Ephesians 3:10-11

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 3:10

To the intent —indicative of the purpose of the remarkable arrangement or dispensation according to which the eternal Divine purpose, which had been concealed from the beginning of the ages, was now made known— that there might b e made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places ; that a lesson might be given to the unfallen angels. Their interest in the scheme of man's redemption is often referred to ( 1 Peter 1:12 ). Even the highest powers of heaven have yet much to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:10

"The manifold wisdom of God." I. THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD IS PUT FORTH IN THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD . God is the great Thinker. All our philosophy is the attempt of man to spell out some of the ideas of God. What wisdom was requisite for the creation of the world and the ordering of all things, from the movements of a star down to the life of a cell! What wisdom is involved in the government of the world, maintaining life and gladness, developing the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:10-11

The Church the means of angelic enlightenment. The Divine purpose in the dispensation already described was to make known to the angels the manifold wisdom of God. I. THE ANGELS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE CHURCH . This implies: 1. That the angels are not omniscient, for they have something still to learn. 2. That the angels are in communication with the Church on earth as well as in heaven. They rejoice over the conversion of sinners; they minister to those... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:11

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. The apostle is ever anxious that we should connect these operations, of God with the profundity, deliberation, and awfulness of an eternal decree, and that we should thus contrast them in our minds with many even of the most important works of man which are often determined, on his part, by a passing event or other trivial cause. The verb in this clause is ἐποίησε , which he made, and it has been debated whether... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:10

To the intent - Greek, “that” Ἵνα Hina. The sense is, that it was with this design, or that this was the purpose for which all things were made. One grand purpose in the creation of the universe was, that the wisdom of God might be clearly shown by the church. It was not enough to evince it by the formation of the sun, the stars, the earth, the seas, the mountains, the floods. It was not enough to show it by the creation of intelligent beings, the formation of immortal minds on earth, and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:11

According to the eternal purpose - see the note, Ephesians 1:4. Literally, “the purpose of ages,” or of eternity. Locke, Chandler, and Whitby render this, “according to that disposition or arrangement of the ages which he made in Jesus Christ, or through him.” The object of such an interpretation seems to be to avoid the doctrine that God had a purpose or plan in the salvation of people, and hence such expositors suppose it refers to the arrangement of the “ages” of the world by which the plan... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 3:10-12

Ephesians 3:10-12. To the intent that now Under the gospel dispensation, the last and best dispensation of divine grace and mercy to fallen man; unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places To all the various orders of angelic beings; might be made known by the church Namely, by what is done in and for it; the manifold wisdom of God Discovering itself gradually in such a beautiful and well-ordered variety of dispensations. By this the apostle seems to intimate that the... read more

Group of Brands