Church as New Creation

Peter J. Leithart, February 14, 2007

In Ephesians 4, Paul describes the sevenfold unity of the church. The numerical connection with Genesis 1-2 already indicates that the church is the new creation, formed by the word of God and the "seven Spirits" into a united cosmos. But the seven unities might also link in detail to the days of creation. Maybe; here's a stab:

1. One body: Church as light in darkness.
2. One Spirit: Spirit as the boundary/firmament?
3. One hope: Earth emerging from waters? Plants springing from earth?
4. One Lord: The Sun of Righteousness, ruler of the Day.
5. One faith: Birds and fish?
6. One baptism: Which makes new men, in the Last Adam; the nuptial bath of the bride, the new Eve.
7. One God and Father: Who brings all to completion, rest; who presides over the Sabbath; who will be all in all.