The Mystery of the Gospel
Paul explains his special job in God's plan...
Paul explains his special job in God's plan that has existed forever. His role is to announce God's grace to gentiles (non-Jewish people).
Paul explains his special job in God's plan that has existed forever. His role is to announce God's grace to gentiles (non-Jewish people).
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...†
Paul pauses his thought in 3:1 to talk...
Paul pauses his thought in 3:1 to talk about his role in God's plan. When Paul first converted, God gave him the special task of sharing his grace with the gentiles (see Acts 9:15–16; 22:14–15, 21; 26:17–18; Romans 1:5; 11:13–14; 15:15–18; Galatians 1:15–16; 2:7–9; Colossians 1:25–27; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:17).
2Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which 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. 6This 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.
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. 8Though 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, 9and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship† of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His 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, 11according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12In Him and through faith in Him† we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence. 13So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
Paul ends this section (1:3–3:21) with a second...
Paul ends this section (1:3–3:21) with a second prayer for the people he is writing to. The first prayer in 1:15–23 was for their spiritual understanding. The second prayer in 3:14–21 is for their spiritual growth and strength.
14... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,†
from whom every family in heaven and on...
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name: There is a wordplay in the original Greek language between the words "Father" (patēr, 3:14) and family (patria). This wordplay shows a connection between God as Father and all the families that exist. As the Creator of everything, God made all families—both angelic families in heaven and human families on earth. This includes all people groups, whether gentile or Jewish (see 2:14–22; 3:6). Because God is the Creator of everything, he has access to glorious, unlimited resources. He does not hold back these resources but gladly gives them to his children.
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
A doxology is a statement of praise to...
A doxology is a statement of praise to God. This doxology ends the first section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians (see also Romans 16:25–27; Galatians 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:18; Jude 1:24–25). It is Paul's way of praising God for all he has described in these chapters.
20Now 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, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.