Back to Home Page | Back to Index |
Ephesians
Chapter Three
(Caleb Huang)
Detailed Verse by Verse Commentary
Eph. 3:1 “For
this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles”
Explanation on the Meaning of Words and Phrases
“For this reason”: This is referring to what the apostle Paul intend
to convey in this section of the word had relations to what was written in the
previous two chapters.
“For you Gentiles”: This indicates that he was imprisoned, mainly
for the sake of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, which has aroused envy
and hatred among the Jews.
“The
prisoner of Christ Jesus”: This also indicates that Paul was imprisoned
because of Christ Jesus. On the surface, it appears that Paul was a prisoner in
the jail of
“Pray for you”: this phrase, found in some translations, is not in
the original manuscript; rather it was added by some Bible translators after
they take into account what is written in verse 14. This is because from veses
2-13 is a section of words that branches off to another topic or a tangential
word, which should have been better marked off as a parenthetical word. For
this reason, verse 14 is a real continuation of verse 1.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
Paul
considers that which confines him and robs took away his freedom is not the
Roman’s prison, but it is none other than the Jesus Christ that he saw in his vision.
2)
The
Christian life is indeed glorious and amazing! It is far more precious in
comparison to our individual’s freedom; it is even more precious than our life!
3)
We
can see from the expression of this verse, Paul did not have any sigh of
complain for his imprisonment. On the contrary, he sees it as a kind of glory.
4)
Only
those who peacefully enjoy Christ as our prison can have the eyes of their
hearts opened and see the heavenly vision.
5)
If
our action is still not sufficiently confined, then I’m afraid that we have not
sufficiently seen the vision sufficiently clear.
6)
Paul
said that his being imprisoned is for the sake of the saints, each bitter
experiences that we meet in our surrounding does not only affect each of us
individually, but is also affects the saints who have been entrusted to us by
God.
7)
All
the real workers of God have to some extent some forms of suffering in their
physical body (Col. 1:24). The more we suffer on behalf of Christ, the more
riches of Christ we can supply to others.
Eph. 3:2 “If
indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given
to me for you,”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“If
indeed” – if truly; “dispensation”
– Plan, arrangement, management, administration, stewardship.
.
Explanation of
the Background:
Paul stayed in
Explanation on the Meaning of Words and Phrases:
“The
dispensation of the grace of God”: “Grace”:
God in Christ Jesus imparting to us His unsearchable riches; thus, “The
dispensation of the grace of God” are those who are faithful in carrying out of the management and
economy of God in the riches of Christ, causing other group of saints to be
benefited and enjoy Christ as their Grace.
This whole verse shows
that Paul is one who have been entrusted by God to dispense the Grace of God to
the Gentile believers.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
To be
a servant of God – this duty not only requires our ability, education,
eloquence to be successful; rather it also needs a kind of genuine concern of a
loving heart for man.
2)
If we
do not have a heart of true concern for the souls of man, we cannot be “fishers
of men.”
3)
We
can see from this verse, “dispensation”/management/administration
is actually itself a kind of gif of grace – it is a bestowment of a gift of
grace. It suggests to us: When God calls someone to do His work, He will also
give him certain gift(s) of grace to carry it out.
4)
A
God-elected and called ones to be His workers must have received a burden
entrusted by God.
5)
A
genuine servant of God entrusted by Him will definitely be seen or heard by
people far and near that he has indeed been entrusted with the burden of God.
6)
What
God has entrusted to us is a portion of grace and not a heavy burden/load for
us to bear.
7)
God’s
grace is not for our own extravagant selfish enjoyment, but for the purpose of
our gladly dispense it with others for their enjoyment as well.
Eph. 3:3 “How
that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written
already,”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Revelation” – to unveil/open the stage curtain;
“briefly” – slightly/briefly.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words and Phrases
“Revelation”: to unveil the mystery that was previously hidden for
all to know.
“The mystery”: refers to the plan that was hidden in God. There is
no “(of the gospel)” as is in some translation like in the Chinese version.
Based on the context of the verses both before and after this verse, the
mystery is clearly referring to the mystery of Christ (v. 4); this is partly
that the Gentiles would be co-heirs and have part in the Body of Christ (v.6),
namely, the Church (vv. 9-10). The Church was originally a mystery. Yet now God
has already revealed this mystery to His holy apostles and prophets; and the
apostles and prophets have already taught and revealed them to the rest of the
saints.
“As
I have briefly written already”: this phrase has 2 meanings: 1) it is referring to the
previous 2 chapters of this epistle, or 2) it is referring to another epistle
that was written to the church in
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
People
often have the mistaken concept of the word “mystery” as something that is very
nebulous, uncertain, difficult to ascertain, something that you cannot put your
finger on, or it can be called “God’s secret.”
2)
This
verse tells us that this mystery has already been revealed to us and for all to
know.
3)
The
wiles of Satan is to make the truths of the Christian faith into an
incomprehensible/unfathomable/deep mysterious concepts (Rev. 2:24); thus, he
would have his wish of misleading the weak Christians (Eph.
Eph. 3:4 “By
which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ),”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Read” – to openly reads aloud, reads out in the presence of the
everyone
“Understand” – to realize, comprehend, sees clearly, fully realize
with keen observation, deep and thorough comprehension, understands clearly.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words and Phrases
“The mystery of Christ”: The mystery of God is Christ (Col. 2:2).
The mystery of Christ is the Church. This mystery is explained in details in
verse 6 of this chapter. In brief, it is both the Gentile believers and the
Jewish believers have become fellow heirs, both have part in the mystical Body
of Christ, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
Paul
neither sought after self-glory nor does he keep hidden what has been granted
to him; he only cares for the glory of God in doing what he needed to do and
say what he needed to say.
2)
If a
Christian purposely hides excessively what spiritual revelation he saw, it is
possibly stemming from an artificial self-humility; rather it is the will of
the “self” and not entirely out of caring for the glory of God.
Eph. 3:5 “Which
in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been
revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Revealed” – to made known, reveal clearly.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words and Phrases
“Other ages”: refers to the Old Testament times.
“Was
not made known to the sons of men”: This does not mean that God in the Old
Testament times has never mentioned matters concerning the mystery of the
Church (in the Old Testament, there are some passages pertaining to the types
of the Church and prophesies). What it is saying here is that in the past, it
has never been revealed to the degree that it has now been revealed to us –
completely revealed in its entirety.
“Now” is the New Testament age.
“Holy apostles” refers to the God sent ones; “prophets” refers to those who speak for God. All the truths in the
New Testament have already been revealed to the holy apostles and prophets.
Until the book of the “Revelation” in the Bible, the entire divine revelation
is completed; no one can add or diminish from it (Rev. 22:18-19).
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
“Apostles and prophets” are both in
plural even in the original Greek manuscript. This obviously means that this
mystery was revealed not only to the
apostle Paul alone and the rest of the apostles and prophets do not know
anything about it.
2)
If we
did not receive any revelation from God, there is no way we can know God or His
mystery. For this reason, we need to pray that the Lord would grant to us the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Eph.
3)
The
intention of God in revealing His mystery to us is not so that we would be
spiritually arrogant; rather it is so that we would spread it on to others,
that they may know this mystery, have a share in our midst, and be co-laborers
with God, until God’s purpose is fully realized in our being.
Eph. 3:6 “That
the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His
promise in Christ through the gospel,”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Fellow” – to unite together, fellowship, to be included; “heirs” –
to dispense lot;
“Partakers” – share, participate in.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words and Phrases
“Fellow
heirs”: This points to not only having the Father’s life, but also gained all
the privileges of sonship, and to have the authority to inherit the Father’s
resources/estate.
“Of the same body”: to become one body together, namely, the
mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church.
“Partakers
of His promise”: Here the
“promise” is singular, which points to all kinds of spiritual blessings as a
whole that God in Christ promised to the Church. The above mentioned 3 kind of
blessings that we have received, which includes all the blessings we have
received in both the Old and the New Testaments. The Old Testament blessings
can only be enjoyed by the children of
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
In
Christ, there is no distinction between the Jews and the Gentiles. We, the
Gentile believers are not second-class citizens; rather we have the same
position as the Jewish believers.
2)
God
is not bias in treating people; His grace is uncovered/available to every kinds
of people, anyone of His people can receive and enjoy His grace.
Eph. 3:7 “Of
which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me
by the effective working of His power.”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Minister” – attendant, servant, messenger, waiter.
“According to”
– based on; “working” – usage,
function.
“Power” –
energy, impelling strength, lively power; “given”
– gives or grants.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words or Phrases:
“I became a
minister”: It is for the good of others, especially referring to those who
minister the gospel into people.
“The gift of
the grace of God”: According to the original manuscript, it is literally,
“the gracious gift of the grace of God.” What we receive of God Himself is
Grace. God also freely gave us the
spiritual innate abilities, and that is His “gracious gifts.”
“The effective
working of His power”: Contained in the Life which God has given us, there
is the effective working of His resurrection power. It is through the operation
of this power that produces the gracious gifts that we enjoy.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
Our
service in preaching the gospel is an unsurpassed privilege; this shows God’s
gracious favor upon us.
2)
The
gracious gifts that God had given to Paul was for the purpose of making him a
minister of the gospel, and it is also the basis for his being a minister of
the gospel.
3)
Paul
himself said that what is backing up his work is the effective, lively working
of God’s power. This indicates that if God gives us any kind of
responsibility/duty, He will also give us the necessary grace to enable us to
carry it out.
4)
Whatever
kind of gracious gifts we have received from God shows the kind of
responsibilities He has given us.
5)
The
gracious gifts that God has given us not only accompany His grace, but also His
power so that the recipients of His gracious gifts could receive them.
Eph. 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,”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Unsearchable” – footprints that cannot be sought out/tracked down,
untraceable, cannot keep up with a horse race.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words or Phrases:
“Who am less
than the least of all the saints”: That is to say the least of all; this
means that it’s not that he had any special qualifications that merited his
receiving of the God’s unique grace given to him.
“The
unsearchable riches of Christ” : The riches that is in Christ is something
that man cannot search out to its limit or to its utmost capacity.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
Paul
did not say that he is less than the least of the apostles, but rather that he
is less than the least of all saints. This indicates that whatever portion of
grace that he had received, we too can all receive. Each brother and sister can
receive the same grace that Paul had received; therefore, don’t let the achievements
of Paul and consider it as an unattainable stage.
2)
The
more a believer grows in his spiritual life/nature and his experiences
increase, he will become more humble and the more he sees himself as being
utterly unbearable/unfit.
3)
Only
to the humble saints can the Holy Spirit teach and make to comprehend to a
great extent how unsearchable the riches of Christ are.
4)
Those
who truly wish to serve the Church must preach the riches of Christ; and only
those who solely preach the riches of Christ are truly the ministers of the
Church who can give the real supply and building to the Church.
5)
The
gospel does not tell us to be somebody, nor does it ask us to do anything;
rather the gospel tells us what God has given to us and also what we have
received from Him. The central message of the gospel is none other than Christ
Himself.
6)
The
gospel is not about the fragmentary truths about Christ. God’s glorious gospel
is this unlimited abundant Christ Himself.
7)
Man’s
ingenuity of gaining knowledge cannot compare to the more lofty revelations of
God. The riches of Christ is unsearchable and untraceable. There is no way for
man to understand this Christ if he relies on himself.
8)
The
riches of Christ are inexhaustible and will never be drained/dried up. No
matter how much or how often we receive of Christ’s riches, its supply will
always seemed as it was at the beginning.
9)
How
we need to ask for God’s help that we would no longer live like beggars or live
in (spiritual) poverty, in deficit, besieged in hardship and fear, without any
peace and rest. This world provides us with a terminal delightful opportunity
to emancipate the message to all people around about the “unsearchable riches of Christ.”
10) When we spread Christ to other people,
oftentimes it is only but a little and not to the extent of pursuing the
immeasurable riches of Christ.
11) The worldly people judge Christ according
to what they see in our lives. If the impression we give to people is one such
that whenever we encounter a crisis, our status as Christians does not help
make much of a difference, then they will not listen to our message of the
gospel, nor will they gaze upon the Christ we profess to put our faith on.
12) If we have the privilege to speak for God
or do a work for Him, we must remember: Our greatness does not lie in
ourselves, rather it rests upon the message and the work given to us by God.
13) The pitiful situation today is that
people are more concern about their own reputation, and not exalt Christ. They
put themselves under the flashing/lime light, while they hid Christ in the
shadow.
Eph. 3:9 “To
make all see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden
in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;”
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“See” – to illuminate, illumine clearly, illumination ray in… above.
“Hidden” – covered, buried. “fellowship”
– stewardship, plan.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words or Phrases:
“To make all see”: To cause man to be enlighten, that is to receive
revelation. There is absolutely nothing we can boast of in the matter
pertaining to our salvation.
“What
is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who
created all things”: God
had a plan before the creation of the world to gain a group of people to be the
Body of Christ – that is the Church – to express Christ. Yet this plan was kept
hidden in God, and is unknown to all the created things; thus, it was a hidden
mystery.
“What is the
fellowship”: There is an arrangement in the universe, a management/economy,
that is to accomplish the mystery which was first kept hidden in Him.
In the Old Testament ages, the mystery concerning the
Church was not known clearly to any person, but now through the spreading of
the apostles, all men could receive this enlightenment and come to know how the
mystery which was kept hidden for ages is gradually being carried out/executed.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
Paul
said that part of the work he is called to engage in is to “make all see” (understand
is a better translation based on the original manuscript.) the heart of man,
and cause them to see the heart’s desire of God; this unveils man’s heart
toward God is still in the dark.
2)
The
work of the gospel is not only to preach about Christ, but also to cause man to
see; therefore, preaching of the gospel must be able to shine the light, and
reveal to them what they need to see.
3)
The “God who created all things” – this
clause indicates that this world belongs to God and was created by Him. If we
want to understand the current world’s situation and what is going on in this
world, we must see things from the standpoint/perspective of God.
4)
The
world today is not in accordance with the original heart’s intent of God. This
is a world that has lost its normal/original state, but the “God who created all things” have a plan…
He has determined to restore this world back to its perfect order; therefore,
He want to use the Church as a new race/nationality/creation to attain to His
goal.
Eph.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words or Phrases:
“The principalities and powers in the heavenly places” : It is referring to the
various social strata and levels of angels in the heavenly places; perhaps, it
also includes Satan and his fallen angels. What God has planned for the Church
is not only to be manifested to the people of this world, but also for all
strata of angels (1 Cor. 4:9,
“The manifold wisdom of God” – God’s wisdom is multifarious. It is
of tens of thousands of manifold wisdom. Ephesians chapter 3 is talking about
God’s plan concerning the Church which reveals His abundant wisdom.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
The
Church is God’s vessel through which the sinners on the earth can be saved
through her preaching of the gospel, but she is also the channel through which
the angels in the heavenly places can come to know God’s manifold wisdom.
2)
Since
the Church is the Masterpiece of God’s wisdom, how then can we neglect God’s
heart’s desire for the Church?
3)
It is
“now” that God wants people and
principalities to know His work of manifold wisdom in the Church. Thus, the
Church needs to be built here on the earth today and not wait until the future
for her to reveal the glory of God.
4)
We
can say that the Church on the earth today will be the all in all in the coming
new heavens and earth. She is the model of heading up all things as one in
Christ; thus, we cannot wait and idly watch the Church today.
5)
God’s
wisdom is multifarious, abundant in nature, as well as if one were to variedly
pick one side of a facet, one must go through the Church to show it forth
completely. The Church is like a 3-faceted prism to unfold the mixed color
spectrum.
6)
The
word used by Paul, “manifold” is based on the original Greek word meaning
“multifarious in color.” It’s meaning is that God’s wisdom and grace can handle
all the various incidences/circumstances in our lives, whether they are bright
or dark (good or bad), sunshine or shadow, He can make us more than conquerors.
Eph.
Literal Meaning of Each Word or Phrase:
“Eternal” – for generations, eternal, before time began; “purpose” – decision, aim.
Explanation on the Meaning of Words or Phrases:
“According
to the eternal purpose”: This speaks of God’s plan which He made before
the creation of the world, or the eternal purpose of God.
“In Christ
Jesus our Lord”: This means that God’s purpose was made in Christ Jesus; or
one can say that at the appointed time, this plan/purpose was worked out or
taken effect through Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word
1)
God’s
purpose has a timetable; God will accomplish His purpose, no matter no long it
takes. Therefore we cannot based on what our eyes can see to determine the
success or failure of God’s purpose.
2)
Oftentimes,
people think that the Church had already failed and had come to a dead end.
Oftentimes, people ridiculed the Church, mocked her, and even nearly buried
her, but just at the moment when they are about to put her into the grave, all
of a sudden the Church is resurrected and have another revival! Thus God once
again revealed His wisdom.