Bible Study Ephesians 3: 1-21

 

 A Commentary of the Book of Ephesians

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Ephesians 3: 1-21

Text:

The Mystery of Christ Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 About which, when you read you can understand my insight [a]into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets [b]in the Spirit: 6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of 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. 8 To me, the very least of all [c]saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the [d]eternal purpose which He [e]carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and [f]confident access through faith [g]in Him. 13 Therefore I ask [h]you not to lose heart at my afflictions on your behalf, which are your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom [i]every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the [j]saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations [k]forever and ever. Amen.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 1: “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—”

Paul begins a prayer that his Gentile readers will be filled with the presence of Christ and be able to grasp the truth about their Redeemer’s love and power. Paul was a “prisoner” and the Greek word used means “one under arrest.” Paul considered his entire life as one under arrest for Christ. Can we say the same?

Verse 2: “if indeed you heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;”

Paul did not choose the stewardship of his apostleship or ministry. God had sovereignly commissioned him with the calling, spiritual gifts, opportunities, knowledge, and authority to minister as the apostle to the Gentiles. God is in charge of salvation. He elects, calls and draws the one under Holy Spirit conviction to the blood stained cross to see Christ as his or her own Savior. God is also in charge of the means He wills to bring about His plan. God chose Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles and Paul obeyed.

Verse 3: “that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.”

Paul interrupts the thought begun in v. 1 to reemphasize and to expand upon the truths he had just written concerning the ministry to the Gentiles. He affirmed his authority for teaching the oneness of Jew and Gentile in Christ, a new and far-reaching truth that most of the Ephesians doubtless found difficult to comprehend or accept. It is difficult for the modern reader to grasp how Paul’s teachings would be considered controversial, but they were. Jews who would not even eat with Gentiles were now being taught that there was a new man that was neither Jew nor Greek, but rather Christian.

Verse 4: “About which, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”

There were many truths hidden and later revealed in the New Testament that are called mysteries. Here is an example: Jew and Gentile brought together in one body in the Messiah. Considering the time was not that far in the past that the Jews would not even eat with a Gentile. Gentiles were considered unclean and vile. However now through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, there was no more a Jewish believer or a Gentile believer, but rather a new man, a Christian.

Verse 5: “which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:”

The Old Testament’s silence about Paul’s mystery being the union of Jews and Gentiles in the church was relative, not absolute. The “One New Man” concept was a mystery that would be revealed in the New Testament. It was anticipated by the prophets (“Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance”.... TThank the Lord Jesus Christ that we may now be a “New Man,” a Christian.

Verse 6: “that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”

Although the Old Testament gives occasional glimpses of a unified human race, only in the light of Christ’s sacrifice does God’s plan become clear: in one magnificent act He removed the enmity between Himself and humanity and also took away the divisions that fracture humanity. The Gentiles have been grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel to create an unified “One New Man.” Believing Gentiles and believing Jews are one in the Church.

Verse 7: “Although the Old Testament gives occasional glimpses of a unified human race, only in the light of Christ’s sacrifice does God’s plan become clear: in one magnificent act He removed the enmity between Himself and humanity and also took away the divisions that fracture humanity.” 

No man can make himself a minister of God, because the calling, message, work, and empowerment of genuine ministry to and for God are His prerogative alone to give. The calling to the ministry is a God-calling, not a parent calling, personal choice, a Sunday School teacher calling, or a pastor calling. It is a Divine calling unlike any other. 

Verse 8: “ To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ,”

In light of God’s perfect holiness, Paul’s assessment of himself was not false humility but simple honesty. He knew his unworthiness. Today, too often false preachers make the services about themselves, or your emotions or needs, as opposed to the Holiness of God and worshiping Him. The Church is about the Lord Jesus Christ, not you.

Verse 9: “and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;”

God is bringing to light, that is to our understanding, His perfect plan to create a “New Man” in Christ. The Jewish nation believed they were God’s only chosen people. However, God’s plan from eternity past, was to create a “church” of Jewish believers and Gentile believers, who would have the name “Christian.”

Verse 10: “so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

God’s plan to create a new man would now be made known to the church, to angels, both fallen and not fallen, plus all the host of heaven. God’s salvation plan would save people from all nations, races and humanity for the entire world to see. All those saved are saved the same way, through faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood for His sheep. Sheep could be in all sizes, shapes and colors. Thank God that He never turns away a sheep that comes to Him.

Verse 11: “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,”

The supreme purpose of the church is to glorify God, which includes the displaying of His wisdom and power before the angels, who then honor Him with even greater praise. Heaven is a continual worship service. All heaven rejoices that the plan of God in the Lord Jesus Christ to save the sheep has been fully accomplished. This plan was His purpose before Adam and Eve ever took residence in the Garden of Eden.

Verse 12: “in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”

Every person who comes to Christ in faith can come before God at any time, not in their merit, but in Christ-confidence. Our only access is through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am afraid for those, especially in some Charismatic churches where you will hear people say, “I declare and decree,” “I command…,” or “I speak healing.” These are all heretical statements due to a false theology. We can only come to God through the merits of Christ, and nothing of our works.

Verse 13: “Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my afflictions on your behalf, which are your glory.”

Through trouble and suffering, God produces glory. We must avoid the false theology that once you become a Christian that your life will be comfortable. Throughout history, Christians have not been comfortable in this world. The world hates those that refuse to embrace its opinions, commands, and greed. True Christians stand in opposition to the world’s thinking and stand for the Word of God. When you do that, afflictions may come. Paul encourages us not to lose heart because those afflictions are to bring God glory. True Christians get this.

Verse 14: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,”

Jews normally prayed standing. Kneeling during prayer appears to have been an expression of humility and also urgency. This verse returns to the prayer Paul had begun introducing in verse 1 of this chapter. Paul explains why he is praying from the preceding verse. Verses 14-21 are a model prayer that I have modified to pray for my family and other loved ones. 

Verse 15: “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,”

Paul was not teaching the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man, but was simply referring to believers from every era of history, those who are dead (in heaven) and those who are alive (on earth). To be true to Scripture, we do affirm the universal Creatorhood of God, for all people are made by Him. However, He is Father only of those who believe in His only-begotten Son — the Lord Jesus Christ. The idea of the universal fatherhood of God and universal brotherhood of man developed during the end of the 19th century in an effort to find common ground among belief systems. Again, when you depart from Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), you will wander into error.

Verse 16: “that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”

This is one of Paul’s most pointed passages about the work of the Holy Spirit within individuals. It is the power of the Holy Spirit working within the believer to sanctify the believer and awaken the unconverted to their lost condition. The Holy Spirit will strengthen the believer to enable him or her to walk on the highway of holiness in this life. We cooperate and yield to His Spirit to do our human part to grow in grace.

Verse 17: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly rooted and grounded in love,”

Every believer is indwelt by Christ at the moment of salvation, but God is “at home,” finding comfort and satisfaction, only where hearts are cleansed of sin and filled with His Spirit. Part of our daily Christian walk is prayer, confession of personal sin and forgiveness of others. Christ dwells in our hearts through faith and this speaks of the believers continual trust in Christ to be your Lord. When He is your Lord, you will be rooted and grounded in His love.

Verse 18: “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,”

A believer cannot understand the fullness of God’s love apart from genuine, Spirit-empowered love in his own life. To comprehend God’s love is impossible without the Holy Spirit working in the believer’s life. The words “breadth, length, height and depth” refer to the vastness and completeness of God’s love for His people. 

Verse 19: “and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

Not the love believers have for Christ, but the love of and from Christ that He places in their hearts before they can truly and fully love Him or anyone else. To be “filled up” in the fullness of God is to be living a Spirit-filled life. This is a life totally surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, a living moment by moment consecrated to His will and plan and not your own, and seeking to be an ambassador for the Kingdom of God on earth. As we live this type of surrendered life, the love of and for Christ will increase.

Verse 20: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us,”

When the conditions of the preceding four verses are met, God’s power working in and through believers is experienced in their day to day lives and far beyond their comprehension or understanding. It still amazes me that God’s Spirit resides in us and works in us.

Verse 21: “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul gives glory to God because of the power that God has given to the church. Paul now concludes his prayer and will turn his attention to a practical letter providing specifics on how the Christians should live and treat each other.