Networks and Exchanges: Ephesians 4:7-16 and the Community Function of Teachers

Though often recognized as part of a discussion on unity, Ephesians 4:7-16 is seldom considered for its contributions to that discussion. Deviating from the usual focus on possible leadership structures in post-Pauline churches, this study focuses attention on what the passage says about the function of certain individuals in promoting unity. When social network and exchange theories are brought to bear on Ephesians 4:7-16, they illuminate strategies in the passage that underscore the role of teachers who protect the community from "false" information on the one hand and strengthen the community with "true" information on the other. Those strategies coordinate with the overt behavioral message of the passage. When community members respond as they should to those teachers, they are said to promote beneficial behavior that results in a more unified community. The net effect of such analysis is to de-emphasize Ephesians 4:7-16 as a reflector of ecclesiastical practices while re-focusing attention on what the passage is overtly trying to convey.