Ephesians Chapter 3
(Ephesians 3:1)For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
- "For this cause":
- Because we were far off, alienated, pilgrims, strangers
- Because we were under God's Wrath
- Because of Jesus Christ's Salvation through the Cross
- Because we are made One with Jews as Gentiles in Christ
- Because Paul's ministry is to the Gentiles
- A prisoner meaning Paul is compelled to preach to them, the Gentiles
- "You Gentiles" meaning Paul is a Jew, they are Gentiles
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
- This is given to Paul, as in "given me"
- This is a direct statement of his ministry to the Gentiles
- Because the Law could do nothing to save: GRACE
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;(as I wrote afore in few words,
- Paul had this revelation about the Church, "the mystery" in the Old Testament
(Acts 22:17)
And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
- Paul's personality was to not mince words, to speak clearly, strong, straight out
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
- Making and keeping the Gospel so simple a child can understand was what Paul did.
- It is what we need to do also
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;
- This proves it was truly a mystery, unrevealed
- The Holy Spirit is the One Who reveals truth to us, this truth and all truth
AGE, n. [L. aetas,or aevum. But these are undoubtedly contracted words.]
1. The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; as, the usual age of man is seventy years; the age of a horse may be twenty or thirty years; the age of a tree may be four hundred years.
2. That part of the duration of a being, which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth?
Jesus began to be about thirty years of age. Luke 3.
3. The latter part of life, or long continued duration; oldness.
The eyes of Israel were dim for age. Gen 48.
4. A certain period of human life, marked by a difference of state; as, life is divided into four stages or ages, infancy, youth, manhood, and old age; the age of youth; the age of manhood.
5. The period when a person is enabled by law to do certain acts for himself, or when he ceases to be controlled by parents or guardians; as, in our country, both males and females are of age in twenty-one years old.
6. Mature years; ripeness of strength or discretion.
He is of age, as him. John 9.
7. The time of life for conceiving children, or perhaps the usual time of such an event.
Sarah was delivered of a son when she was past age.
Heb. 11.
8. A particular period of time, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of iron, the age of heroes or of chivalry.
9. The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation and a succession of generations; as, ages yet unborn.
The mystery hid from ages. Col 1.
10. A century; the period of one hundred years.
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
- We are grafted into the Beloved of God's people
- The "in Christ" is the key, though the Gospel, not by blood (ours) inheritance but by Blood (Jesus Christ's) inheritance
- This continues the words of Ephesians 2, specifically verse 13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
FELLOW-HEIR, n. A co-heir, or joint-heir; one entitled to a share of the same inheritance.
That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs. Eph 3.
(Ephesians 3:7)
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 Gospel is the source of Paul's ministry, and ours
- Gift, Grace, God, God's Power=SALVATION!
- God is the source of Paul's salvation, and ours-no works needed
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;
- Paul persecuted Christians and had them killed
- He had Stephen stoned (Acts 7)
- He got much grace because of much sin. Hope for us!
- Again more proof of his Gentile ministry
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:
- All men see that the body of Christ, the mystery, is fellowship
- It is a mystery because God hid it
- The Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Creator of it all, being God Himself in the flesh
- Companionship; society; consort; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms; familiar intercourse.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Eph 5.
Men are made for society and mutual fellowship. - Association; confederacy; combination.
Most of the other christian princes were drawn into the fellowship of that war. [Unusual.] - Partnership; joint interest; as fellowship in pain.
- Company; a state of being together.
The great contention of the sea and skies parted our fellowship. - Frequency of intercourse.
In a great town friends are scattered, so that there is not that fellowship which is in less neighborhoods. - Fitness and fondness for festive entertainments; with good prefixed.
He had by his good fellowship - made himself popular, with all the officers of the army. - Communion; intimate familiarity. 1 John 1.
- In arithmetic, the rule of proportions, by which the accounts of partners in business are adjusted, so that each partner may have a share of gain or sustain a share of loss, in proportion to his part of the stock.
- An establishment in colleges, for the maintenance of a fellow.
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
- This is a sight, a spectacle, for the angels
- We, our existence, show, reveal the manifold wisdom of God Himself
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
UN'TO, prep. a compound of un, [on,] and to; of no use in the language, as it expresses no more than to. I do not find it in our mother tongue, nor is it ever used in popular discourse. It is found in writers of former times, but is entirely obsolete. (Ephesians 3:11)
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
- This was all God's plan eternally, in eternity past
- This was purposed, to be accomplished, through Jesus Christ our LORD
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
- We can talk to the Father confidently because of Jesus Christ and not because of ourselves, our works
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Ephesians 3:13)
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
- Paul's tribulations, trials, tests would work out for their glory in Christ
- In short, they were his prize
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- This whole process made Paul humble
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
- The Body of CHRIST we are
- The people of GOD we are
- We remain such in Heaven, as down here
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
- Our power and strength is a gift
- It is abundantly available to us
- It is through the might of the Holy Spirit, who is God
- It is mighty through that Spirit that we are strengthened
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
- The soil and the root determine the rest of the plant's health
- That said, we will exude the sap of love
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
- Infinity in each dimension, up, down, left, right, front, back
- That we may understand is after we are granted, strengthened, indwelt, rooted and grounded
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
- Man's knowledge cannot understand the love of Christ for us, it is not science, philosophy, it is an action verb
- This knowledge will fulfill as it fills
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- God uses simple men to do impossible work
- This is above our expectations or imaginations, which lead to our prayers
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
- To God the Father be the Glory through God the Son, forever past, and forever future
- A hearty amen is a fitting ending to this chapter
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