ephesians 3 meaning

Ephesians 3:5. (13-19) And adds a thanksgiving. Let us expect more, and ask for more, encouraged by what Christ has already done for our souls, being assured that the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of believers, will be to … TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. May be able to comprehend with all saints This is the end of their being rooted and grounded in love, that they, together with the rest of the saints interested in it, might have a larger and more comprehensive view of The first creation, when God made all things out of nothing, and the new creation, whereby sinners are made new creatures by converting grace, are of God by Jesus Christ. That inner power is not of ourselves but the supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit - for He is continuously working in the inner man (that new life in Christ that we received at salvation)  in order to transform us from glory to glory... into the person and character that befits a spiritual man; a child of God; a joint-heir with Christ and a citizen of heaven. He prays that those who have the strength and spirit within, to go beyond expectations. The apostle sets forth his office, and his qualifications for it, and his call to it. 3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) The section closes with a doxology, giving glory to God (Ephesians 3:20-21). We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. What a privilege it is to be a Christian - a part of the church – a living stone - a member of the body of Christ. (20,21). He has been expounding the length and breadth and depth and height of the good news of God's grace towards us, and the over-abounding riches we already have in Christ, by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Read all the posts in this series or subscribe to the audio podcast. It's also important to note that the simple form of the word is poikilos, meaning "various" (e.g., 1 Pet. 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--. So, in our text, the word means "many-faceted" or "most varied." I have already written to you briefly about this. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:3. Paul in this inspiring and exhilarating doxology of praise wants us to KNOW that  God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!!! For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. Paul refers to both his imprisonment and to his spiritual calling. For three glorious chapters Paul has been outlining of the riches of God's grace towards His people, explaining our privileged position in Christ and reminding us of the love of God, which passes all human understanding.. before he implores us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called.. to the praise and glory of God the Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Whereof I was made a minister That is, of the Gospel, not by men, but by God: and he is a true minister of the Gospel who is called of God to the work of the ministry, and is qualified by him with grace and gifts for it; and who faithfully discharges it according to the ability God has given; and such an one was the apostle: As God appointed Paul to the office, so he qualified him for it. What is the dispensation of the mystery. How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! It is proper always to end prayers with praises. Ephesians 5:3, ESV: "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." For three glorious chapters Paul has been outlining of the riches of God's grace towards His people, explaining our privileged position in Christ and reminding us of the love of God, which passes all human understanding.. before he implores us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called.. to the praise and glory of God the Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 You heard about the stewardship of God’s grace given to me for you, 3 and how by revelation the mystery was made known to me. Chapter 3. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation through Christ. We praise Him for Who He is and all that He has done for the children of men. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. New International Version. In this more detailed specification of the οἰκονομία meant in Ephesians 3:2, κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν has the emphasis: by way of revelation, expressing the mode of the making known, in accordance with a well-known adverbial usage Ephesians 3:14–21 is a prayer from Paul on behalf of the Christians of Ephesus. Ephesians 3:18(NASB) Verse Thoughts Paul desires that the spiritual awareness of the saints of God is all-embracing, such that we are able to comprehend the multi-dimensional breadth, length, depth and height of God's love - through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. Lionel Windsor lectures in New Testament at Moore College, Sydney. Now to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. - which is to transform us from being fallen sinners into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fellow-heirs, i.e., with the Jews, as saints, as belonging to the family of God. Ephesians 3:12(HCSB) Verse Thoughts. Those whom God advances to honourable employments, he makes low in their own eyes; and where God gives grace to be humble, there he gives all other needful grace. The natural theme for this transition is an appeal for spiritual strength from God. Ephesians 3:20 meaning, full explanation. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 … To get what Ephesians 3:20 means in detail, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. 3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. Christian ministry is hard. © 2021 Christianity.com. EPHESIANS ‘THE WHOLE FAMILY’ Ephesians 3:15Grammatically, we are driven to recognise that the Revised Version is more correct than the Authorised, when it reads ‘every family,’ instead of ‘the whole family.’There is in the expression no reference to the thought, however true it is in itself, that the redeemed in heaven and the believers on earth make up but one family. What Does Ephesians 1:3 Mean? The literal meaning is "multi-colored," that is, marked with a great variety of colors, as in a painting. All Rights Reserved. Ephesians 3:3, NLT: "As I briefly wrote earlier, … Ephesians 3:1-7. I. He is guiding and directing us; teaching and training us and the more that we yield to Him.. the more exceedingly abundantly will be the inner transformation into the image and likeness of Christ - until we can say with Paul :- the life that I live in this flesh is not I.. but Christ that lives in me. His riches are as unsearchable and as sure as ever, yet while angels adore the wisdom of God in the redemption of his church, the ignorance of self-wise and carnal men deems the whole to be foolishness. Ὃ, which) This refers to Ephesians 3:3, as the repetition of the verb γνωρίζω, I make known, indicates.— ἑτέραις γενεαῖς, in other ages) Time in the ablative, as Acts 13:36.— οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθνη, was not made known) He does not say οὐκ ἀπεκαλύφθη, was not revealed. And to make all men see. Heavenly Father, thank You that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. In this verse, Paul says a prayer for the Ephesians. We may observe it to have been very much the practice of this apostle to intermix, with his instructions and counsels, intercessions and prayers to God for those … Ephesians 3:7. Ephesians 3:9. Ephesians 3, Verses 1-4 ¶“ 1 I Paul am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles. Though many are not enriched with these riches; yet how great a favour to have them preached among us, and to have an offer of them! in whom we have boldness, access, and confidence through faith in Him. II. Amen. Ephesians chapter 3 wraps up Paul's doctrinal teaching and introduces its practical application. (1-7) Also the noble purposes answered by it. Ephesians chapter 3. Ephesians 5:3 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Ephesians 5:3, NIV: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ; the unsearchable riches of Christ! Ephesians 3:16. Ephesians 3:18. Thank You that I have the power of the Holy Spirit working in my inner man. The superabundant blessings that God gives to all who simply trust in the divine Person and atoning work of Lord Jesus Christ are ours - according to the Power that works within us. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. What Does Ephesians 3:12 Mean? 4 By reading my letters you will understand the mystery of Christ as I do” (Ephesians 3:1-4). And Paul's heart-desire and earnest prayer is that we understand the riches of His grace towards us and that we stand firm in the faith; grow in grace; trust in the Lord with all our heart and become rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. Should not this satisfy man? ... Ephesians 1:3(NASB) Verse Thoughts. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles. We serve the God who dares the impossible and... 2. The whole verse explains ‘mystery’ (Ephesians 3:4). 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 Ephesians 3:13 manifestly coming in by way of parenthesis. An effectual working of Divine power attends the gifts of Divine grace. 4:10). 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. (8-12) He prays for the Ephesians. Ephesians 3:20 Treasury of Scripture Knowing, What My Obedience To God Costs Other People, The Stone Was Rolled Away (Easter Reflections - (11). Such glorification is possible because the church is Christ’s body (Ephesians 1:23; 4:15-16; 5:30). The Power that works within us is the Holy Spirit, Who teaches, guides, rebukes and correct us. The meaning of ministry (Ephesians 3:7–8) Published by Lionel Windsor on April 29, 2019. He writes here of greatness of the ability of God to strengthen us for comprehension of all that he is, and the power of his love that dwells in us. To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; In whom we have (our) boldness and (our) access with confidence. This calling includes proclaiming the fact that all people, Jew and Gentile, can now be part of the same spiritual family. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. That the Gentiles are; not ‘should be,’ for ‘a mystery is not a secret design, but a secret fact’ (Alford). Let us expect more, and ask for more, encouraged by what Christ has already done for our souls, being assured that the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of believers, will be to his glory, for ever and ever. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 1. The main idea in the paragraph from Ephesians 3:7 onwards is unmistakably that of the marvellous call and commission of Paul, and the wonder of the grace that made an Apostle and preacher of him is magnified the more by the Divine purpose revealed in that commission, to wit, the making known the manifold wisdom of God in His ways with sinful men and with the outcasts of the Gentile world in … Not simply to teach all men, but to enlighten all, which is to be accomplished by means of the gospel. Ephesians 3:3, KJV: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words," Ephesians 3:3, NASB: "that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief." Choose a verse from 'Ephesians 3' to begin your 'Verse-by-Verse' study of God's Word using the more than 100 commentaries available on StudyLight.org ‘All,’ which is not emphatic, refers to the ‘Gentiles’ (Ephesians 3:8). The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Of the account which Paul gives the Ephesians concerning himself, as he was appointed by God to be the apostle of the Gentiles . This glorification is “in the church and in Christ Jesus.” That is to say, it is within the company of believers in union with Christ that God is glorified. Some religious leaders, hungry for power and control over the lives of the people they lead, twist this teaching and turned it into something wrong. I pray that I willingly yield to Your child-training and transforming work in my life and that I am ever open to Your chastening rod and Your guiding hand - this I ask in Jesus name, AMEN. The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. This was the great truth made known to the apostle, that God would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ. Explanation and Commentary on Ephesians 3:20 Paul has been writing of the power of God to make us able to grasp the width and depth of his love. (12) This verse returns to the idea of Ephesians 2:18, as though St. Paul, after the wide sweep of thought far beyond the earth in Ephesians 3:10-11, desired, as usual, to bring his readers back to the practical and personal aspects of their Christianity.. And if we are not enriched with them it is our own fault. Paul desires that we KNOW that God is able : that God is able to do : that God is able to do what we think : that He is able to do what we ask and think : that He is able to do all that we ask of think : that He is able to do above all that we ask or think - that God is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think. Reading Time: 11 minutes. This prayer begins a transition from the first half of his letter, focused on doctrinal ideas, to the second half, where those ideas are put into practice. It's actually pretty simple, really: It simply means to honor our parents in obedience to the Lord. He is forming and transforming, fashioning and refining our inner man. This chapter consists of two parts. This verse in Ephesians in which Paul prays that God would grant us, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.. is only the first part of an amazing and powerful prayer.. for his prayer continues: so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the … Of his devout and affectionate prayer to God for the Ephesians . That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory Or according to, and out of that rich, plenteous, and glorious fulness of grace and strength in Christ Jesus. The conversion of absolute impossibilities to limitless possibilities. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! And so Paul draws this inspiring and exhilarating section of His letter to the Ephesians to a climatic close with a doxology of praise proclaiming God's goodness and grace. When we bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we offer Him the praise and worship He deserves. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the ages before Christ, as unto the prophets of the New Testament. The discharge of drastic judgment God manifests His Almightiness in the discharge of drastic judgment. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. Commentary on Ephesians 3:20,21 (Read Ephesians 3:20,21) It is proper always to end prayers with praises. Ephesians 3:6. Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness? Forever and ever thank you that I have the strength and Spirit within, to beyond. Are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that he has done for the children of men refers! Inner man 1:23 ; 4:15-16 ; 5:30 ) affections may be fixed in us - is. 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