Ephesians 3 Bible Study Notes
(avg. read time: 5–9 mins.)
3:1 For this grace [reason] I Paul [am] the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you gentiles—2 if indeed you have heard of the household administration/economy of God’s grace which was given to me for you, 3 that according to the revelation which was made known to me the mystery, just as I previously wrote briefly, 4 to which when you read you can understand my insight in the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of humans as now has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 namely that the gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow body members, and fellow partakers/participants of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a servant/minister according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working/operation of his power.
8 To me, the least of all saints, was given this grace, to proclaim to the gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ 9 and to enlighten all as to what administration/economy of the mystery is which had been hidden for the ages in God, who created all things, 10 in order that this should be made known now to the rulers/principalities and powers in the heavenly places through the church: the multifarious wisdom of God, 11 according to the purpose of the ages/eternal purpose which he appointed in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness/frankness and access/approach in confidence through his faith/faithfulness. 13 Therefore, I ask you not to become discouraged by my sufferings on your behalf, which are your glory.
14 For this grace [reason] I bend my knees to the Father, 15 from whom every lineage/patrimony in the heavens and on earth is named, 16 in order that he would give to you according to the richness of his glory power to be strengthened through his Spirit in the inner person/self, 17 so that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts, in love being rooted and established, 18 so that you may have ability to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, the length, the height, and the depth, 19 to know even that which surpasses/is incomprehensible to knowledge, namely the love of Christ, so that you should be filled to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to the one who is able beyond all to do far more abundantly than we ask or think according to the power that works in/among us, 21 to him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever, amen.
Observations
As in 1 Cor 15, Paul presents his own life as an example of God’s grace at work. This fits with what we have seen of what he says of apostleship elsewhere. It is also fits with how he sees God’s life-giving action at work in him as a redeemed sinner. Of course, it is not only revealed to him being brought to new life. It is also revealed in the content of what he proclaims in the gospel that is for the gentiles as well as the Jews. Moreover, his specific mission to the gentiles highlights how God’s grace has been shown in him, which is manifested in his proclamation.
Similarly, while the previous chapters have gone to some length to talk about God’s triumph communicated in the gospel, this section shows God’s triumph communicated in Paul’s own suffering for the gospel. His ministry has the cruciform shape by which God triumphed in Christ (esp. v. 13). The logical entailment is that Paul will also share in the resurrection of Christ, as he articulates elsewhere (cf. 2:5–6, as well as Paul’s other letters). This is in essence what it looks like to make the gospel story our story.
We also see a notion reappear here of the “mystery” of God’s will and wisdom. It was first summarized in 1:10 as God summing up all things under one head: the Lord Jesus Christ. Part and parcel of that mystery that has been unveiled in full since the gospel events is that the gentiles are included in the people of God as fellow heirs, fellow body members, and fellow partakers/participants of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
The statements Paul makes about God’s grace in vv. 1–2, 7–8, and 14 serve as good summations of Paul’s teaching grace in the rest of the letter and elsewhere. It is God’s favor that is part of his household administration, which is lexically linked with his purpose in 1:10. It is embodied in gift-giving. It is a function of God’s power to guarantee the benefits of his favor. It is an expression of divine riches. And it calls forth allegiance, signified here by bending the knee.
There is another aspect of “wisdom” terminology that we have seen earlier in the letter. Enlightenment here functions as demonstration of God’s purposes. It is also tied with making known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places what God’s will is. The wisdom of God—which can be described in terms of God’s creative, revelatory, and salvific power directed by God’s purpose and design—is also shown here both in terms of creation itself and the creation of the Church specifically. God’s wisdom shapes them both and makes them to be what he purposes them to be.
Paul’s statement that he and his fellow Christians have boldness/frankness and access/approach in confidence through Jesus’s faithfulness fits with what we see in texts like Heb 4:14–16, which I have written about elsewhere, and we can explore it another time. In both cases, the freedom we have in approach to God is built on the faithfulness of Jesus and we share in that because we are in faithful, salvific union with him.
Verses 14–19 take up the temple language that has already been introduced (particularly in the latter half of ch. 2) and expand its significance. We see this in the act of worship signified in bending the knees in prayer, which also signifies allegiance to God. The setting for that act had traditionally been the temple. We see it in the various intersections of heaven and earth, as was presented in various ways in the temple and as temples had traditionally been associated with the intersection of heaven and earth (which I plan to explore in more detail another time). We see it in the use of the language of “glory,” which is linked with God’s glorious presence in certain times in the tabernacle and temple. We see it in the reference to Christ dwelling in us, as the temple (and the tabernacle before it) was presented as God’s dwelling place. We see it in the reference to the dimensions of length, height, width, and depth of the love of Christ. And we see it in the hope for being filled to all the fullness of God, as the Shekinah presence of God filled the tabernacle and temple (and as was the hope we see presented of the new temple in texts such as Ezek 43:5 and 44:4).
This text features many reminders of transcendence and how they relate to the problems of the present (as is clear in how this chapter is framed and in how Paul will go on to speak of the problems he and the Church face, particularly in 3:13 and 6:18–20). One, prayer itself is a reminder of God’s transcendence over the world that causes the problems around us and the time in which they happen. Two, the reference to the “unfathomable riches” of Christ implies a transcendence of our perception and understanding. Three, the reference to the purpose of the ages or the eternal purpose (depending on how one translates the phrase) reminds us that God’s purpose has been at work long before we ever existed and it is aimed at that which we will be long after any time we can imagine. His purpose transcends our comprehension of time and space. Four, the love of Christ is said to surpass knowledge, once again transcending our perception and understanding. Five, God is said to be the one who is able beyond all to do far more abundantly than we ask or think according to the power that works among us. Six, the everlasting glory of God is as compact a reference to God’s transcendence as one can find.
Reflection Questions
What does this text say about God the Father?
He has given his grace to us. He has made known to us the mystery of his plan in Christ by the testimony of the apostles and prophets. He has brought his promises to bear in Christ and thereby made one family of heirs, body members, and partakers of his promise. God’s grace is an expression of his power. God is Creator and Revealer. His plan was to bring forth his revelation in the fullness of time in Christ, the executor of his purpose. This revelation is an expression of his multifaceted wisdom, his purpose as summarized most succinctly in 1:10. He gives according to the richness of his glory/splendor. He empowers through the Holy Spirit. He is worthy of all glory forever because of who he is, what he has done, and what he will yet do.
What does this text say about God the Son?
Christ is the one who has executed the mystery of God’s will, his purpose. He is the one who defines our sphere of existence as “in” him. God’s grace embodied in Christ is described as unfathomable riches. He embodies the wisdom and purpose of God. Through his faithfulness he enables us to approach God with confidence and frankness. He dwells in us through faith and love. His love surpasses all comprehension of knowledge. He fills us with his divine fullness.
What does this text say about God the Holy Spirit?
The Spirit is the one through whom the Father reveals the mystery of Christ. The Spirit is the one through whom God empowers us to do his will. He is the power who works in and among us.
What does this text say to or about the people of God?
God has given his grace to us. Our lives should reflect the cruciformity of the gospel. By the gospel we are part of a larger family of fellow heirs, fellow body members, and fellow partakers/participants of the promise. God has revealed to us so that we may reveal to others through enlightening them about the mystery of his will. We have boldness/frankness and access in confidence to God through the faithfulness of Christ. We are strengthened/empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through faith and love Christ dwells in our hearts. Christ dwells in us when love is rooted and established. We are to be filled with all the fullness of God in Christ.