Ephesians 3:10

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

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

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

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 3:10

To the intent that = In order that. Greek. hina . unto = to. principalities = rulers. Greek. arche . App-172 . powers = authorities. Greek. exousia. App-172 . See Ephesians 1:21 . heavenly places = the heavenlies. See Ephesians 1:3 . might be known = may be made known. church . App-186 . manifold . Greek. polupoikilos. Only here. Implies "infinitely diversified". wisdom . See Ephesians 1:8 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

To the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God.The fact of the gospel's promulgation upon earth being, in some manner, for the purpose of "making known" to "principalities and powers in the heavenly places" God's manifold wisdom has not been satisfactorily explained; at least, this student of the Scriptures has not seen any satisfactory explanation of it. We shall take a look at some of the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 3:10

Ephesians 3:10. The principalities, &c.— The prophesies of the Old Testament gave strong intimations, at least, of the intended calling of the Gentiles into the church; and the angels seem expressly to refer to it in what they said to the shepherds, and in their anthem at the nativity of Christ. Luke 2:10; Luke 2:14. We suppose, therefore, that the Apostle here would lead the thoughts of his readers to the series of divine dispensations, as gradually opening this great discovery, and not... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:10

10. The design of God in giving Paul grace to proclaim to the Gentiles the mystery of salvation heretofore hidden. now—first: opposed to "hidden from the beginning of the world" ( :-). unto the principalities and—Greek adds "the" powers—unto the various orders of good angels primarily, as these dwell "in the heavenly places" in the highest sense; "known" to their adoring joy (1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:12). Secondarily, God's wisdom in redemption is made known to evil angels, who dwell "in... read more

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