allusions to the truth that he expounded in the first portion of the letter.  As an example, note that the appeal to the preservation of unity in the church body (4:3) is based on the theology of God’s creating that unity (4:4-6).

In other words, theology and practice are intertwined and dependent upon one another.  There is no true action without sound theology undergirding it, and there is no orthodox theology without a corresponding orthopraxy.  The believer needs both sound truth and a transformed heart and life that emanate from that doctrine.

Two centuries ago William Wilberforce understood that truth when he wrote:

The fatal habit of considering Christian morals as distinct from Christian doctrines insensibly gained strength. Thus the peculiar doctrines of Christianity went more and more out of sight, and as might naturally have been expected, the moral system itself also began to wither and decay, being robbed of that which should have supplied it with life and nutriment.

So Ephesians 1-3 has been critical to establishing the foundation for the ministry of the church (4:11ff) and living a life of purity (4:17ff) and avoiding immorality (5:3ff) and living in harmony in the home (5:22ff).

Paul would agree with Calvin when he wrote:  “The theologian’s task is not to divert the ears with chatter, but to strengthen consciences by teaching things true, sure, and profitable.”

We need both theology and the practice of that theology.