Ephesians3

Paul, a prisoner for the Gentiles, reveals the profound mystery that Gentiles are now fellowheirs, part of the same body, and partakers of God's promise in Christ through the Gospel. He explains his divine commission to preach these "unsearchable riches" and make known God's wisdom through the Church. Paul then offers a fervent prayer for the Ephesians, asking that they be strengthened by the Spirit, rooted in love, and comprehend the immeasurable love of Christ, so they might be filled with all the fullness of God.

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Paul's Commission and the Mystery Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...

Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.

Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Paul’s Prayer for Inner Strength

... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Doxology

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Study Notes for Ephesians 3

Verse 1

Paul interrupts the main flow of his letter (which began in 2:11) to explain his current circumstances and the divine purpose behind his ministry. He emphasizes his status as a 'prisoner' for the sake of the Gentiles.

Verse 2

The 'dispensation' (oikonomia) refers to the stewardship or administration of grace entrusted specifically to Paul: the task of revealing God’s plan to the Gentiles.

Verse 3

The 'mystery' is not something unknowable, but a truth previously hidden in God and now revealed specifically through Christ and the Spirit (see v. 5).

Verse 5

The core of the mystery was hidden 'in other ages' (before Christ) but is now fully disclosed to the New Testament apostles and prophets by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 6

This verse explicitly states the content of the mystery: the full and equal inclusion of Gentiles with Jews as fellow heirs, members of the same body (the Church), and sharers in the promise.

Verse 8

Paul employs a powerful double superlative ('less than the least,' elachistoteros) to express profound humility, likely referencing his history as a persecutor of the church (cf. 1 Cor 15:9).

Verse 10

The unification of the Church (Jew and Gentile) serves a cosmic purpose: it is a demonstration to spiritual beings ('principalities and powers,' both angelic and demonic) of God’s complex and manifold wisdom.

Verse 12

Through Christ’s redemptive work, believers now have direct, confident access (prosagogē) to God the Father, a privilege previously restricted under the Old Covenant.

Verse 13

Paul encourages them not to despair over his imprisonment. His suffering validates the importance of the Gentile mission, and his tribulations are ultimately for the Ephesians’ spiritual benefit and 'glory.'

Verse 14

Paul resumes the prayer he began to introduce in v. 1. The posture of 'bowing the knees' signifies deep reverence and earnest sincerity in his intercession.

Verse 15

God the Father is the ultimate source (patria) of all spiritual identity and relationship, encompassing the redeemed on earth and the angels and saints in heaven.

Verse 16

Paul prays not for external relief, but for inner spiritual power (dunamis) supplied by the Spirit, strengthening the believer’s core identity ('inner man') against trials.

Verse 17

The strengthening of the inner man results in Christ establishing a permanent and effective dwelling place in the believer’s heart through ongoing faith.

Verse 18

The four dimensions describe the immeasurable scope of Christ’s love (v. 19), which transcends all human limits, surpassing philosophical and material measurements.

Verse 19

To know the love of Christ, which logically surpasses human comprehension, leads to the ultimate goal: being completely permeated and characterized by God's presence and attributes.

Verse 20

This powerful statement emphasizes God’s limitless capability (hyper-ek-perissou), affirming that God works far beyond the extent of human requests or imagination, based on the power active within believers.

Verse 21

Glory is rightly rendered to God primarily through the Church, the unified body of Christ, demonstrating the eternal scope of God’s redemptive plan.

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Ephesians3

Paul's Commission and the Mystery Revealed

Paul’s Prayer for Inner Strength

Doxology

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