Ephesians 3 Commentary
Verse 1 may suggest that Paul is suffering one of his many imprisonments. Or, it could refer to his mindset as a perpetual prisoner – a hunted man. Or, as a slave of Christ Jesus, he is fully given to hardships for the sake of the gospel among the Gentiles. It’s his calling. They all make sense.
Chapter 3 digs deep into Paul’s calling. We only have hints. Gather the other hints from the Book of Acts and the Books to the Church in Corinth, and you have a picture of a man who received a unique revelation. Not much is said beyond these hints as the Bible stars only one name – Jesus.
Of course, some items were uncommunicable (2 Corinthians 12 verse 4). Other items would form much of the New Testament that we know today. Paul makes the point that the message they had (him and the other apostles and the prophets) came by revelation and also by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t simple record-keeping!
The apostle Peter spoke about the revelation that he (Peter) was privileged to physically witness. The “Transfiguration” is one special revelation that Peter, James, and John received. John would receive another visitation. We call it the Book of Revelation.
You gaze into heavenly wonder and serenity each time you turn these pages!
Verse 10 mentions the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms”. Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be known to the “rulers and authorities”. We guess Paul refers to the same evil system that fights the saint. In this case, the task “to make known” may translate into the church’s authority to establish her “own control or rule”. Chapter 6 has more details. Take down the principalities with the armor of God!
One righteous man can take down an entire satanic system…it’s a mystery the church hasn’t grasped well! The armor of God never fails! But we must understand this armor. Pride of the heart means the saint has taken off his breastplate and the heart is fully exposed to enemy attacks. Defeat follows. You will have failed to “make known” or teach them a lesson. They will have taught you one, instead!
The mystery speaks of freedom from slavery under the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms”. It spells the terms that bring us back into sonship together with Israel. It’s an invitation into God’s love – the entire width, length, and depth of God’s love. And here, it’s not what you know but how much you are loved! You want to embrace it fully!
And why not, you can always have it! Immeasurable generosity, all at work within us – the Body of Christ! Glory in the church to Him – Christ Jesus!
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