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Ephesians 3
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Commentary on Ephesians 3
Overview
Ephesians 3 is part of the letter that the Apostle Paul sent to the believers in Ephesus from his Roman imprisonment. It explains the "mystery" of the salvation of the Gentiles and their position within the church. Paul emphasizes the grace and mission he received as an apostle to the Gentiles, revealing the gospel's secret that Gentiles, along with Jews, can participate in God's promises. He further explains God's eternal plan for the church, where Gentiles and Jews are united in Christ, and prays that believers may comprehend this mystery and live lives worthy of that grace.
Structure of the Text
3:1-13: Paul's Apostleship and the Mystery of Gentile Salvation
3:1-7: Paul declares himself a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles, explaining that their participation in God's promises through the gospel is a mystery hidden in past ages.
3:8-13: Paul reveals God's eternal purpose to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles through the grace given to him, and to make known through the church the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
3:14-21: Paul's Prayer for the Believers
3:14-19: Paul prays that the believers, through the inner person, may be strengthened with power by the Spirit, and rooted and grounded in love, may comprehend the love of Christ.
3:20-21: Paul praises God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, by the power that works within us, and who will receive glory forever in the church.Key Themes
The Mystery of Gentile Salvation: God's hidden secret in past ages is now revealed through Christ, allowing Gentiles to become God's people and participate in His promises on equal footing with Jews.
Paul's Apostleship: Paul was uniquely called as an apostle to the Gentiles, entrusted with the mission of proclaiming this gospel mystery.
Unity of the Church: In Christ, Jews and Gentiles are united to form God's holy temple, the church, through which God's manifold wisdom is revealed to the world.
Spiritual Growth of Believers: Paul prays for believers to deeply understand the love of Christ and to mature in faith, being strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit.Section-by-Section Commentary
3:1-13: Paul's Apostleship and the Mystery of Gentile Salvation
3:1: "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—"
Various theological traditions emphasize that Paul was imprisoned because of his preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. This demonstrates that his labor and suffering were not in vain and indicates that his apostleship originated from God. (Presbyterian, Evangelical, Public Domain, Methodist, German Evangelical, Puritan, Academic, Anglican)
Paul's designation of himself as a "prisoner of Christ Jesus" signifies that he was not merely imprisoned by the Roman authorities but was imprisoned as a consequence of his ministry for Jesus Christ. This suggests his suffering was in deep union with Christ. (Evangelical, Public Domain, German Pietist, Anglican)
3:2-3: "assuming you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written already."
This emphasizes that the salvation of the Gentiles is a "mystery" unknown in past ages, which God specifically revealed to Paul through revelation. (German Evangelical, Puritan, Reformed, Academic)
This mystery has now been clearly revealed by the Spirit to all His holy apostles and prophets through Christ. (German Evangelical, Puritan, Reformed, Academic)
3:4-6: "When you read this, you can perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. For this mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
The core of this mystery is that through the gospel, Gentiles are fellow heirs with Jews in Christ, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise. (German Evangelical, Puritan, Reformed, Academic)
This is a gracious plan of God that was not understood in the past, and it shows that the church, through the unity of Jews and Gentiles, becomes the channel through which God's wisdom is revealed to the world. (German Evangelical, Puritan, Reformed, Academic)
3:7-9: "Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was worked in me by the power of his working. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things."
The repetition in the Korean text appears to be an error and is omitted in this translation.
Paul's ministry is a gift of God's grace, empowered by His working. He sees himself as the least of all saints, yet he was given the grace to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles and to make known the mystery hidden in God. (Evangelical, Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
The "mystery" is God's plan, hidden for ages, which is now being revealed through the church. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
3:10-11: "this was to make known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,"
The church, through its very existence and unity, serves as a demonstration of God's diverse wisdom to supernatural beings in the heavenly realms. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
This revelation is in accordance with God's eternal purpose, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
3:12: "in whom we have boldness and access and confidence through our faith in him."
Through Christ, believers have boldness, access, and confidence to approach God. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
3:13: "So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
Paul encourages the Ephesians not to be discouraged by his suffering, as it is for their benefit and ultimately brings glory to them. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)3:14-21: Paul's Prayer for the Believers
3:14-16: "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,"
Paul's prayer begins with a posture of humility and reverence before the Father, the source of all families. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
He prays for believers to be strengthened internally by the Holy Spirit, according to God's glorious riches. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
3:17: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,"
The purpose of this strengthening is for Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith, leading them to be rooted and grounded in love. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
3:18-19: "may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Paul prays that believers, along with all saints, may have the capacity to comprehend the immeasurable dimensions of Christ's love and to know it experientially, surpassing mere intellectual understanding. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
The ultimate goal is that they may be filled with the fullness of God. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
3:20-21: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
This is a doxology, praising God for His immense power, which works within believers and exceeds all their requests and thoughts. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)
Glory is given to God in the church and in Christ Jesus, eternally. (Reformed, Puritan, Academic)✨ SERMON SAGE
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