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PAUL'S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES

Ephesians chapter 3

Introduction.

This chapter is clearly divided into two parts:

• verses 2 to 13 is a parenthesis (interruption), explaining the reason for his prayer ("for this cause")
• verses 1 and 14 to 21.

The Ministry – verses 2 to 13

Paul had a special message to the Gentiles - a responsibility or “dispensation" (stewardship), given by God concerning the Gentiles – a stewardship that God gave him by revelation (v. 3 - see Acts 9:4-6, 14-16):

a) The "mystery of Christ" is a truth hidden during Old Testament times, but now revealed by the Holy Spirit to the "apostles and prophets" (in the churches - see 4:11) - that is, that the Gentile Christians (converted to Christ by the Gospel) are members, equally with the Jewish converts, of the Body of Christ, the Church. They are heirs of eternal life and of all the promises given by the gospel message to the believers (see 2-6).

b) Paul was the “minister" (servant) appointed by God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ", including this truth - previously undisclosed – the "mystery" about the Gentile converts (v. 7-9).

c) Thus, through the church (the union of Jews and Gentiles converted to Christ), the divine wisdom would be manifested to the heavenly powers, both faithful and rebel angels (see 6:12). The church is in accordance with the divine purpose in Christ, from eternity to eternity (v. 10-11); so, believing this, christians always have access to God. Paul therefore wants the Ephesians not to be discouraged because of the tribulations that he suffers for love of them; they ought to even rejoice! (v. 0-13).

The Prayer of Paul – verses 14 to 21

Here is the continuation of verse 1. Paul was a "prisoner of Christ Jesus" in two senses: he had the obligation ("stewardship") to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles: and he was literally a prisoner in Rome because of this preaching (see Acts 22:21-22).

He prays for the Christian Church as a family (v. 15) and as a building (v. 17-18):

a) A family with only one name: the "family of God" in heaven and on earth. Here the christian church is spoken of as a great spiritual family, consisting of both believers who have passed through death and are in heaven and those who are still alive on earth. We are fortified by the Holy Spirit in us, to perfect Christian love in our character - in the church, in the family, in social relationships.

b) A building - by understanding the magnitude of Christ's love in all its aspects. "With all the saints": the communion, on earth or in heaven, of the whole Church.

This "building", of people converted to Christ,  from Pentecost to the Coming of the Lord (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18) is “rooted" in God's love (John 3:16,) in order to understand the greatness of the love of Christ - which really cannot be understood; however, it can be experienced and known in life, until we "are filled with all the fullness of God " -  to our maximum capacity (v. 19).

Doxology

The end of Paul's prayer for the Christians. . . "To GOD - with infinite power, beyond our requests or thoughts, and that works in us believers - to HIM be glory in the believers and in Christ Jesus, forever!”

So with this doxology, the first part of the Epistle concludes, showing the "spiritual body" of Christ, the Church, as "already seated with Him” in heaven.

The "walk worthy” of this position follows, on the part of Christians while still in the world.

 

Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)

 

 

 

 

 

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
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:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
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.
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,
9 and 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;
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,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
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,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians chapter 3