The Church of Christ was, is and always will be undivided. However, disunity among Christians is a reality. While safeguarding the apostolic tradition in the first era of Christianity, Ephesians provides a remarkable history - more potent for ecumenism and internal reform today. This book investigates the Ecclesiology of Ephesians, with a plenitude of references to exegetes who mainly come from the German-speaking world. It is a Catholic approach to the standard features of the Church, which provides insights for a comprehensive reassessment of the Church. This book is concerned not just with defending particular doctrines. It is an honest exploration of how first-century Ecclesiology fits the milieu and context of the contemporary Church and provokes and challenges us to appreciate the diverse ecclesiological convictions.

Apostolizitat und Einheit sind zentrale Themen der OEkumene. Epheserbrief-Textanalyse und grundliche Untersuchung des Zustandes der damaligen Kirche versuchen Integrationsfahigkeit in der gespalteten Kirche zu finden. Geschichte, Entwicklung und heutige Situation der Thomaschristenheit werden selbstkritisch dargestellt. Der Beitrag des Vatikanum II gilt als Chance und Wendepunkt fur die Orientalischen Kirchen und lasst Perspektiven fur eine moegliche Zukunft erkennen.