The first three chapters of Ephesians are doctrinal, the last three are practical.
Chapter 3
begins the transition from a Christian understanding of salvation, grace, and the power of
Christ into a practical guide for Christian living. To make the transition, in this chapter, Paul
refers to his own calling by God and prays for the spiritual strength of the Ephesian church.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3
God’s mystery and man’s place in it revealed. Ephesians 3:1-5
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:3 How that by revelation
he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,4 Whereby, when ye
read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was
not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and
prophets by the Spirit;
During his Roman imprisonment Paul was under house arrest. In the day he was free to move
around the house with the supervision of soldiers, but every night he was chained to a soldier
to make sure he did not escape before his trial before Caesar.
The imprisonment Paul described was his first Roman imprisonment, which took place
between approximately AD 60 and 62. During this time, Paul was under house arrest while
awaiting trial. Despite the confinement, for two full years he was able to freely preach the
gospel to all who came to him. As a result, even some among Caesar's household came to
faith (Philippians 4:22). In addition, during this time, Paul wrote four letters which are now
part of the New Testament: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and this letter to the
Ephesians.
The entire reason he was under arrest and awaiting trial was because of his missionary efforts
on behalf of the Gentiles. Paul suffered for the very truth he would explain to the Ephesians,
and this did not make him back down one bit. Paul wanted us to realize that it was a benefit
for us that he was a prisoner.
It is indeed amazing that God would take a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee, and a
persecutor of the church to be the main minister of the mystery, the mystery of the work of
the gospel in bringing Jew and Gentile together into one new body.
The mystery described. Ephesians 3:6-7
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of
the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
The mystery itself – that believing Jews and believing Gentiles are joined together into one
body of Christ, into one Church, and no longer separated before God as such.
The truth of this mystery means that Gentiles are now full partakers of His promise. This was
a privilege no longer reserved only for the believing Jewish person.
This could only happen through the gospel, where all men have an equal standing in Jesus.
This is the same gospel Paul is a servant of, because of the gift of grace given to him by the
working of God’s power.
Paul says he is a minister, but that is a title of service, not exaltation. In ancient Greece,
the minister (diakonos) “is a table waiter who is always at the bidding of his customers.
Paul’s presentation of the mystery. Ephesians 3:8-9
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ:
Paul marvelled at the grace given to him, by which he was called to preach the gospel that
makes the mystery a reality. When we consider Paul’s personal history, we see that his
calling really was all of grace.
The ancient Greek word translated “preach” literally means “to announce good news.”
Paul’s preaching was simply the announcement of the good news of what God has done in
Jesus.
This mystery is like great riches for the Gentiles. They can now come before God in a
standing they could only dream of before.
God’s riches are unsearchable; we will never know them completely.
Having been entrusted with such riches, Paul’s passion was to make this gospel known to all
people. He wants everybody to see and share in the fellowship of this mystery.
The purpose of the mystery. Ephesians 3:10-12
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be
known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,11 According to the eternal purpose which
he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:12 In whom we have boldness and access with
confidence by the faith of him.
God is a being of infinite wisdom and glory, and He wants His creatures to know His great
and manifold wisdom. One purpose in His great plan of the ages is to reveal this wisdom.
God also wants to reveal this wisdom to the church. Yet in the big picture, God doesn’t use
the angels to reveal His wisdom to the saints, but He does use the saints to reveal His wisdom
to the angelic beings, both faithful and fallen angels. This reminds us that we are called for
something far greater than our own individual salvation and sanctification. We are called to
be the means by which God teaches the universe a lesson, and a beautiful lesson.
We are surrounded by invisible spiritual beings, and they intently look upon us. Here, Paul
draws back the invisible curtain that hides these beings just as Elisha prayed at
Dothan, LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see (2 Kings 6:17). These angelic beings
see us perfectly and know us far better than we know them.
They see in us indeed all our weakness, and all our sin. But they see a nature which, wrecked
by itself, was yet made in the image of their God and ours. We may think our lives are small
and insignificant; the angels know better. We may doubt our high standing, seating in
heavenly places; the angels see this spiritual reality with eyes wide open.
angelic beings are interested and instructed by the lives of Christians. This is why the conduct
of the church is so important: because angelic and demonic beings are looking on, and God’s
intent is to teach them through us.
1 Corinthians 11:10
1 Peter 1:12
1 Timothy 5:21
Paul’s current personal participation in the mystery. Ephesians 3:13
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Though under arrest for the sake of the gospel, Paul asked us to not lose heart. Paul didn’t
want us to be discouraged for his sake, because Paul was still being used in the service of
God’s eternal plan.
Each of us has a place in the service of God’s eternal plan. Knowing this and working
towards it is a great guard against losing heart in the midst of tribulation.
Paul prays in light of the mystery. Ephesians 3:14-15
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named,
The basis of Paul’s prayer was his knowledge of God’s purpose. This means he confidently
prayed according to God’s will. We can’t pray effectively if we do not have insight into
God’s purpose and will.
Paul prayed in the posture of bowing his knees. This position of utmost humility was in
contrast to the more normal posture of prayer in that culture, to pray standing with hands
raised up. The humility came when he considered God’s great eternal plan, his place in that
plan, and how God’s work is unstoppable even when Paul was imprisoned.
Paul directed his prayer to the Father, who is presented as the “planner” among the members
of the Trinity. In the Bible, prayer is usually directed to the Father, through the Son, by the
empowering and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Paul prays again for the Ephesians. Ephesians 3:16-19
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love,18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is
the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Paul asked that they would be strengthened with might, and that the strength would
be according to the riches of His glory (a most generous measure). He also prayed that the
strength would come through the Holy Spirit and that it would be put into their inner man.
There is an inner man just as real as our physical body. We all understand the importance of
strength in our physical body, but many are exceedingly weak in the inner man.
Paul asked that Jesus would live in these believers, even as Jesus promised in John 14:23: If
anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to
him and make Our home with him.
Dwell uses the ancient Greek word for a permanent home. Jesus wants to settle down in your
heart, not just visit as a stranger.
Paul asked that all this would take place as they were rooted and grounded in love. They
should be rooted and grounded in their love for one another, more than being rooted and
grounded in their love for God and the knowledge of that love.
Paul asked that they might be able to understand together in community every dimension of
the love of Jesus. Paul wanted them to know it by experience and not just in words.
The love of Jesus has width. You can see how wide a river is by noticing how much it covers
over. God’s river of love is so wide that it covers over my sin, and it covers over every
circumstance of my life, so that all things work together for good. When I doubt His
forgiveness or His providence, I am narrowing the mighty river of God’s love. His love is as
wide as the world: For God so loved the world (John 3:16).
The love of Jesus has length. When considering the length of God’s love, ask yourself,
“When did the love of God start towards me? How long will it continue?” These truths
measure the length of God’s love. Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah
31:3).
The love of Jesus has depth. Philippians 2:7-8 tell us how deep the love of Jesus goes: but
made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness
of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient
to the point of death, even the death of the cross. You can’t go lower than the death of the
cross, and that is how deep the love of Jesus is for us.
The love of Jesus has height. To see the height of God’s love, ask yourself, “How high does it
lift me?” It lifts me to heavenly places where I am seated with Christ. He has raised us up
together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).
· God’s love is wide enough to include every person.
· God’s love is long enough to last through all eternity.
· God’s love is deep enough to reach the worst sinner.
· God’s love is high enough to take us to heaven.
Paul asked God to fill these Christians unto all the fullness of God. Paul wanted Christians to
experience life in Jesus Christ, the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9), and to be filled to their
capacity with Jesus, even as God is filled to His own capacity with His own character and
attributes.
A glorious doxology. Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ
Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Paul says that God is able to do above all that we ask or think. The we included Paul and the
other apostles and they certainly knew that Jesus could do great things.
You can ask for every good thing you have ever experienced – God can do above that.
· You can think of or imagine things beyond your experience – God can do above that.
· You can imagine good things that are beyond your ability to name – God can do above that.
The things Paul prayed for in the previous verses (spiritual strength, the indwelling Jesus,
experiential knowledge of God’s love, and the fullness of God) belong to us as children of
God. However, they must be received by believing prayer and can be furthered in the lives of
others by our prayers for them.
The only fitting response to this great God is to give Him glory – especially in the church, the
company of His redeemed, and that He receive that glory throughout all ages, world without
end
When the church understands and walks in God’s eternal purpose, God will be glorified and
the church will fulfill its important duty of simply glorifying God.
1. How does Paul identify himself as he begins this chapter? (1)
As the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles
2. What did Paul say we can have by reading what he had written? (3-4)
We can understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ
3. What is the "mystery" that has now been revealed? (6)
That Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise
through the gospel
4. What was the intent for proclaiming the revelation of this mystery? (10)
That the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church
to principalities and powers in the heavenly places
5. According to what was all this being done? (11)
The eternal purpose or plan which God accomplished in Christ Jesus
6. What has Christ therefore made possible for us? (12)
Boldness and access to God with confidence through faith in Him
7. In view of God's grace given to Paul, what does he therefore ask? (14)
For them not to lose heart over his tribulations on their behalf
8. In Paul's second prayer for the Ephesians, for what does he ask? (14-19)
That they would be strengthened by the Spirit of God; That they might comprehend
the love of Christ; That they might be filled with all the fullness of God
9. What does Paul say God is able to do? How? (20)
- Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think
- According to the power that works in us
10. In what entity does Paul seek to ascribe glory to God? (21)
- In the church
