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÷÷EPHESIANS 3

EPHESIANS 3

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO 3:1-21

1. Considering the theological purpose(s) for the cyclical letter of Paul known as Ephesians, it is clear that Paul's four main truths in the doctrinal section relate to the Gnostic false teachers. (See Introduction.)
   1. Eph. 1:3-4, praises the Father for His "before time" love expressed in Christ's substitutionary atonement and the Spirit's continuing presence.
   2. Eph. 1:15-23, Jesus is the true wisdom of God. God wants His people to fully comprehend the gospel.
   3. Eph. 2:1-10, reveals the Father's great love and mercy for fallen, helpless humanity.
   4. Eph. 2:11-3:13, reveals the eternal plan of God to include all humans in a free salvation through Christ (cf. Gen. 3:15), Jew and Greek, male and female, slave and free.
      
      

      In effect, Eph. 2:11-3:13) reveals the eternal, universal redemptive plan of God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN); Eph. 2:1-10) reveals the loving heart of God and Eph. 1:3-14) reveals the eternal purpose of God, mankind's Christlikeness. God was fully aware of mankind's rebellion and made plans for dealing with the problem, even before creation (cf. Eph. 1:4).

2. Ephesians 2:11-22 and 3:2-13 specify one of several definitions of the mystery of God found in Paul's writings. Jew and Gentile were united in one new entity, the Church of Jesus Christ.
   SPECIAL TOPIC: MYSTERY
   
   
3. Paul begins a prayer of praise in Eph. 3:1, but gets sidetracked concerning his ministry to the Gentiles. He resumes his prayer of praise in verses 14-21.
   
   
4. The prayer which began in verse 1 and finishes in Eph. 3:14-21 divides into three clauses. (See full note at Eph. 3:16-19)
   1. believers receive inner strength, Eph. 3:16-17a
      1. by the Spirit's power
      2. by Christ's indwelling
   2. saints may fully comprehend the truth of the gospel and the mystery, Eph. 3:17b-19a
      1. to grasp so as to hold on to
      2. to know by experience
   3. believers are filled with the fullness (plērōma) of God, Eph. 3:19b

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷EPHESIANS 3:1-13

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EPHESIANS 3:1-13
 ¹For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-²if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; ³that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. ⁴By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; ⁶to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, ⁷of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. ⁸To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, ⁹and to bring to light what is the administration of the mysterywhich for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; ¹⁰so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. ¹³Therefore, I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

3:1 "For this reason" Ephesians 3:2-13 is a theological continuation of Eph. 2:11-22. Paul repeats this phrase in Eph. 3:14, where he returns to his prayer to God. (After a parenthesis of 3:2-13 about his call and ministry to Gentiles).

▣ "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles" When Paul wrote this book he was imprisoned at Rome because of a riot in Jerusalem (see Introduction, Date; cf. Acts 21:27-22:22). The riot occurred when the Jews accused Paul of taking Trophimus, a Gentile Ephesian convert, into the temple. The Jews knew him to be a Gentile and were outraged (cf. Eph. 2:14).

Paul felt a specific divine call to minister to the Gentiles (cf. Eph. 3:2,8; Acts 9:15; 22:21; 26:16,18; Rom. 11:13; 15:16; Gal. 1:16; 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 4:17).

3:2 "if" This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Verses 2-7 form one sentence in Greek. These believers had heard about Paul's ministry and calling. Paul was not the founder of all the churches in Asia Minor.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK GRAMMATICAL TERMS, VII

▣ "of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you" Paul felt he had been entrusted with the gospel (cf. Eph. 3:9; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 9:17; Gal. 2:7; Col. 1:25; 1 Thess. 2:4; 1 Tim. 1:11; 1 Pet. 4:10). God's grace came to Paul as a gift, vv.7-8, and as a stewardship, v. 2. This is the twin aspect of God's covenant.

As a matter of fact, all believers have been gifted by the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7,11; Eph. 4:7) and declared stewards of the Great Commission (cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). It is not the Great Option! It involves both intentional evangelism and Christlike maturity. It is impossible to be a good and faithful steward and not comprehend the assignment!

3:3 "by revelation" This could refer to

1. his Damascus road experience (cf. Acts 9:3-8; 22:6-11; 26:12-18)
2. Ananias' teachings in Damascus (cf. Acts 9:10-19; 22:12-16)
3. the vision in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 22:17)
4. Paul's training by the ascended and glorified Jesus in Arabia (cf. Gal. 1:12, 17-18)

▣ "the mystery" Paul used the term "mystery" over twenty times with several different meanings. Often it is associated with the how and why of the union of believing Jews and Gentiles into one new community, the church (cf. Eph. 2:11-3:13; Col. 1:26-27).

SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD'S PLAN FOR REDEMPTION, "MYSTERY"

The great reformer, John Calvin, thought this referred to something Paul had written in a previous letter, but it may better be understood to refer to a previous part of Ephesians, probably 2:11-22. This common use of the AORIST TENSE is called an EPISTOLARY AORIST.

3:4 "when you read" This probably refers to the public readings of Paul's letters in the churches (cf. Col.4:16; 1 Thess. 5:27; Rev.1:3). Remember that Ephesians was a circular letter.

God is now clearly revealing His age old plan of the redemption of all mankind (cf. 1 Cor. 2:6-9; Col. 1:26), Jew and Greek, rich and poor, slave and free, male and female (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28).

▣ "was not made known. . .has now been revealed" These are two PASSIVE VERBS, which show God's actions in the revelation of this great truth

1. the Father's will before time (Eph. 1:3-6)
2. Jesus' work in time (Eph. 1:7-12)
3. the Spirit's work through time (Eph. 1:13-14)

NT believers know more about God, His plan, and His Messiah than any OT person!

▣ "to His holy apostles and prophets" This phrase is also found in Eph. 2:20; 4:11. They are "holy" because they were set apart for a specific task. This refers to NT prophets (see full note at Eph. 2:20, cf. Eph. 4:11; Acts 11:27; 13:1; 15:32; 21:9,10; 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:1-40). Both groups, Apostles and prophets (along with evangelists and pastor/teachers, cf. Eph. 4:11), proclaimed this newly revealed mystery of the gospel, that believing Jew and Gentile now formed one new body, the church.

What a startling revelation of the age-old mystery of God's redemptive plan. In Christ there is no more Jew or Greek (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 3:22; 10:12; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:7-9, 28-29; Col. 3:11). This same word, "fellow-heirs," is also used in Rom. 8:17; Heb. 11:9 and 1 Pet. 3:7.

There are three sun compounds here:

1. "fellow-heirs"
2. "fellow members of one body"
3. "fellow partakers of the promise"

Paul uses these sun compounds often to describe the believer's new life in Christ. This is very similar to the three compounds with sun in Eph. 2:5-6.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH's ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

3:7 This could refer to Paul's initial salvation, but in context it seems to refer to God's special gift of his apostolic Gentile mission (cf. Eph. 3:2; 6:20; Rom. 12:3; 15:15-16; 1 Cor. 3:10; 15:10; Gal. 2:9; Col. 1:25).

▣ "a minister" We get the English word "deacon" from this generic Greek VERB for minister (diakoneō, cf. Matt. 8:15 or diakonia, cf. Eph. 4:12).

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEACON

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEACONESS

▣ "according to the working of His power" Salvation and effective ministry are of God, not Paul (cf. Eph. 1:19; Col. 1:29).

3:8-12 This is one Greek sentence. These long sentences are characteristic of Ephesians.

3:8 "the very least of all saints" This is literally "most least," which is a COMPARATIVE of a SUPERLATIVE (cf. 1 Cor. 15:9; 1 Tim. 1:15). Paul was humbled by his previous life of religious self-righteousness, and aggressive persecution. He was also amazed by God's love for such a persecutor of His church.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS

What a powerful word to describe God's riches in Christ (cf. Rom. 11:33 and the Septuagint translation of Job 5:9; 9:10). Mankind cannot discover God, but God has chosen to reveal Himself.

▣ "riches of Christ" "Riches" is one of Paul's favorite words (cf. Eph. 1:7,18; 2:4,7; 3:8,16). In chapter 1 he spoke of the riches of God the Father. Here Paul transfers them to the Son! NT authors often allude to Jesus' deity by transferring to Him the titles and functions of YHWH (for example see "God our Savior" and "Christ Jesus our Savior" in Titus 1:3 and 1:4; 2:10 and 2:13; 3:4 and 3:6).

This is literally "to turn on a light" (cf. Eph. 1:18; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 2:9). Only the Spirit can bring this revelation to a darkened heart (cf. John 1:4-5; 6:44, 65). We get the English term "photo" from the Greek word.

This is literally "stewardship of a household (oikonomia)." This is one of Paul's favorite words for God's eternal plan of redemption in Christ for all the children of Adam (cf. Eph. 1:10; 3:2,9; Col. 1:25).

There is a Greek manuscript problem with the term "stewardship" versus "fellowship." "Stewardship" is found in P⁴⁶, all uncial manuscripts, most minuscule manuscripts, all ancient versions, and all early church father quotes, therefore, "stewardship" is the original word.

For "mystery" see SPECIAL TOPIC: MYSTERY

▣ "God, who created all things" This refuted the Gnostic dualism between matter and spirit (cf. Eph. 2:10). In the Colossian parallel, Jesus is identified as God the Father's agent in creation (cf. John 1:3,10; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:15-16; Heb. 1:2-3; 2:10).

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

This is a compound word stressing

1. the "many-colored" wisdom of God
2. In 1 Pet. 1:6 it refers to the manifold sufferings.
3. In 1 Pet. 4:10 it refers to the manifold graces of God.

This great multi-faceted truth of God can best be seen in Paul's doxologies in Rom. 11:33-36 and Eph. 3:18-21.

▣ "be made known" The angels longed to know God's plan (cf. 1 Pet. 1:12). God used His love for the Church to reveal Himself to mankind and to angels (cf. Eph. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:9).

▣ "the church" Ekklēsia was used in the Septuagint (LXX) to translate the Hebrew term "assembly (qahal) of Israel" (cf. Exod. 12:6; 16:3; Num. 20:4; Lev. 4:13). This is one of several uses of this term in Ephesians (cf. Eph. 1:22; 3:10, 21; 5:23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 32). Paul calls the church the body of Christ both in Eph. 1:22-23 and in Colossians 1:24. The early church saw itself as the true OT people of God (cf. Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6) with Christ Jesus the Messiah as Head.

One of the unusual literary relationships between Ephesians and Colossians is that in Ephesians this term refers to the church universal (cf. Matt. 16:18; Gal. 1:13), while in Colossians it usually refers to the local church (1 Cor. 10:32; 12:28; 15:9; Gal. 1:12; Phil. 3:6). This points toward Ephesians as a circular letter.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (EKKLĒSIA)

▣ "to the rulers and the authorities" This refers to angelic levels of authority, both good and evil (cf. Rom. 8:38-39; 1 Cor. 2:8; Eph. 1:21; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15, 20). This was a major theological aspect of Gnosticism. For them, salvation was the procurement of secret knowledge so that one could pass through these angelic levels (aeons) to reach the high, good god.

A full list of the terms used in the NT for these angelic levels can be seen in George E. Ladd's A Theology of the New Testament, p. 401. These orders and ranks of angelic beings are not defined and discussed in detail anywhere in the NT. Be careful of curiosity and systems of theology that attempt to definitively answer that which the NT leaves ambiguous!

A good example of this caution relates to these angelic ranks. In some passages, they are not evil but possibly structures of this fallen world which enable humans to live apart from God. A good book on this theory would be Hendrik Berkhoff's Christ and the Powers, Herald Press.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN PAUL'S WRITINGS

SPECIAL TOPIC: ARCHĒ

▣ "in heavenly places" This LOCATIVE (OF SPHERE) NEUTER PLURAL ADJECTIVE (epouranious) "in the heavenly places" is only used in Ephesians (cf. Eph. 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). From the context of all of its usages, it must mean the spiritual realm in which believers live here and now, not heaven.

3:11 "eternal purposes" This is literally "purpose of ages" (cf. Eph. 1:9-10). This term is used in the Greek Classics to refer to a set plan. God is not surprised and He has no plan B (Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28)!

What was God's eternal plan? This is clarified in Genesis 1-3. God created mankind for fellowship (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; 3:8); that fellowship was broken by human rebellion (cf. Genesis 3). The restoration of God's image and fellowship with mankind (Jew and Gentile) is the goal of God's activity in the Bible. This goal is met through the work of Christ (cf. Gen. 3:15) and the ministry of the Spirit (cf. John 16:8-14).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND

This term is used for freedom of speech, but it came to mean confidence in approaching someone in authority (cf. Heb. 4:16; 10:19,35; 1 John 2:28; 3:21). In Christ, believers have boldness to approach a Holy God!

SPECIAL TOPIC: BOLDNESS

This term is used in the Septuagint (LXX) for a personal introduction to royalty. Remember, the NT authors, except Luke, were Hebrew thinkers, so the place to go to understand the meaning of Greek words they used is the Greek translation of the OT, which was the Bible of the early church in Palestine.

The concept is emphasized in Eph. 2 and Rom. 5:2. Believers approach the Father through Christ alone (cf. 1 Pet. 3:18). He is their only mediator (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5). In Christ, believers have confident access!

The Reformation emphasis on "the priesthood of the believer" was a reaction to the authoritarian approach of the Catholic Church. However, biblically, the focus is never on the individual believer, but on "believers" (cf. Exod. 19:6). Western Christianity has magnified the individual to the exclusion of the corporate body. Christians are to be priests in an evangelistic and corporate sense, not an individual privileged position. It is true that humans become believers individually, but Christianity is a corporate experience.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIANITY IS CORPORATE

▣ "Through faith in Him" Jesus is God's channel for all spiritual blessings (cf. Eph. 1:4,7,9,10 (twice), Eph. 1:12, 13 (twice).

This is literally "faithfulness of him" (cf. Gal. 2:16; 3:22). If it is an OBJECTIVE GENITIVE, believers trust in Christ. He is the trustworthy One! If it is a SUBJECTIVE GENITIVE, it refers to Christ's "faithfulness" (OT sense of the term). Faithfulness in fulfilling the OT Law (His life) and offering Himself as a sacrifice for sins (His death).

SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS (OT)

3:13 "I ask you not to lose heart" This is PRESENT MIDDLE INDICATIVE, meaning "you, yourselves, continue to not lose heart." Grammatically, this can refer to Paul or to the Ephesian church. Most commentators agree that it refers to the churches Paul is addressing in this cyclical letter. Paul uses this phrase often (cf. 2 Cor. 4:16; Gal. 6:9; 2 Thess. 3:13).

▣ "at my tribulation on your behalf" Paul's life in ministry is described in 2 Cor. 4:7-12; 6:3-10; 11:23-29!

SPECIAL TOPIC: TRIBULATION

▣ "for they are your glory" Exactly how Paul's sufferings (cf. Eph. 3:1) are the glory of these Gentile churches is not revealed. Possibly they refer to Paul's salvation and ministry assignment in Acts 9:15-16 (cf. Acts 20:23). Paul was fulfilling his ministry among the Gentiles, therefore, his sufferings opened the door to their salvation. See fuller note on "glory" at Eph. 1:6.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (NT)

÷EPHESIANS 3:14-19

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EPHESIANS 3:14-19
 ¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

3:14 "For this reason" Paul returns to his initial purpose (cf. Eph. 3:1, i.e. his prayer). Notice the doctrinal section opens with a prayer to the Triune God (cf. Eph. 1:3-14) and closes with prayer. Often in Paul's writing he breaks into prayer (i.e., Eph. 3:20-21).

▣ "I bow my knees" Standing, not bowing, was the usual position for Jewish prayer. This shows Paul's intensity (cf. Matt. 6:5; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 12; 22:41; Acts 7:60; Phil. 2:10).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP

3:14-15 "Father. . .family" This is a play on the Greek name pater and patria. Notice the emphasis on the Father, as in Eph. 1:3-14 (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24-28). The Creator God is the paradigm for all living beings and their social units (i.e. tribes/nations).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FATHERHOOD OF GOD

3:14-17 "Father. . .Spirit. . .Christ" Notice the work of the Trinity as in Eph. 1:3-14. It is true that the term "Trinity" is not used in the NT. However, there are numerous passages where the three divine persons are mentioned in a unified context (cf. Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; John 14:26; Acts 2:33-34,38-39; Rom. 1:4-5; 5:15; 8:9-10; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 13:14; Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:3-14, 17; 2:18; 3:14-17; 4:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:2; Jude 1:20-21).

The KJV translation adds "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," but this phrase is not in the ancient Greek manuscripts P⁴⁶, א, A, B, C, nor the Greek texts used by Jerome and Augustine. The addition does occur in the uncial manuscripts א^c, D, G, K, and the Greek text used by Chrysostom. The UBS⁴ gives its omission a "B" rating.

The concept of three divine persons with one divine essence (i.e., monotheism) is difficult to understand. Yet, if Jesus is deity and the Spirit is a person, then Bible believers are forced to affirm a triune unity.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

3:15 "in heaven and on earth" This refers to believers alive and dead (cf. Phil. 2:10).

3:16-19 Paul's prayer can be outlined using two grammatical features.

1. Three purpose clauses (hina)
   1. Eph. 3:16, God would grant (AORIST SUBJUNCTIVE)
   2. Eph. 3:18, God would fully enable (AORIST SUBJUNCTIVE)
   3. Eph. 3:19b, God would fill (AORIST SUBJUNCTIVE)
2. Four AORIST INFINITIVES
   1. Eph. 3:16, "you to be strengthened"
   2. Eph. 3:17, "Christ to dwell in your hearts"
   3. Eph. 3:18, "you to comprehend"
   4. Eph. 3:19, "you to know"

This paragraph reflects Paul's prayer for the believers in all these churches that they be stable and established by God's power through Christ's acts and the Holy Spirit's empowering to resist

1. the false teachers
2. the persecution of a fallen world

3:16 "according to the riches of His glory" "Riches" is one of Paul's favorite terms to describe the grace of God in Christ (cf. Eph. 1:7,18; 2:4,7; 3:8,16). God's nature is the key to God's power and provisions.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

▣ "strengthened" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BE MADE STRONG

▣ "in the inner man" Spiritual growth is internal, but it is stimulated by external pressure. Paul often uses the contrast between the inner man and the outer man. The inner man is the spiritual aspect, while the outer man is the physical aspect. The inner man is already part of the New Age, the kingdom of God, but the outer man is still dying and struggling with the old age, the old fallen nature, and the fallen world system (cf. Eph. 2:1-3).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN GROWTH

3:17 "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" This is an AORIST ACTIVE INFINITIVE which points toward a specific act of faith. There is a fluidity in the NT between the indwelling of the Son and the Spirit. The Spirit's task (cf. John 14-16) is to

1. reveal the need for Jesus (i.e., human sin)
2. reveal Jesus (i.e., the gospel)
3. draw to Jesus
4. baptize into Jesus (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13)
5. form Jesus in believers (i.e., Christlikeness)

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART

SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS AND THE SPIRIT

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST

▣ "being rooted" This is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE which could be translated "have been and continue to be rooted by God." Paul uses this agricultural imagery only here and in Col. 2:7. These two PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLES are a way of showing his confidence in these believers and these churches.

▣ "and grounded" This is a second PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE. This is construction imagery. The same mixing of agriculture and construction imagery is found in Eph. 2:20-22 and 1 Cor. 3:9.

3:18-19 "to comprehend. . .to know" These are both AORIST INFINITIVE (i.e., there are four AORIST INFINITIVES in this prayer, Eph. 3:16-19). This emphasis on knowledge counteracted the exclusive claims of the Gnostic false teachers. It may refer to the newly revealed mystery of God, the uniting of Jews and Gentiles in Christ (cf. Eph. 3:9).

3:18 "may be able" This is the second PURPOSE CLAUSE. Paul is praying that all believers be strengthened and enabled to fully understand the gospel (i.e., "comprehend" and "know," cf. Eph. 1:15-23).

▣ "with all the saints" This term is always PLURAL, except in Phil. 4:21, which also has a corporate context. To be a Christian is to be in community. Also, notice that God's will is the maturity of all believers (cf. Eph. 4:13).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS

3:19 "surpasses" Christ's love is greater than human knowledge! This is the Greek compound huperballō. This word is used in Eph. 1:19; 2:7; and 3:19.

Another huper compound is used in Eph. 3:20 (huperekperissou), which is also used in 1 Thess. 3:10 and 5:13.

SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S USE OF HUPER COMPOUNDS

▣ "filled up to all the fullness of God" This is the third PURPOSE CLAUSE in this prayer. This does not refer to the indwelling Christ or Spirit, Eph. 3:17, but is a play on the false teachings of the Gnostics, who emphasized fullness (plērōma) as special knowledge which enabled one to pass through all the angelic spheres (aeons) to heaven.

Christ is the true and only "fullness of God" (cf. Eph. 1:23; Col. 2:9).

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

÷EPHESIANS 3:20-21

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EPHESIANS 3:20-21
 ²⁰Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

3:20 "to Him who is able" This begins one of Paul's marvelous doxologies which closes the doctrinal section of this circular letter. This is a wonderful title for God used three times in the NT (cf. Rom. 16:25; Jude 24). Each of these texts deal with different aspects of God's activities.

Notice the three persons of the Trinity.

1. God the Father ‒ "Him who is able," v. 20
2. God the Spirit ‒ "the power that works within us," v. 20
3. God the Son ‒ "and in Christ Jesus," v. 21

This is a characteristic Pauline COMPOUND SUPERLATIVE meaning, "exceeding, abundantly more" (cf. 1 Thess. 3:10; 5:13). It is bad grammar, but great theology!

SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S USE OF HUPER COMPOUNDS

▣ "according to the power that works within us" This is a reference to the indwelling Christ through the Spirit (cf. Eph. 3:7, 16-17; Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:27). This permanent indwelling Spirit in each and every believer is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New (i.e. "new heart," "new mind," "new spirit", cf. Ezek. 36:26-27).

3:21 "be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus" Here is the exalted place of Jesus' Bride and Body, the Church (cf. Eph. 1:23), His blood-bought, Spirit-filled people!

The term "church" is from two Greek terms, "out of" and "to call." It was used in Greco-Roman culture for town meetings (cf. Acts 19:32). In Jewish life this term was used to translate the significant theological concepts of "the assembly of Israel" or qahal (cf. Exod. 12:6; 16:3; Lev. 4:13; Num. 14:5; 20:6; Deut. 5:22; 9:10; 10:4; 18:16). The early believers saw themselves as the true and ongoing "People of God" (cf. Gal. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:5-9; Rev. 1:6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (EKKLĒSIA)

▣ "forever and ever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER (GREEK IDIOM)

▣ "amen" See SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. How did Paul learn his theology?
2. Why does Paul call himself "the least of the saints"?
3. Why was the mystery of God hidden in ages past?
4. What is the purpose of the church to the angelic realm?
5. List the three things Paul asked God to grant the believers in Eph. 3:16-19.
6. What does it mean that Christians are indwelt?

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