Ephesians Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,

• (1) He maintains his apostleship against the offence of the cross, upon which he also makes an argument to confirm himself, affirming that he was not only appointed an apostle by the mercy of God, but was also appointed particularly to the Gentiles. And this was to call them everywhere to salvation, because God had so determined this from the beginning, although he deferred a great while the manifestation of his counsel.
• (a) These words, "the prisoner of Jesus Christ", are taken passively, that is to say, "I, Paul, am cast into prison for maintaining the glory of Christ."

3:2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;

3:3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,

3:4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;

3:5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

• (b) He does not mean that no one knew of the calling of the Gentiles before, but because very few knew of it. And those that did know it, such as the prophets, had it revealed to them very obscurely, and by means of symbols.

3:6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,

3:7 of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

3:9 and to make all men see what is the [2] administration [See Ephesians Footnotes 2] of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ;

3:10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,

• (2) The unsuspected calling of the Gentiles was as it were a mirror to the heavenly angels, in which they might behold the marvellous wisdom of God.
• (c) God always had only one way to save men by: but it had various shapes and forms.

3:11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;

• (d) Which was before all things.

3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

3:13 Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.

3:14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

• (3) He teaches by his own example that the efficacy of the doctrine depends upon the grace of God, and therefore we ought to join prayers with the preaching and hearing of the word. And these are needful not only to those who are youngsters in religion, but even to the oldest also, that as they grow up more and more by faith in Christ, and are confirmed with all spiritual gifts, they may be grounded and rooted in the knowledge of that immeasurable love, with which God the Father has loved us in Christ. And this is because the whole family, of which a part is already received into heaven, and part is yet here on earth, depends upon that adoption of the heavenly Father, in his only Son.

3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

• (e) That entire people, who had but one household Father, and that is the Church which is adopted in Christ.

3:16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

• (f) According to the greatness of his mercy.
• (g) See (Romans 7:22).

3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

• (h) With which God loves us, which is the root of our election.

3:18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

• (i) How perfect that work of Christ is in every part.

3:19 and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

• (k) Which God has shown us in Christ.
• (l) Which surpasses all the capacity of man’s intellect, to comprehend it fully in his mind: for otherwise whoever has the Spirit of God perceives as much (according to the measure that God has given him) as is necessary for salvation.
• (m) So that we have abundantly in us whatever things are required to make us perfect with God.

3:20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

• (4) He breaks forth into a thanksgiving, by which the Ephesians also may be strengthened and encouraged to hope for anything from God.

3:21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.