Because Ephesians is one of Paul's later prison epistles, written after further revelation, so the Body of Christ is taught more fully there.
Paul's teaching continued to develop as he received revelation from the ascended Lord. In earlier letters, he introduced the Body of Christ — especially in 1 Corinthians 12 — but in Ephesians, written near the end of his life, he brings the doctrine to its fullest. Les Feldick describes these prison epistles as "higher ground" and "deeper water."
Ephesians 4:4 — Paul plainly states there is one Body, the kind of language Les says runs through Paul's writings and is absent from Peter's preaching and Christ's earthly ministry.
Ephesians 3:6 — This verse says the Gentiles are fellowheirs and of the same body, making the Body a key revelation in Ephesians.
1 Corinthians 12:12 — Paul first introduces the Body of Christ concept using the human body as the picture, showing the doctrine existed before Ephesians.
In 1 Corinthians 12:12 Paul writes, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." In Ephesians 3:6 he says the Gentiles "should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Then in Ephesians 4:4–6 he lists one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Ephesians 1:22–23 also describes the church as Christ's body, "the fulness of him that filleth all in all." The Scripture itself shows the body teaching in both Corinthians and Ephesians, but Ephesians spells it out explicitly and repeatedly.
Les Feldick teaches that the Body of Christ is strictly a Pauline revelation. Jesus never referred to believers as His body, and Peter's preaching in Acts makes no mention of Christ as the head of the assembly. Paul received these truths from the Ascended Lord, and the doctrine is first introduced in 1 Corinthians 12. Ephesians is one of Paul's later epistles, written from his Roman imprisonment near the end of his life. Les says things come out of these prison epistles that Paul doesn't even allude to in his earlier writings. He calls Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians "higher ground" and "deeper water" — where the meat of the Word is found. In Ephesians, Paul is constantly making reference to the church which is His body, bringing the doctrine to its fullest.
Les notes that Ephesians is one of Paul's later epistles, written from his Roman imprisonment toward the end of his life. Things come out of these prison epistles, he says, that Paul doesn't even allude to in his earlier writings. Les calls Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians "higher ground" and "deeper water" — where the meat of the Word is found.
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul gives a full description of the Body of Christ, showing that the doctrine wasn't new to him by the time of Ephesians. Les stresses this is a Pauline revelation — Jesus never referred to believers as His body. But the fuller expression comes later in the prison epistles, especially Ephesians.
Les says you do not see the Body of Christ taught until Paul comes with revelations from the Ascended Lord. Jesus never used the term, and Peter in Acts makes no mention of Christ as the head of the assembly. It is strictly a Pauline term, made plain in Ephesians 1, where Paul calls the church Christ's body.
The Body Completes Christ
Les connects the Body of Christ to Eve completing Adam, then reads Ephesians 3:6 and Ephesians 4:4, pointing out that "one body" language runs through Paul's writings.
Fullest Expression in Later Epistles
Les explains that the Body of Christ is brought to its fullest in the later epistles such as Ephesians, even though Paul introduced it in 1 Corinthians 12.
The Prison Epistles Are Higher Ground
Les says Ephesians is a later epistle from Paul's Roman imprisonment, where deeper truths come out that earlier writings don't even allude to.
The Church Which Is His Body
Les uses the human body as a picture that imperfect believers are still in the Body, and notes Paul is constantly referring to the church as Christ's body in Ephesians.
A Pauline Revelation
Les teaches the Body of Christ is a uniquely Pauline revelation, not seen until Paul shared what he got from the Ascended Lord.
Not in Peter's Preaching
Les contrasts Paul's teaching with Peter's: Peter makes no mention of Christ as head of the assembly, but Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 describes the church as His body.
A Term Jesus Never Used
Les emphasizes that Jesus never called believers His body; it is strictly a Pauline term and a Pauline doctrine.
Ephesians 1 Makes It Plain
Les points to 1 Corinthians 12:12 as Paul's use of the term and says Ephesians 1 makes it plain that the church is the body of Christ.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
This verse shows the Body of Christ includes Gentile believers, a central revelation in Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:4: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Paul plainly states the unity of the Body of Christ in the prison epistle.
Ephesians 4:5: One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Part of Paul's list of "ones" that reinforces the single Body.
Ephesians 4:6: One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Completes the seven-fold unity passage in Ephesians 4.
1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Paul first introduces the Body of Christ using the human body as the picture.
Ephesians 1:22-23: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul makes plain that the church is Christ's body.
Ephesians is one of Paul's later prison epistles, written after he had received further revelation. Les calls the prison epistles "higher ground" and "deeper water." While Paul introduced the Body in 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians brings the doctrine to its fullest.
No, according to Les. Jesus never referred to believers as His body, and Peter's preaching in Acts makes no mention of Christ as head of the assembly. The term is strictly Pauline, revealed to Paul by the Ascended Lord.
Ephesians 3:6 says Gentiles are fellowheirs and of the same body, and Ephesians 4:4 says there is one body. Paul also calls the church Christ's body in Ephesians 1.
Watch the Teaching: Why Only Paul Uses the Term 'Body of Christ' — Bible Study