Seminary Term Paper, R.F.

In the early '70's I was a college student at Fresno Pacific College, in Fresno, California. It was a private Christian college with a Mennonite Brethren affiliation. I started in college with a behavioral science major but in time added another major, Bible and biblical studies. As a student at the college, I was also able to take classes next door, at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.

One of the classes I took at the seminary was entitled “Pauline Epistles” and I was required to write a term paper. We were given several choice topics. Being 21 and the only female in the class, I chose Ephesians 5:22-27. I worked diligently on the paper, reading every book in the Seminary library. In all my reading I could not find a clear understanding of how to write on verses 25-27 where Paul wrote on Christ loving the church, wanting to sanctify her, etc. so that He might present the church to Himself. No author gave me an adequate understanding on these verses. I didn't know what to do with them.

I wrote the paper and received an “A”. I was so excited to have gotten an “A” at the seminary level! What about the verses? I had not included them in the paper! I guess the professor hadn't known what to do with them either!

Less than two years later I met a man that could explain those verses! Oh the riches in those verses! How could I ever have left them out of my term paper?! I just needed to meet someone with the riches of Christ who understood the deep, hidden things of God's Word. The man was Witness Lee. Meeting after meeting he loved speaking on the verses in Ephesians. His speaking infused me with those riches!

My seminary professor is now with the Lord but if he were still alive I'd like to write another term paper for him. This one would be on Ephesians 5:25-27. I'd write how the Bible is a romance and God desires a corporate Bride, the Church, to match Him. Therefore, He needs to sanctify her in His Word so that He might present her holy and without blemish. Now I wonder if I could write it all in only ten pages!