Ephesians3
New American Standard
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
3that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly.
4By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
8To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
9and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;
10so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
13Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.
14For this reason I bend my knees before the Father,
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.
20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ephesians 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle sets forth his office, and his qualifications for it, and his call to it. (1–7). Also the noble purposes answered by it. (8–12). He prays for the Ephesians. (13–19). And adds a thanksgiving. (20, 21).
vv1-7
For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation through Christ. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the ages before Christ, as unto the prophets of the New Testament. This was the great truth made known to the apostle, that God would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ. An effectual working of Divine power attends the gifts of Divine grace. As God appointed Paul to the office, so he qualified him for it.
vv8-12
Those whom God advances to honourable employments, he makes low in their own eyes; and where God gives grace to be humble, there he gives all other needful grace. How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ; the unsearchable riches of Christ! Though many are not enriched with these riches; yet how great a favour to have them preached among us, and to have an offer of them! And if we are not enriched with them it is our own fault. The first creation, when God made all things out of nothing, and the new creation, whereby sinners are made new creatures by converting grace, are of God by Jesus Christ. His riches are as unsearchable and as sure as ever, yet while angels adore the wisdom of God in the redemption of his church, the ignorance of self-wise and carnal men deems the whole to be foolishness.
vv13-19
The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?
Key Words
τούτου (toútou): of (from or concerning) this (person or thing)
χάριν (chárin): through favor of, i.e. on account of
ἐγώ (egṓ): I, me
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
δέσμιος (désmios): a captive (as bound)
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ὑπέρ (hypér): "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than
ὑμῶν (hymōn): of (from or concerning) you
ἔθνος (éthnos): a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
Cross References
Ephesians 3Paul as the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of the Gentiles; his suffering is their glory.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul's specific ministering office and priestly service of the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The revelation of the mystery of Christ, which was kept secret since the world began.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The mystery of Christ hidden from ages and generations but now made manifest to His saints.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Paul's deep humility, calling himself the least of the apostles/saints because he persecuted the church.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul receiving his knowledge of the mystery by direct revelation from Jesus Christ, not man.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Preaching among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches and glory of this mystery, which is Christ.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The unsearchable riches of Christ match the depth of the riches and wisdom of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Angels (principalities and powers) desiring to look into the glorious things revealed in the Gospel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Boldness and access with confidence into grace through faith in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Encouragement to come boldly to the throne of grace, echoing the access and confidence in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Both Jews and Gentiles having access by one Spirit unto the Father through Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ delivering and sending Paul directly to the Gentiles to open their eyes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The renewing and strengthening of the inward or inner man day by day.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Believers being rooted, built up, and grounded in faith and love in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Receiving from Christ's abundant fullness, matching 'filled with all the fullness of God.'
Supported by Matthew Henry