[Note: be sure to read reflectively Ephesians 3 before you begin this study.]<\/p>\n
I love a good mystery. Give me a page-turning, plot-twisting \u201cwhodunit\u201d and I\u2019m hooked. I even think that if I had two dogs, I\u2019d name them Hercule and Sherlock!<\/p>\n
The most significant of all \u201cmysteries\u201d confronts the reader of Ephesians in chapter three. Here Paul closes the first half of the letter by reminding his audience of key themes introduced earlier:<\/p>\n
the place of Gentiles in Christ\u2019s body (1:12-13; 2:11-22; 3:6)<\/p>\n
an explanation of that \u201cbody\u201d (1:22-23; 3:6)<\/p>\n
details of God\u2019s purpose and plan (1:5, 9, 11; 3:2, 11)<\/p>\n
a petition for \u201cfullness\u201d (1:15-22; 3:14-21)<\/p>\n
a reminder of the role of spiritual powers and rulers (1:20-21; 3:10).<\/p>\n
These connectors also include a more detailed explanation of the \u201cmystery\u201d Paul has mentioned (1:9; 3:1-6). He begins this third chapter by revealing more about this mystery (vv. 1-6), then explains his role in proclaiming the truth behind it (vv. 7-13). Paul closes with a profound intercessory prayer on behalf of those who receive this truth (vv. 14-21).<\/p>\n
Revealing a Mystery (3:1-6)<\/p>\n
Paul introduces his prayer in verse 1, then injects a lengthy \u201caside\u201d devoted to the gospel mystery and to his ministry. He reminds his Gentile readers that his stewardship (Gk. oikonomia) role in the gospel flows solely from God\u2019s grace. It is a gift from Him to them (v. 2).<\/p>\n
More specifically, Paul\u2019s commission is to share the \u201cmystery of Christ\u201d God has revealed to him. This mystery, also discussed in Colossians 1:24-29, entails a great truth once hidden but now revealed by God\u2019s Spirit to the apostles and prophets. In verse 6, Paul discloses the mystery: that the Gentiles are: (1) fellow heirs with believing Jews; (2) members with the Jews in the same body; and (3) partakers of God\u2019s saving promises.<\/p>\n
While the Old Testament celebrates the inclusion of the nations into God\u2019s redemptive plan, what was not clear then is the truth Paul now announces: Jew and Gentile stand equally justified through Christ in His church.<\/p>\n
Explaining a Ministry (3:7-13)<\/p>\n
Once more Paul points to the grace and power of God working in his life as the reason for his \u201cservant\u201d (Gk. diakonos) position in God\u2019s plan (v. 7). He certainly doesn\u2019t merit such a role. He is the \u201cleast of all saints\u201d (literally, \u201cless than the least\u201d), according to verse 8, yet he gladly embraces the privilege of preaching the \u201cunsearchable riches of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul\u2019s task, he asserts, is revealing the mystery of Christ \u2013 shining the light for all to see God\u2019s \u201cmanifold wisdom\u201d in His eternal plan of redemption. The church even makes known the truth behind this mystery to the \u201cprincipalities and powers\u201d in heavenly realms.<\/p>\n
No wonder Paul declares the bold confidence and access his faith provides in Christ (v. 12); nor should his willingness to suffer for the gospel surprise us. His \u201ctribulations\u201d are for their glory \u2013 and for ours! \u201cSo don\u2019t give up,\u201d Paul exhorts.<\/p>\n
Offering a Prayer (3:14-21)<\/p>\n
The chapter closes with one of the greatest intercessory prayers in the Bible. Paul continues as he began in verse 1: \u201cfor this reason.\u201d He begins by acknowledging God as Creator and Father (v. 15), appropriate roles in this setting for intercession. The Lord is able and willing to fulfill these petitions.<\/p>\n
Four appeals then form the matrix of the prayer. First, Paul asks God to give his readers strength in their inner being. Such a request is in keeping with the glorious riches at the Lord\u2019s disposal (v. 16).<\/p>\n
Paul then prays that Christ would \u201cbe at home\u201d in their hearts as they come to trust Him more (v. 17). His third petition probes the vastness of God\u2019s great heart: that they may comprehend all the dimensions of Christ\u2019s love (vv. 18-19a), a love that goes beyond all that we could possibly know. Like a growing marriage relationship, time and intimacy deepen one\u2019s knowledge of God even though we know Him when the relationship starts.<\/p>\n
The ultimate result is Paul\u2019s fourth request: \u201cthat ye might be filled with all the fulness of God\u201d (v. 19). Just when we think we have \u201cmaxed out\u201d in God\u2019s love, there\u2019s always more \u2013 more to know, more to love, more of Him.<\/p>\n
A memorable doxology closes the prayer (vv. 20-21). God\u2019s power works far beyond our comprehension, yet works within us. His glory shines forever, displayed singularly through Christ and His church.<\/p>\n
Applying the Lessons<\/p>\n
Each of the three parts of this chapter offers instruction for us. First, the gospel must be real to us. We must know it by experience in our faith and in our lives. Its reality must take preeminence, not just prominence, in what we love and how we live.<\/p>\n
Second, we have a part\u2014a \u201cservice\u201d\u2014in God\u2019s great plan of making known the gospel. Find where you fit and be faithful.<\/p>\n
Third, Paul\u2019s prayer reflects our need: power in the inner person, Christ\u2019s home in our hearts, growth in His love, and the awareness that He\u2019s all we need.<\/p>\n
Then the mystery becomes an adventure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[Note: be sure to read reflectively Ephesians 3 before you begin this study.] I love a good mystery. Give me a page-turning, plot-twisting \u201cwhodunit\u201d and I\u2019m hooked. I even think that if I had two dogs, I\u2019d name them Hercule and Sherlock! The most significant of all \u201cmysteries\u201d confronts the reader of Ephesians in chapter three. Here Paul closes the first half of the letter by reminding his audience of key themes introduced earlier: the place of Gentiles in Christ\u2019s body (1:12-13; 2:11-22; 3:6) an explanation of that \u201cbody\u201d (1:22-23; 3:6) details of God\u2019s purpose and plan (1:5, 9, 11; 3:2, 11) a petition for \u201cfullness\u201d (1:15-22; 3:14-21) a reminder of the role of spiritual powers and rulers (1:20-21; 3:10). These connectors also include a more detailed explanation of the \u201cmystery\u201d Paul has mentioned (1:9; 3:1-6). He begins this third chapter by revealing more about this mystery (vv. 1-6), then explains his role in proclaiming the truth behind it (vv. 7-13). Paul closes with a profound intercessory prayer on behalf of those who receive this truth (vv. 14-21). Revealing a Mystery (3:1-6) Paul introduces his prayer in verse 1, then injects a lengthy \u201caside\u201d devoted to the gospel mystery and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pastors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4255"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4256,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255\/revisions\/4256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}