Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard - Εἴ-γε Ei-ge “If at least, if indeed, if so be, spoken of what is taken for granted.” “Robinson;” compare 2 Corinthians 5:3; Galatians 3:4; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:23, for the use of the particle. The particle here is not designed to express a doubt whether they had heard of it or not, for he takes it for granted that they had. Doddridge renders it, “since I well know you have heard,” etc. He had informed them of his being called to be the minister to the Gentiles... read more

Albert Barnes

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

How that by revelation - see the notes at Galatians 1:12. He refers to the revelation which was made to him when he was called to the apostolic office, that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles, and that he was converted for the special purpose of carrying it to them; see Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21.Unto me the mystery - The hitherto concealed truth that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles; see the notes, Ephesians 1:9, on the meaning of the word “mystery.”As I wrote afore in few... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:4

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 3:1-7

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-21

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 3:2

If = If indeed. Greek. eige . See App-118 . have . Omit. dispensation = stewardship. Greek. oikonomia. See Ephesians 1:10 . the = that. grace . App-184 . God . App-98 . is = was. to . . . -ward . Greek. eis . App-104 . The grace of God which concerned them and us. Not the grace of God as to "the kingdom", or "the heavenly calling" (see App-193 ), but the gospel of God's grace as to the church which is the body of Christ. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 3:3

revelation . App-106 . He . All the texts read "was". unto = to. mystery . See Ephesians 5:32 . 1 Timothy 3:16 . App-193 . as = even as. wrote afore . See Romans 15:4 . in ( App-104 .) few words = briefly. See Romans 16:25 , Romans 16:26 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 3:4

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 3:2

If so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward.If so be that ye have heard ... From this, it is falsely alleged that this letter could not have been addressed to the Ephesians, since they had most certainly heard of the mystery Paul was about to emphasize. Such a view, however, is due to overlooking the true meaning of the word "if" as used here and in many other New Testament passages. MacKnight translated this place "Seeing ye have heard... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 3:3

How that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ.By revelation ... Paul always emphasized that the wonderful truth he brought to people was from God, not of himself, that it was given to him by Christ, disclaiming any credit whatever as belonging to himself. Yet, it was absolutely necessary that Paul emphasize the world-shaking importance of that truth. When he implied (in... read more

Group of Brands