Ephesians 3:1-3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:3

Verse 3 3.That by revelation. Some might imagine, that, in attempting to discharge the office of an apostle, he had acted rashly, and was now paying the penalty of his rashness. It was this that made him so earnest in pleading the Divine authority for all his transactions. The present instance, on account of its novelty, had few supporters; and therefore he calls it a mystery. By this name he endeavors to remove the prejudice which the general displeasure at the event was fitted to excite. His... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1

For this cause. The reference is not merely to the last statement or illustration, but to the whole view of the purpose of God toward the Gentiles unfolded in Ephesians it. The apodosis does not come in till verse 14, at the beginning of which this conjunctive clause is repeated. I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles. He introduces himself in order to make known the feelings which were roused in his soul towards them by the consideration of the privileges just enlarged... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1

"The prisoner of Jesus Christ." The apostle often refers to his prison-life, and here presents himself to the Churches as "an ambassador in bonds" ( Ephesians 6:20 ). I. HE WAS A MOST CELEBRATED PRISONER . Perhaps he was regarded as of no great account by his Roman jailors, who could have known nothing of the secret of his greatness; but viewed in the light of Christian history, Paul is the most distinguished of men. He did more than any other apostle to shape the theology... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1

"The prisoner of Christ Jesus." St. Paul writes from his Roman dungeon, with the galling constraints of his confinement constantly about him. There is a pathos in the situation that must move the sympathy of the reader; and yet there is a dignity and even a glory in it that make us feel the apostle's occasional reference to his bonds chiefly a motive for giving the greater weight and solemnity to his persuasive exhortations. I. THE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF CHRIST MAY BECOME A ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

DIGRESSION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE GENTILES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

God's purpose as to the Gentiles. This passage a parenthesis after Ephesians 3:1 —a reference to Paul's personal history. It contains the explanation of his whole career, the secret of his wonderful zeal. Why was he a prisoner? Generally, for the Gentiles. Why for them? Because the Divine purpose regarding them had been revealed to him, and through him to the world, and the enmity of the Jews to that purpose had brought Paul into captivity. Looking at the passage as a whole, it may show... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

The death of the tribal spirit. The apostle, having stated the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the one spiritual temple, proceeds in this parenthesis to state the aspect of the gospel which is thus presented. It amounts, in fact, to the death of the tribal feeling, and to the encouragement of that broad cosmopolitanism which has been fostered by the Christian system. Paul, of course, rejoiced in his Jewish origin and in all the privileges which he had thus inherited. But since his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

Paul's apostleship to the Gentiles: introduction. The apostle has it in his mind to pray for the Ephesian Christians. There is a twofold ground upon which he proceeds. 1. What has been said about them . "For this cause." He has described them in three ways as incorporated in the Church. His last statement pointed to their being built in . They were, therefore, objects for intercession, such as their heathen ancestors had not been. 2. His relation to them . He did not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

Aspects of the true gospel ministry. "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; 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; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God. Here begins the digression. The words, "if ye have heard," etc., do not denote an uncertainty, but are a delicate reminder. Doubtless they had heard of the matter when he was at Ephesus, and, as he remarks in Ephesians 3:3 , he had already written briefly on it. Grace is here used in a more restricted sense than in Ephesians 1:2 —in the sense of Divine favor, honor, privilege—the same as in Ephesians 1:8 , "To me... is this... read more

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