Chapter Three

The great mystery of Christ (1-6). Apostle Paul as servant of this mystery (7). In what the service of the Apostle consists and what is the purpose of this service (8-12). Exhortation to the Ephesians (13) and prayer of the Apostle for them (14-21)

Eph 3:1-6. Here the Apostle Paul continues to prove the greatness of Christianity. He is himself personally deeply convinced of this, because he is given the great mystery of Christ - the mystery consisting in the fact that in Christianity all gentiles will find salvation, that gentiles too are called to the inheritance of divine promises.

Ephesians 3:1. For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— “For this reason” - that is, in order to help gentiles obtain those blessings of which the Apostle spoke in Eph 1 and in the last verses (Eph 2:19-22) of the second chapter. - “A prisoner of Christ Jesus,” that is, I serve Christ for you or for your benefit as a slave wearing bonds or chains (this is the heaviest position in which only a slave could find himself).

Ephesians 3:2. if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God given to me for you, The Apostle reminds the readers that they have already heard of what in the purposes of the dispensation of our salvation God gave to the Apostle Paul. The Apostle here apparently alludes to his miraculous conversion to Christ, when he was commanded to go preach the Gospel of Christ to the gentiles (Acts 9:15) 8.

Ephesians 3:3. how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have briefly written already, Ephesians 3:4. by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, “How that” - it is more in keeping with the context here to translate the Greek particle “how” and place the whole 3rd verse in dependence on the verb of the 2nd verse “you have heard.” - “Mystery.” Under “mystery” the Apostle, apparently, understands what he says below in Eph 3:6, namely the revelation of the fact that gentiles too are to enter the Church of Christ. This mystery was indeed made known to the Apostle in a special revelation at his very calling (cf. Acts 22:21; Gal 1:15). - “Which” - more correctly: how (as). - “Briefly” - an allusion to Eph 2:11-22, where there is speech primarily about the calling of the gentiles. - “When you read...” - that is, now when my epistle is read among you in church, you will be able to verify whether I really received from Christ the authority to proclaim the Gospel to the gentiles or, rather, you will fully be able to know what I understand by “the mystery of Christ,” to which I attach such great significance.

Ephesians 3:5. which was not made known to the former generations of the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit, To further impress upon the readers their reverence for this mystery the Apostle says that it was not made known to “former generations of the sons of men,” or, more precisely: to other (ancient) generations or ages of “sons of men” (two dative cases, of which the second constitutes an apposition or explanation to the first). The Apostle here understands by “sons of men” all people who lived before Christ, even those who stood in communion with God - the Jews. Although the prophets and predicted to the latter about the future calling of the gentiles into the kingdom of the Messiah, yet all these predictions were not so definite and clear as those revelations of this matter which in the New Testament the Apostles and prophets (New Testament) received through the Spirit of God 9. “Although the prophets spoke of the calling of the gentiles, it still remained a mystery. Why were those who were with Peter amazed (at Cornelius)? And Peter himself through revelation from the Spirit learned then that God has also accepted the gentiles” (“John of Damascus”).

Ephesians 3:6. so that the Gentiles might be fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, The content of this mystery (verse 6 depends on the verb of verse 5 “has been revealed”) consists in the fact that gentiles are to be “fellow heirs,” that is, to inherit the promise of salvation on equal terms with Jews, furthermore, “constituting one body,” that is, belonging again on equal terms with Jews to the composition of the Church, which is the body of Christ, and “partakers of the promise of God.” Gentiles attain all this through Christ, accepting with faith the gospel or the proclamation of Christ, which the Apostles of Christ proclaim to them.

Ephesians 3:7. of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the working of His power. The Apostle considers it a matter of special mercy to him from God that he has been given to serve in the proclamation of this great mystery. Eph 3:8-12. The service of the Apostle consists in proclaiming to the gentiles the greatest mystery of God about their calling into the Church of Christ, and the purpose of this, among other things, is that even the highest heavenly powers understand the great predestination of God for the salvation of all men.

Ephesians 3:8. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:9. and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; Here the Apostle clarifies in what his service consists. He, the least of all “saints,” that is, of Christians (cf. Gal 1:13), has been granted to proclaim to the gentiles the “riches of Christ,” that is, the mystery of salvation, which even now is still “unsearchable,” that is, cannot be understood in all its greatness. The Apostle must make known to all - not only to gentiles, but also to Jews - or clarify how the “dispensation” or intention of God to save men came to realization - not only Jews, but also gentiles, an intention existing already from the ages, but unknown to men. - “Created all things through Jesus Christ.” By these words the Apostle explains why all men were to find salvation in Christ. The reason for this is that God created all, the whole world through Christ. Created, made through Christ, men must likewise be remade through Christ.

Ephesians 3:10. to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, Ephesians 3:11. according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ephesians 3:12. in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. “To the intent that...is made known...” This expression depends on the verb of verse 9: “to make known.” The purpose of the Apostle’s enlightening service is that “the manifold,” that is, revealed in various forms and ways, wisdom of God should appear in all its greatness for the very highest Orders of angels, who heretofore, like Old Testament men, did not know that gentiles would be called into communion with God (cf. 1 Pet 1:12). The wisdom of God is revealed to the Angels by the very existence of the Church of Christ (“through the church”), composed of Jews and gentiles. This revelation of God’s secret is accomplished for the Angels by God’s eternal predestination, which God brought to realization through Jesus Christ. The Apostle adds that as a consequence of the great merits of Christ we all now have access to God, approach Him without any fear as our Father. At this, of course, faith in Christ is necessary.

Ephesians 3:13. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. “Therefore,” that is, in view of all the above concerning the greatness of Christianity and in particular about the great mystery of the calling of the gentiles. - “I ask that you do not lose heart...” The Ephesians should not grieve, hearing of the sufferings of the Apostle Paul in Rome, but should glory in the fact that the Apostle for their sake went to these sufferings. The latter testify to the fact that the Apostle is completely convinced of the truth of his preaching, with which he addressed himself to the gentiles. If he had not had the confidence that gentiles truly have the right and opportunity to enter the kingdom of Christ, he would not have proclaimed this to them, bringing upon himself the persecutions of his enemies.

Ephesians 3:14. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Here is contained the prayer of the Apostle for the believing Ephesians, in which the Apostle first speaks of Whom he prays to (Eph 3:14-15), then sets forth his very request for the Ephesians, that they be strengthened in faith and perfected in Christian knowledge (Eph 3:16-20) and, finally, offers a doxology to God (Eph 3:21).

Ephesians 3:15. from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, “From whom every family...is named...” All families or otherwise generations (families) of beings both heavenly and earthly are created from God. - “To name” - in relation to God sometimes means “to create” (cf. Ps 146:4; Isa 40:26).

Ephesians 3:16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, “With might” - better translated: with power (God’s, of course) (dynamis). - “In the inner man” - see Rom 7:22. This is the same as the mind, but not only as a theoretical ability, but also as conscience, the moral sense of man.

Ephesians 3:17. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, “That Christ may dwell,” that is, so that when you are strengthened inwardly, Christ should dwell in you for permanent residence (dwell). For this, however, a firm faith in Christ is required.

Ephesians 3:18. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— Ephesians 3:19. and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. In these two verses are depicted the results of “the dwelling of Christ in your hearts.” The Russian translation in this 18th verse takes the last words of verse 17 (see verse Eph 3:17 in Greek and Slavonic text) and does this completely justifiably, because the Greek expression: “in love rooted and established” does not at all agree with the preceding: “Christ to dwell.” In the Russian translation is thus given the thought that dwelling in Christian love (“rooting” - indicates the image of a plant, deeply putting its roots into the soil, and “establishment” - indicates the image of building on a firm foundation) will give the Ephesians, along with other Christians (“saints”), the opportunity to comprehend in all its greatness and from all sides (“width and length...”) the main object of Christian knowledge, namely the infinitely exalted love of Christ, by which Christ gave Himself in sacrifice for the sins of men, and in general to become filled with all divine grace gifts (“fullness of God”).

Ephesians 3:20. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Ephesians 3:21. to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Doxology to God is quite fitting here, since the Apostle by the third chapter ends the dogmatic part of his epistle - the depiction of the greatness of Christianity. God is here depicted as such that He can give us far more than we ask Him for. - “According to the power that works in us” - more correctly: “according to or in accordance with what His power is already doing in us, Christians.” What has been done by this power - about this one can read in the Apostle above, for example in Eph 2:1-10. - “In the church by Christ Jesus.” The first expression designates the environment in which glorification of God should be accomplished, and the second - the motive for this glorification. This motive is the work of our salvation accomplished by Christ. - “To all generations” - in subsequent generations. - “Forever and ever” - more precisely: “ages of ages or the most distant ages, going into infinity” (Prof. Bogdashevsky). This is a definition of the expression “to all generations.” * * * Remarks Some commentators in this expression “after you heard of your faith” see proof that the epistle was not written to the Ephesian church, since-they say-the Apostle who himself founded the Ephesian church could not speak of it as personally unknown to him. But here by faith there is no foundation to understand the faith of the readers in the Gospel or the initial acceptance of Christian faith by them. First, against such a supposition speaks the joining together of the concepts “faith” and “love”: from this it is necessary to conclude that the Apostle has here in mind faith as the same constant virtue as love, and not as a separate moment in the life of a man. Then from the epistle itself it is evident that the Apostle writes to such Christians who are already sufficiently mature in regard to Christian development. The Apostle in other epistles sometimes places New Testament prophets alongside the Apostles. Cf. 1 Cor 12