Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus."
Text: Ephesians 1:1
“SAINTS IN EPHESUS”
What a dramatic and powerful word Paul used to describe his Ephesian readers. How should we understand his use of the word “saints”?
1. The use of the word by the Roman Catholic Church
The RCC employ the word “saint” in a very restricted manner. A person has to be canonized before he can be regarded as a “saint”. The following are the steps that lead to canonization:-
a) Outstanding life and ministry of the proposed candidate
b) Posthumous Miracles associated with the deceased
c) Beatification (The deceased is now called “Blessed”)
d) Canonization (The deceased is now called “Saint”)
2. The Process leading to Canonization
a) It normally takes scores of years if not centuries before a person is canonised
b) Only the Pope can canonize anyone
3. Significance of Canonization
Believers may now pray to the “Saint”. He is supposed to have accumulated so much merit that he is able to transfer that to the petitioner.
THE PAULINE USE OF THE WORD “SAINT”
It is quite obvious that Paul used the word “saint” differently. How may we understand his use of theological words in his letters? Two means may be employed:-
1. Lexical Definition
It is always wise to check the lexical use of any word. In this case, the lexical meaning of the word “saint” simply means “holy one”.
2. The usual employment of the word (Usus Loquendi)
The next thing to do is to check and see how Paul used the word in other epistles. An important text that throws light on this word is found in his letter to the Corinthian Church.
“To the church of God which is at Corinth,
to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints, with all who in every place
call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord…”
1 CORINTHIANS 1:2