Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Passage sections 1 ▾
The Mystery of Christ theology 3:1–3:21
Themes 15 ▾
Church 1, 6-10, 21 Holy Spirit 5, 16 Covenant 6 Redemption 6 Chosen People 6 Grace 7-8, 19 Providence 9, 20 Creation 9 Faith 13, 20 Glory of God 13, 16, 21 Suffering and Perseverance 13 Prayer 14 Love 17-19 Hope 20 Kingship of Christ 21
People 2 ▾
Jesus Life of Christ 1, 9, 11, 14, 21 Paul Apostolic Age 1
Fulfillment of Prophecy 2 ▾
Gentile Inclusion in God's People 6 Gentiles Included (Isaiah) 6
Historic voices 19 ▾
Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews 2× 3, 6 Catechism of the Catholic Church 12× 4, 8-12, 14, 16-21 Commentary on the Gospel of John 1× 5 Summa Theologica 11× 5, 8-9, 14-15, 17-20 Homilies on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 1× 8, 10 Theology of the Body 1× 8-9, 18-19 Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew 1× 8 Homilies on the Gospel of John 1× 10 Confessions 3× 14, 20 Against the Arians (Orationes contra Arianos) 1× 15 Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 16 Mystici Corporis Christi 2× 17-18 On Christian Doctrine (De Doctrina Christiana) 1× 17, 19 The Great Catechism 1× 18 A Plain Account of Christian Perfection 1× 19 Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible 1× 1-21 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-20 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 14 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-21
Manuscript witnesses 6 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus C c. AD 450 Codex Claromontanus D2 c. AD 500-550 Papyrus 46 (Chester Beatty II) P46 c. AD 175-225
Cross-references 344 ▾
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What is Ephesians 3 about?

Paul now describes himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, entrusted with a mystery hidden in former ages but now revealed, that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs of the same body and partakers of God's promise in Christ through the gospel. He explains that he was made a minister of this grace so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known even to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. Paul then bows his knees before the Father, praying that his readers would be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man, that Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith, and that, rooted and grounded in love, they might comprehend the love of Christ which passes knowledge. He closes the first half of the letter with a doxology to the God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. These opening chapters on the believer's standing in Christ thus end in worship, having shown the church itself to be the display of God's saving wisdom before all creation.

Historical backdrop

Ephesus was the great city of Roman Asia, a harbor metropolis whose theater seated twenty-five thousand and whose temple of Artemis, some four times the size of the Parthenon, stood among the seven wonders of the world. It was a capital of magic as well, its name attached to the written spells traded across the Mediterranean. Paul wrote from prison in Rome, and the letter reads as a circular meant for Ephesus and the churches of the province around it.

Matthew Henry on Ephesians 3
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 3
The Church Fathers on Ephesians 3
Cited by the confessions

Ephesians 3

Ephesians Chapter 3
3

1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,— 2if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; 3how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 4whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 5which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; 10to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. 13Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. 14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.

20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.

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What is Ephesians 3 about?

Paul now describes himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, entrusted with a mystery hidden in former ages but now revealed, that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs of the same body and partakers of God's promise in Christ through the gospel. He explains that he was made a minister of this grace so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known even to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. Paul then bows his knees before the Father, praying that his readers would be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man, that Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith, and that, rooted and grounded in love, they might comprehend the love of Christ which passes knowledge. He closes the first half of the letter with a doxology to the God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. These opening chapters on the believer's standing in Christ thus end in worship, having shown the church itself to be the display of God's saving wisdom before all creation.