Jesus Creed
Tim Gombis, all of a sudden, has two books on the market and this book, The Drama of Ephesians: Participating in the Triumph of God
How to read this letter? Traditionally, the letter is read through the lens of theology (chp. 1-3) and praxis (4-6), but Gombis finds a more narratival approach, and the lens through which he understands this magnificent letter is divine warfare. The core of this letter is about God’s victory over the fallen powers who have hijacked God’s world.
In this dramatic reading of Ephesians, churches are the “gospel players” and they are to magnify the triumph of God in Christ.
The letter is one of hope, being empowered by God’s Spirit and the resurrection power of Christ, we can embody the drama of God’s victory over the false powers.
Those powers do bad things: conflict, oppression, division, exploitation and destruction. The promise of cosmic restoration of all creation is accomplished in Christ, and that promise is at work now — in the gospel players.
God’s victory though is not triumphalism; it is not violence. God’s power works in radically subversive ways. God win when Jesus “loses” (the Cross). Victory for the gospel players comes through cruciformity. We are subversive by resisting the powers and by embodying the cross-shaped and resurrection-shaped life.
Buy this book and read it and become a gospel player!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In