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.

Paul's Commission and the Mystery Revealed

It is a consequence of this that I, Sha’ul, am a prisoner of the Messiah Yeshua on behalf of you Gentiles.

I assume that you have heard of the work God in his grace has given me to do for your benefit,

and that it was by a revelation that this secret plan was made known to me. I have already written about it briefly,

and if you read what I have written, you will grasp how I understand this secret plan concerning the Messiah.

In past generations it was not made known to mankind, as the Spirit is now revealing it to his emissaries and prophets,

that in union with the Messiah and through the Good News the Gentiles were to be joint heirs, a joint body and joint sharers with the Jews in what God has promised.

I became a servant of this Good News by God’s gracious gift, which he gave me through the operation of his power.

To me, the least important of all God’s holy people, was given this privilege of announcing to the Gentiles the Good News of the Messiah’s unfathomable riches,

and of letting everyone see how this secret plan is going to work out. This plan, kept hidden for ages by God, the Creator of everything,

is for the rulers and authorities in heaven to learn, through the existence of the Messianic Community, how many-sided God’s wisdom is.

This accords with God’s age-old purpose, accomplished in the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.

In union with him, through his faithfulness, we have boldness and confidence when we approach God.

So I ask you not to be discouraged by the troubles I endure on your behalf — it is all for your glory.

Paul’s Prayer for Inner Strength

For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its character.

I pray that from the treasures of his glory he will empower you with inner strength by his Spirit,

so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love,

so that you, with all God’s people, will be given strength to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of the Messiah’s love,

yes, to know it, even though it is beyond all knowing, so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God.

Doxology

Now to him who by his power working in us is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine,

to him be glory in the Messianic Community and in the Messiah Yeshua from generation to generation forever. 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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