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 cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul’s Prayer for Inner Strength

¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Doxology

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. 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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