Ephesians Chapter 3 Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles
Ephesians 3:1-13
Verse 1- For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles --
Have you ever started to pray and got sidetracked by your thoughts?
Paul starts out in Chapter 3 with a statement - stops to interject a thought - and continues in prayer in verse 14. What is significant, is that Paul, in the prior verses (2: 11-22) has been explaining the hostile division between Jew and Gentile and that it was Christ's purpose to unite the two as one in the formulation of His Church. Paul, in recognizing the irony of explaining this message, reflects on the fact that he is a currently a prisoner in Rome "for the sake of you Gentiles". Why did Paul consider himself "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles"? When Paul met with the Ephesian elders, he said, "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me" (Acts 20:21-23). Upon reaching Jerusalem, Paul went to see James and the elders in the church and reported "in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry" (Acts 21:19). They also told Paul the Jews had been "informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs" (Acts 21:21). When the people saw Paul, they "stirred up the whole crowd and seized him" (Acts 21:28). Paul was arrested and given opportunity to address the people. As his defense, he shared with them his testimony. They listened intently up until the time he said that the Lord to him, "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). The word Gentile brought out all their anger and exposed their pride. They were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, telling them about the one true God. But they had renounced that mission by becoming separatists and exclusive. God's plan; however, would not be thwarted, the Gentiles were hearing the Good News through Jewish Christians such as Paul and Peter. Paul was eventually sent to Rome so that he could appeal his case to Caesar. It was from the Roman prison that Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians. (see summary of Paul's "journey to Rome") |
Was Paul called to minister to the Gentiles?
Acts 9 provides the account following Paul's encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision and told him about Paul. Ananias was unsure about what he was understanding because he had "heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to the saints in Jerusalem." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" (Acts 9:10-16) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God --the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His Son, who as to His human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Him and for His name's sake, we receive grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1-6) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Romans 1:16) |
Verse 2- 6 Surely you have heard about the administration 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 heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
What was the administration of God's grace?
Paul is referring to the special stewardship given to him to share the gospel to the Gentiles. God's great plan shown to Paul in a revelation, "as I have already written briefly" may refer to a previous letter that was not preserved by the church or it may refer to an earlier part of this letter. What was the mystery that was not made known to men in other generations? God's plan was hidden from previous generations not because God wanted to keep something from His people, but because He would reveal it to everyone in His perfect timing. God planned to have Jews and Gentiles comprise one body, the Church. It was known in the Old Testament that the Gentiles would receive salvation (Isaiah 49:6); but it was never revealed in the Old Testament that all Gentile and Jewish believers would become equal in the body of Christ. Yet this equality was accomplished when Jesus destroyed the "dividing wall" and created the "one new man" (2:14,15). |
"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6)
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, (Isaiah 42:6) |
Verse 7-8 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ . . .
Why was it important that Paul became a servant of this gospel?
Paul didn't feel that he was "ruled by" requiring a legalistic adherence to his calling. He wasn't "enslaved by" requiring a forced obedience. In contrast, Paul willingly served the gospel by which he knew that he was saved. With a servant heart, God was able to lead him to take the gospel to the world - first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. (Also see the notes on Colossians 1:25) Why did Paul say that was "less than the least of all God's people"? Paul played a prominent role in establishing and growing the Church; however, unlike many of our leaders today, he took a "servant attitude" to serve those who he recognized that he was given the privilege to minister to. He was humbled by God's goodness in extending this privilege considering hi previous life of religious self-righteousness, and aggressive persecution. He was amazed by God's love for such a persecutor of His church. Consider why Paul became a servant by the gift of God's grace? What would grace have to do with being empowered for ministry? At one time, I thought God's grace was only administered at the time of salvation. I knew that salvation was a gift and not based on my merit. But I later discovered that God's grace is also given in that He empowers us with His strength through the Holy Spirit to produce the desire, the will and the ability to equip us with what is needed. Paul is telling us that through God's grace, he was given the ability to take the gospel to the unbelieving world. The Holy Spirit will equip us too if we have a servant heart and submit to His leading. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me (2 Corinthians 12:9) |
What is the significance that Paul was a Pharisee?
As a Pharisee, Paul would have been specifically educated and held to the strictest observance of the traditional and written law. Although portrayed as hypocritical, the Pharisee's would have objective the most to fellowshiping and ministering to the Gentiles. When Paul became a Christ-follower, he could have tried to negotiate with God and remained as a Pharisee with the intent of bringing about change to among them. Instead, God called a person who was not just a Pharisee, he was trained among the most reputable of all Pharisees and had been radical about persecuting followers of "the way". A transformation such as Paul had to originate with God.....there is no other explanation. I think perhaps God also calls us to minister to groups unlike or opposite to us. It shows that it is God at work. Ministering to the Gentiles would have been very unlike a Pharisee and would have gone against everything that their identity stood for and everything they believed in. I'm not suggesting that we go out and try to appeal to people that are our polar opposites, God brings people into our lives that we cross paths and share a common interest as well. However, we should be open to people that seem to be unlikely candidates for sharing the gospel. What does it mean to be humble? Being humble is often thought of as "broken in spirit"...thinking less of ourselves. But being humble is actually having a correct perspective of ourselves in relationship to God.....our true identify in Christ should make our spirits soar! But having a humble correct estimation of ourselves does not mean that we should think less of ourselves as much as it means to think of ourselves less....not demand our rights. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:3-8) |
Verse 9-10 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent 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 his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul was given two focuses. The first was to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable (unfathomable or boundless) riches of Christ. Mankind could not discover God if God had not chosen to reveal Himself first. Paul's ministry to the Gentiles is a well known aspect of Paul's mission. What else did Paul say was his second focus?
To make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery was for ages past was kept hidden in God. The original Greek wording for "to make plain" would more closely be translated "to bring to light" or literally "turn on the light". The tension that is difficult to bring forward is that while we can enlighten or illuminate, we cannot make or force men to see the truth. What Paul was intentional about making plain was "the administration of [this] mystery". Again, the Greek word used here for "administration" could better translate "stewardship" or "dispensation". What is important to know, in regard to stewardship, it was in regard to the management of someone else's property. Paul's goal was to enlighten all in respect to rite dispensation (God's perfect timing/ time frame) that would cause all to understand the manner in which the gospel, the plan of salvation is to be communicated to the people. God had entrusted the spread of the gospel of Christ to the responsibility of man. But not just anyone! "His intent was that now through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known". The Church is responsible for spreading the gospel. The Church, comprised of Jews and Gentiles, is the mystery that was kept hidden for ages past. |
What is significant about making "known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms"?
According to LAN: This was a reference to either angels who are witnesses to these events or hostile spiritual forces opposed to God. The following is further commentary from: https://bible.org/seriespage/ephesians-3-0 The angels longed to know God's plan (cf. 1 Pet. 1:12). God used His love for the Church to reveal Himself to mankind and to angels (cf. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:9). Regarding "to the rulers and the authorities", this refers to angelic levels of authority, both good and evil (cf. Rom. 8:38-39; 1 Cor. 2:8; Eph. 1:21; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15, 20). This was a major theological aspect of the Gnosticism. For them, salvation was the procurement of secret knowledge so that one could pass through these angelic levels (aeons) to reach the high, good god. Regarding "in heavenly places", this locative (of sphere) neuter plural adjective (epouranious) "in the heavenly places" is only used in Ephesians (cf. 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). From the context of all of its usages, it must mean the spiritual realm in which believers live here and now, not heaven. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- What I am content in knowing and understanding, is that the mystery of the Church was hidden in the past; not because God wanted to keep it a secret but the identify and mission of the Church was not to be revealed until the birth of the Church. For much of what Christ spoke of was not even understood until the Holy Spirit was made available for all believers. These verses will be kept in tension for further consideration. |
Verse 11- 13 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Have you ever had to approach someone of high position - a judge, a boss, a company president?
I have. Without fail, I am always nervous and practiced in what I plan to say. But there is no greater authority or ruler in this universe than God. Because of "His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" we can approach God with freedom and confidence. Let that wash over you. We have the freedom because we don't ask God for anything based on any merit of our own. Rather, we only receive from Him according to His grace. And we have the confidence because we realize that we can go to Him at anytime without appointment. You don't have to practice what you say because He looks at the intentions of the heart. There is always a level of insecurity in an earthly ruler or authority that depends on protocols to enforce protection and respect. But God is not threatened by anyone and is most certainly secure in Who He is and in His position as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His graciousness in allowing us access to His presence through prayer and worship is an awesome privilege! We are welcomed with open arms because we are God's children through our union with Christ. |
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrew 4:16
Notice that following Paul's statement about approaching God with freedom and confidence, he says to "therefore, do not be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory." Paul recognizes that he would not be in prison if he had not risked sharing the gospel with the Ephesians and all other believers. Their salvation was worth the investment and risk so they shouldn't be discouraged by his imprisonment. Paul knew that he could approach God at any time with confidence and find mercy and grace to help him in his time of need which included his prison time. |
Ephesians 3:14-21 A Prayer For The Ephesians |
Verse 14-17a For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
A note on prayer......God has ordained prayer as part of the process by which He works all things after the counsel of His will (Eph 1:11). Paul's prayers are models to pray for ourselves and for others. When Paul says that he "bows his knees before the Father", he is not mandating a posture for prayer so much as he is revealing an attitude for prayer. Also, in that culture, "father" was not only a term of intimacy, but also of authority. While we are invited to come to God as our loving Father, we should always do so with reverence and submission to His sovereign authority. Prayer always changes us when we submit and allow the Spirit to do a working in our spirit. This is how He includes us in His plans....through the faithful and obedient followers who seek to understand and do His will. [link to study notes on James 4:16 - orange journal]
We should also recognize that when we pray, we belong to this great family, the saints in heaven and on earth. As God's children, even the most significant believer can come before Him with the same confidence that the apostle Paul did. But...you must be born into this family through the new birth. Otherwise, you do not have the family privilege of coming before the Father with your requests. So what is Paul praying about? In the middle of his letter, he is compelled to write out and share the thoughts that were expressed from his heart to His heavenly Father on behalf of these believers to prepare themselves for making Christ at home in their hearts. This is Paul’s second prayer for the Ephesians (the first was in 1:15-23). He started to pray in 3:1, but he interrupted himself and went into a digression about his ministry on behalf of the Gentiles in light of God’s purpose for the ages. Now, he comes back to his prayer. Paul had been talking about the Church, comprised of God's people....both Jewish, Greek and all Gentile believers. Paul recognizes that it is because of God's sovereign grace that brought the Jews and Gentiles into one new man, the Church and that the Church is being built together as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. "For this reason", Paul was compelled to pray so that God would make real in their experience what is true of them positionally in Christ. Paul prays that the believers would be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being. We need the power of the Spirit because God changes our outward behavior by doing a working on the inside...our inner person...who we really are. God wants to change our motives, our attitudes and our desires. He does this transformation so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Only the Holy Spirit can make our hearts the place where Jesus is pleased to dwell. This is an ongoing experience of God's power to change our hearts as we seek Him and walk in the Spirit every day. This allows Christ to take up residence in us in a deeper, more conscious way than we experienced at conversion. |
What is the source of the strength for fulfilling the requests for the believers?
Paul is not admonishing the believers to prepare themselves for the task of the Church ahead by getting an emotional charge so that they can muster up the strength from within on their own. Paul acknowledges first and foremost that source of this strength will come from "out of His glorious riches" (NIV). However, understanding that scholars have debated a more correct translation of the Greek, I have found a more consistent translation is this "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory". There is significant difference in views. The best explanation regarding the difference was put this way: if a billionaire gives you $100, he gave out of his riches but if he give you ten million dollars, he gave according to his riches. This translation is also affirmed in the following Scriptures (which is consistently affirmed by all true translations): And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 The point is, God is not lacking in resources to meet our needs. And what He gives us is freely given. This doesn't say He gives to us based on our merit. Rather, we receive from Him according to His riches.....His grace.....His glory. God's glory is the sum of all of His attributes, or everything that makes Him glorious. And His glory is revealed through Jesus Christ After all, Jesus is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15). [NIV: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15) No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known. John 1:18. Make a note how this validates the explanation re: Praying the Names of God, "Son of God". We have the power of heaven backing us up for meeting our needs to accomplish all that He has planned for us to do. These riches in Christ also provide the strength, power and encouragement to follow in obedience to His commands in the face of any opposition. Opposition can come not only from the spiritual powers at work in the world in the form of persecution but it can also come from our own feelings of inadequacy, discouragement or even fear. But we can trust Christ to meet all our needs. |
Verse 17b - 19 And i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, And to know this love that surpasses
knowledge --that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
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Why is "being rooted and established in love" be important?
Anyone who hasn't experienced love has a difficult (if not impossible) time understanding love and showing love to others. The Greek word used here is agape and this word was used to refer to divine love....God's love and His preferences. Being "established" in God's love means to be fully grounded and finding our stability in Him. Before we can really understand God's love we have to be grounded in establishing His love as the foundation for understanding everything else. His love becomes our filter in how we see Him, ourselves, others and how we will view our circumstances. How is God's love described? God's love is described as dimensional! Once we are established in God's love, Paul prays that we will have the "power" to comprehend or grasp God's love. God's love is so much greater than any love limited to human capacity that Paul uses a Greek word for "power" that is only found in this Scripture reference. The word in simple terms is "to have strength enough that intensifies". Another way of putting it is "strength at work," such as working to overcome difficulties in understanding ("getting past knowledge-gaps"). It is used only in this passage in apprehending (decisively laying hold of) the fuller dimensions of knowing the Lord (His love, calling, presence). But Paul doesn't want us to just have "head knowledge" of His love. Even as difficult as it is to really comprehend how extensive God's love is, he goes on to pray that we will "know this love that surpasses knowledge". The Greek word for "know" used here is ginṓskō and means to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance). This word is an intimate knowledge and experience and is also used biblically to refer to sexual intimacy. We are to work to know God's love in understanding and trusting Him by faith when we cannot fully comprehend the richness of His love that has no limits. But knowing something and experiencing something is very different. We don't have to take Paul's word for it....we can actually intimately experience His love first hand. AND if this isn't awesome enough.....having this knowledge and experience of God's love leads to being "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." What is the fullness of God and what is the corresponding promise? Quite simply.....this is all that He is "full of". He is replete or complete in these virtues so much so that it is part of His very being. For example, we just spoke about the depth, breadth, width and height of God's love. God is so rich in love.....full of love because He IS love. This verse refers back to the abundance of His glorious riches (verse 16). He blesses us out of and according to the abundance of His glory (the sum of all His attributes.....everything that makes Him glorious). The promise made here is that we can be "filled to the measure of the fullness of God". We are made complete in Him....lacking nothing that we need to "live and breath" out of of the fullness of of His love and grace. |
God's love is not flat. It doesn't just stretch from "this point" to "that point" but is described in dimensions to denote that it is not limited in reaching everywhere!
LAN describes it this way: God's love is total. It reaches every corner of our experience. It is wide - it covers the breadth of our own experience and it reaches out to the whole world. God's love is long - it continues the length of our lives. It is high - it rises to the heights of our celebration and elation. His love is deep - it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair and even death. God's love is so encompassing, that Paul lets us now that it is impossible to be separated from Christ's presence and His love. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? .... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future [the unknown....especially when things seem uncertain], nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". Romans 8:35,37-39 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.....From the fullness of His grace we have received one blessing after another. John 1:14, 16 |
Verse 20 - 21 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 glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
If Paul’s prayer (requests) seems humanly impossible, his benediction reminds us that God is able to do far more than we can ask or think, according to His power that works within us. Think about it slowly....we limit God in our prayers. He is able to do more than we even ask Him to do. I don't think this means we should necessarily ask Him for greater things as much as we should TRUST Him with all things. We often will ask Him to work out a situation according to our way and our will instead of trusting Him to work things out according to His way and His will. We get nervous in the midst of our problems not trusting Him to carry us through to a greater result far more wonderful (and even miraculous) than we can imagine.
This power (the Holy Spirit) is at work within us! He goes on to reminds us that all of these amazing blessings are not primarily for our happiness (although we will be supremely happy when they are applied to us), but rather for God’s eternal glory. And note that His glory is to be revealed in the Church and in Christ Jesus...throughout ALL generations! We are the Church and Christ is the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18). |
“Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings. Don't pray for a little help to get through a situation, pray to soar"
Phillips Brooks, 19th Century |
This chapter ends the section of Paul's letter to the Ephesians in which he lays out the doctrinal foundation and describes the timeless role of the Church. In chapters 4 through 6, Paul provides the practical applications of these truths and will explain how church members should live in order to bring about the unity God wants.