Ephesians 3

Subdivision Two - Chapter 3:1-13

The Ministry of the Mystery

The Message of Paul

Postscripts are almost always very important. When it is a postscript of an apostle, it deserves even closer attention. This is the case in Romans 16:25-27, where Paul declares in explicit terms that the Gospel, which he preached to the Gentiles was given to him in a special revelation. Further, he claims emphatically, that this revelation was exclusive to himself and different from that of the apostles to the house of Israel.

“My Gospel,” is a term used by Paul in three passages. This term is explained in several other Epistles as well as in the section of the letter before us. It is important to recognize that he was not taught this gospel by any of the others who were appointed apostles before him, but by direct revelation from the Father. It was on his second visit to Jerusalem, seventeen years after his conversion that he taught “his Gospel” to the other apostles. Then they too acknowledged the distinct character and content of Paul’s message as compared to their own. They were “…seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter with the gospel to the circumcised.” (Galatians 2:7)

This important difference must be recognized if Peter’s instructions to Jewish converts to Christianity are to be properly understood. The same is true of James’ letter to believers who were all within the Jewish band of Christian converts. These were the only generation of believers to have been rightfully under the Law prior to their redemption as New Testament believers. No other individual or group could make that claim. For that reason, Hebrews, James, and 1st and 2nd Peter must be studied with that in mind. [Application: each book of the Bible must be studied with its specific audience in mind in order to preserve the message and intent of the book]

“We must carefully remember that the mystery does not mean the church merely. It is the mystery of Christ emphatically; and the part about Christ is the higher of the two.” William Kelly

Subdivision Three - Chapter 3:14-21

Christ Abides in the Inner Man by Faith

We are Filled into All the Fullness of God

Introduction to Subdivision Three

Here, in Subdivision Three of Division Three, we see emphasis on our completion in Christ becoming reality and maturing in our experience. This is true individually as well as universally. The whole realm of creation will honor God for eternity and does acknowledge Him as the Creator now, with the single exception of unbelieving man. Sometimes this is willingly done on man’s part and sometimes only by his being drawn kicking and screaming through difficulty. But, it is always in accordance with the Sovereign will of the Father. The principle of dwelling, carrying with it the sense of being enclosed, illustrates for us Christ abiding within the heart of man by faith.

The reality of our presence on Earth as the temple of the Holy Spirit, enclosing Him in our life and is yet another illustration of that same principle. Finally, it all teaches us of union. Union of God and man as we are taken and joined to God in Christ.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are seen present with us as this segment of the Epistle unfolds the pattern for a believer’s prayer in this dispensation as defined by Paul.

1. Kneel before the Father, to whom your prayer is to be directed.

2. Acknowledge His Sovereignty.

3. Petition for personal inner strength as a ministry of the Holy Spirit.

4. Pray for a biblical foundation and spiritual sustenance for other believers.

5. Pray for a personal understanding of the depth of the love of the Father.

6. Pray for practical knowledge of the fullness of His will in your life.

7. Pray for His glorification, for ways to “make Him shine” before others.

Ephesians 3:1

The “Mystery” revealed

(3:1) “For this reason” refers back to “being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives” of 2:20-22 and is the introduction to a statement that is completed in verse Eph_14-17. “I, Paul, (am) the prisoner (lit. “fettered”), is not the bond-slave designation used in other places, but rather a word for being constrained or tied down. Here, “of” is possessive and designates ownership by “the Christ Jesus”. Use of the article before “Christ” says that Paul is one tied in ownership to “the Messiah, who is Jesus”.

Ephesians 3:2

(3:2) “If” is first class and states an assumption that they “have heard” all of this before. “Administration” (“dispensation” in the KJV) is oikonomia, literally “the law of the house.” The Father had deposited in Paul that which was going to be required of the Gentiles in order for them to be built up into the building that He intended.

Ephesians 3:3

The Mystery Defined

(3:3) “The mystery” defines “God’s grace” from the previous verse. Use of the definite article calls attention to the substance or character of the “mystery” which was revealed to Paul. The “mystery” is the total purpose of God in Christ, of which the Church is a resulting consequence

Ephesians 3:4

(3:4,5) His purpose in writing this epistle, then, is to enable them to better “understand” his “insight into the mystery of Christ,”. “Understand” refers to their application of what they know to experience. They are to live in light of truth revealed. “Apostles” is understood to mean those men selected by the Lord Jesus and appointed to present the Gospel to Israel, and through Paul to the Gentiles. “Prophets” cannot mean the Old Testament prophets, for they were part of the “other generations” during which the “mystery” was not revealed. They are the New Testament “forth tellers” of the resurrected Lord Jesus who are taking the word of His ascension throughout the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:6

(3:6) “That the Gentiles are” is a translation of one word in the Greek and identifies a fact, not a purpose. “Fellow-heirs, joint-members, and sharers together” all indicate a common ownership through common holdings of people. The Gentiles now hold with the Israelites, a common ownership of that singular promise which is only realized by one who is “in Christ Jesus”. It is very significant that “Jesus” is used in conjunction with His title as Messiah. All of the promises made to Israel are not included here, rather, that promise of union with God unique to the New Order of creation, the Church.

Ephesians 3:7

(3:7) “Minister” is diakonos, from which we get our word “deacon”. “According to” is kata and indicates a standard or means of measuring. Paul’s service of the Gospel is to be commensurate with the power given as a gift of God’s grace. He does not act out of his own power or on the basis of his own authority. [Application: be very careful about “taking power and authority” over Satan.]

Ephesians 3:8

Paul’s Unique Commission

(3:8,9) There is no article before “saints”, calling attention to the character of those who are “set apart”. Of this group, Paul says that he is the very least, yet to him was given the charge “to preach to the Gentiles the…riches of the Christ”. There is a definite article before “Christ”, specifying the historical Messiah as the object of his gospel. It is his specific duty “to bring to light” (that is in contrast with something that has been veiled or hidden from view) “the administration”, oikonomia, (see v.2) “of this mystery…”. There is a “rule of life” that attends becoming a Christian. You will not find that “rule of life” in any instructions to God’s earthly people for it “was kept hidden in God for ages past”. You must find it in God’s instructions to His Heavenly people–and that is Paul’s singular responsibility–to define that “rule” for the Church.

Ephesians 3:10

The Purpose of the Church

(3:10,11) The intention of God expressed in His will through the Church is here stated for us.

• “That” introduces us to a purpose clause.

• “Now” gives us the time frame of reference.

• “Manifold” is multi-faceted, as a cut gem.

• “Rulers and authorities” are classes of angelic beings that have to do with man and his world.

• “Heavenly realms” tells us that we are here for all of creation, in heaven and on earth, to observe, in order that they might know more of God.

• “According to” is a standard or norm.

• “His eternal purpose” states that this position of the Church is an expression of His eternal will.

The focus is on the Father. This means that the purpose for which God has called out the Church is that through it He might show to all the angelic realms, the full spectrum of His wisdom and character. It is important to note that there is no redemption for the angelic segment of creation who chose to follow Satan and fell from grace. Salvation is reserved to man, for whom Christ died.

Ephesians 3:12

(3:12) Now, the focus shifts and is on the Son. It is “in Him and through faith in Him” that we have the freedom from sin and the confidence in our redemption to “approach God (the Father).” Would the Son of God approach His Father with thanksgiving and petitions? Absolutely! So, too, may we approach our Father with thanksgiving for His provision and petition for that which we most need in order to live victorious lives in Christ.

Ephesians 3:13

(3:13) Knowing that he has suffered on their behalf, Paul says, in effect, “get a grip on it”, you are caused to “glory” (shine) by means of his “sufferings”. There are circumstances in which a believer is in difficulty specifically for the benefit of others. This should not be a cause of discouragement, but of increased trust and dependence on God and rest, knowing that He is bringing in His best for each of us.

Ephesians 3:14

Stage One–The focus of our adoration is God the Father.

(3:14,15) The “whole family in heaven and on earth” gives us the picture of completion. There is nothing of creation that does not emanate from “the Father”. This establishes us properly in our relationship to the Father as the “Planner” of the Godhead.

Ephesians 3:16

Stage Two–Our strength and enlargement is of the Holy Spirit.

(3:16) We are “strengthened”* by the addition* of the Father’s riches and the power of His Spirit within us. “Power” is dunamis from which we get the word “dynamite”. This means that we must not work out of our personal human strengths, but out of His strength and character. It is the essence of faith applied to our experiences. It is the basis on which we might attempt things that are beyond our known abilities or skills, but which we are impelled to do by the urging of God’s Spirit within us.

Ephesians 3:17

(3:17) Our preparation as a temple is for a purpose. “That” introduces a purpose clause, “that Christ may dwell”. The place of His dwelling is in our “hearts” (“inner being”). “Faith” is the means of appropriating His presence. “Rooted” refers to our source of sustenance. It must be the Living Word. “Established” refers to our stability, or relative maturity. It is the sense in which we are gaining ground in our child-training program by the Holy Spirit.

Don’t miss the progression of verses Eph_17-19…First, we are rooted in His love–Our nourishment flows from Him. Then we are to be established in His love–Our strength flows from Him. This produces power in us, power to “grasp” the enormity of His love and experience it in our lives. Nourishment yields energy! Energy is measured in terms of strength! Strength is expressed as power!

There is nothing greater or more all encompassing, in the whole universe than His love! Finally, our experience will lead us to the point of realizing that His love and provision for us personally is greater than we can ever imagine or know–and at that point of encountering the omnipresence of God, we are being prepared to “be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”. What a description of His intent towards us in bringing us to maturity in Christ.

Ephesians 3:18

(3:18) “Power” is “strength,” while that ability “to grasp” is “to apprehend,” not of experience, but of knowledge itself. It means to take possession of the breadth of the “love of Christ”. Every believer should live within the knowledge that God loves us and has given us every asset necessary to glorify Him in our present circumstance, regardless of what that might be.

Ephesians 3:19

(3:19) Where verse 18 presents knowledge as fact, verse 19 presents knowledge as tried experientially. “Know” and “knowledge” are both from ginosko and speak of experiential information. “Love” is agape and refers to source love. “That” introduces a purpose clause–our purpose as believers is to be “filled” with “all the fullness of God.” Not to do great things, but to know Him fully.

Ephesians 3:20

(3:20,21) This doxology begins with a double statement of God’s omnipotence. He is “able beyond all things” translates huper, “over, in a measure exceeding”, and “to do immeasurably more” translates huperekperissou, “exceeding some number, more than necessary”. “Power” is dunamis “a source energy that moves to action”. That power is resident within us as the Holy Spirit and is moving us along our experience both as a believer and as a member of the family of God.