Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
by the will of God
Obeying God is obviously important to Paul. He will later exhort some of his readers, or those listening to his letter read out loud, that they do “the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6.6). So it would be natural, in reading this phrase, to think that Paul is simply pointing out that his commission as King Jesus’ ambassador is backed by divine authority.
However, Paul seems to be saying something more here. Consider what Paul says in the next few sentences,
he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory (1.5- 12; emphasis added).
So when Paul announces his Apostleship “through the will of God,” he does so introducing a letter that, at first, refers to God’s will repeatedly in a way that is centered on the plan and purpose of God to bring deliverance through Christ. Paul is telling us that his Apostleship is part of the fulfillment and execution of God’s liberating plan. It would not be enough for Jesus to merely do what he did. Essential to God’s purpose was that the message about Jesus be spread. As we will see, Paul views Jesus himself to be traveling, working, and speaking through his servants (c.f. Ephesians 2.17).
Hey Mark,
Small point — it’s “cf.,” not “c.f.” (I used to write it “c.f.” as well).
Only slightly bigger point — I disagree with nothing you affirmed w.r.t. Paul and the spreading of the Gospel. But I don’t really see it as an obvious implication of the passage you’re considering.
FWIW.