In accordance with which, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. προς ὂ , with reference to which, i.e. to what I wrote afore: to make that more intelligible I write on the subject more fully now, so that you shall see that your instructor is thoroughly informed in this matter of the mystery in Christ—this once concealed but now revealed purpose of his grace. read more
Whereby, when ye read - By the bare reading of which you may understand the view which I entertain of the plan of salvation, and the knowledge which I have of God’s method of saving people, particularly of his intention in regard to the salvation of the Gentiles.In the mystery of Christ - This does not refer to anything “mysterious” in the person of Christ; or the union of the divine and human nature in him; or to anything difficult of apprehension in the work of the atonement. It means the... read more
Ephesians 3:1-7. For this cause That you may be so built up together, and made the temple of God, and his habitation through the Spirit; I bow my knees, &c., see Ephesians 3:14, with which the words are evidently closely connected, (as they are also with the close of the preceding chapters) the subsequent paragraph to the end of Eph 3:13 manifestly coming in by way of parenthesis. I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles For your advantage, for asserting your right to... read more
God’s wisdom and love displayed (3:1-21)It was because Paul had taken the gospel to the Gentiles that he was imprisoned in the first place (Acts 21:27-36). Yet he feels humbled to think that God should graciously choose him for such a noble work (3:1-2). As a Jew he was once proud of his belief that only Jews were God’s people. Even if some of the ‘far off’ Gentiles believed in God, they were still not God’s covenant people in the sense that Jews were. Now God’s special revelation shows Paul... read more
whereby = according to ( App-104 .) which. may = can. knowledge . App-132 . the mystery . i.e. the great secret (Ephesians 5:32 ). See App-193 . Christ . App-98 . read more
Ephesians 3:4. Whereby when ye read,— By attending to which. It has been observed, that what follows is the highest encomium made by the Apostle on any of his own writings; and thence it has been concluded, that this is the richest and noblest of all the epistles; which it is thought was peculiarly intended to be so, to reward the generous zeal of the Ephesians in burning their curious books, by a book of divine knowledge infinitely more valuable than any or all of them. See Acts 19:19. read more
4. understand my knowledge—"perceive my understanding" [ALFORD], or "intelligence." "When ye read," implies that, deep as are the mysteries of this Epistle, the way for all to understand them is to read it (2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 3:16). By perceiving his understanding of the mysteries, they, too, will be enabled to understand. the mystery of Christ—The "mystery" is Christ Himself, once hidden, but now revealed (Colossians 1:27). read more
2. Past ignorance 3:1-13Paul began to pray for his readers again (cf. Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 3:14), but he interrupted himself to tell them more about the church. What he said in this section gives background information concerning the church as a mystery. read more
II. THE CHRISTIAN’S CALLING 1:3-3:21". . . the first three chapters are one long prayer, culminating in the great doxology at the end of chapter 3. There is in fact nothing like this in all Paul’s letters. This is the language of lyrical prayer, not the language of argument, and controversy, and rebuke." [Note: William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, p. 76.] read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:2-5
Dispensational privileges of the Gentiles. The apostle recurs to a subject already treated in few words" in the first chapter—words which he requests them to read, that they may fully understand his meaning—respecting the new position of the Gentiles in the kingdom of God. Their position was determined by a dispensation, that is, by an arrangement organized in all its parts in relation to space and time; for God works by order in grace as well as in nature. Consider— I. THE ORIGIN ... read more