Introductory remarks:
This chapter continues with Paul teaching grace doctrine. He covers at length the doctrine of the mysteries for the church. "Paul speaks of his imprisonment as being of Christ and for them. He says the mystery of Christ that was previously hidden was revealed to him. And the mystery is that Gentiles would be fellow heirs in Christ. Though he was lowly, God appointed him to teach the riches of Christ. The purpose of God is that all-encompassing plan of God is revealed through Christ in the Church. Paul tells them not to be weakened by tribulations that he obediently endures and prays that the indwelling Spirit will strengthen them. He also prays that they know the love of Christ and be filled with God, who gives us more than we could ask for" (A Survey of Ephesians - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Paul's ministry to the Gentiles vv. 1-13: to know the love of Christ vv. 14-21.
Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles
Verse 1, "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles."
LGT "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of the Christ [Jesus] on behalf of you Gentiles."
For this cause: because you are builded together in Christ (2:22). I Paul, the prisoner of the Christ Jesus: the name "Jesus" is added to explain further, that the promised Messiah had come. On behalf of you Gentiles: Paul says that he is specially led to preach to the Gentiles, and that he gladly suffered for this.
Verse 2, "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward."
LGT "If so be that ye heard of the administration of the grace of God which was given to me towards you,"
If so be that ye heard: the "if" is in the first class condition, and in this context it means that they have already heard; this "if" could also be rendered, since ye heard. These words are a reminder of his previously teaching them. This verse begins a long digression ending on verse 14. Of the administration: a dispensation is an economy of God dealing with His family here on earth. It has also been defined as a Divine arrangement. Of the grace of God: Paul's message to the Gentile believers is all of grace, and this dispensation or administration or economy of grace is still in effect, and it will continue until the Rapture of the Church. These divine riches of grace are all a mystery that Paul is unfolding in this marvelous letter. Which was given to me towards you: God chose Paul as the apostle to the uncircumcision, the Gentiles as Peter was chosen as the apostle to the circumcision, the Jews.
Verse 3, "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in a few words,"
LGT "That by revelation was made known to me the mystery, according as I wrote before briefly,"
That by revelation: this qualified Paul to preach the gospel of grace, that the Holy Spirit inspired him. Was made known to me the mystery: remember, a mystery was something that was not yet known in the Old Testament, and that Paul was revealing to them, which in this entire letter are the Riches of Divine Grace. Paul says that what was made known to him could never be doubted, for it comes directly from God through the Holy Spirit. According as I wrote before briefly: Paul refers to what he had begun to introduce to them in the two previous chapters; not that he had fully disclosed the entire context of the riches of grace, in a previous epistle.
Verse 4, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ."
LGT "By which while reading [it], ye are able to perceive my understanding in the mystery of the Christ."
By which ye while reading it: this epistle revealing the mystery of grace. Ye are able perceive: fully understand. Paul presumed they would read the letter when it arrived, and that grace logic would prevail, and they would then know their own competence in the Gospel of Grace. My understanding: My comprehension, that is, that I received it directly from God, and that the Gospel of Grace can be traced back to eternity past, which God revealed in the Old Testament by types and symbols, Paul now reveals these mysteries in full. In the mystery of the Christ: the Gospel of Grace is centered in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, for He made it all possible through His finished work on the Cross. Let me remind you: the Gospel of Grace is simply believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting Him for your eternal salvation, no more, no less.
Verse 5, "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit."
LGT "Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as now it was revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by [the] Spirit,"
Which in other generations was not made known: all the mysteries concerning Christ could not have been made known until Christ came and fulfilled these promises of grace. To the sons of men: this phrase simply means, generation after generation; father begets son, and that son becomes a father and begets a son, etc. As now it was revealed to His holy apostles and prophets: the prophets were inspired teachers in apostolic times. By the Spirit: the Holy Spirit as the great Revealer of the truth, during the apostolic age; today the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, and He reveals grace doctrine by the Word of God to us, without the aid of supernatural gifts.
Verse 6, "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel."
LGT "The Gentiles to be joint-heirs and a joint-body of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Glad Tidings."
This verse explains the mystery of God's grace in establishing the church, the body of Christ. "In Christ, were the Gentiles co-heirs, co-incorporated, and co-partakers of the promise with believing Israel, enjoying union with Him, 'through that gospel' which was preached to them; for its object was to proclaim Christ - 'our peace.' The apostle intensifies his meaning, and declares that they are not only fellow-heirs, but of the same body - closest union; not like Abraham's sons by Keturah, each of whom received his portion and his dismissal in the same act. By this means the apostle shows the amount of Gentile privilege which comes to them in Christ, not by submission to the law, as so many had fondly imagined, but by the gospel" (Eadie).
Verse 7, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."
LGT "Of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God given to me, according to the working of His power."
Of which: this is referring to the Gospel of Grace: I became a servant: Paul regarded himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ. Paul gave all he had in the service of his Master. According to the grace of God given to me: Paul did not seek this ministry, Christ singled him out for it; it was not based on Paul's merit, but it was based on pure grace, the undeserved favor of God. "The sentiment is, that throughout it was a mere matter of grace that he was called into the ministry, and that so important an office was entrusted to him as that bearing the Gospel to the Gentiles" (Barnes). According to the working of His power: Paul states that there was nothing in himself that even desired to preach this wonderful Gospel of Grace, for he was set out at the outset to destroy Christianity, and by the power of God, by His grace, he was converted miraculously, on the road to Damascus. "Such a change, induced by the Divine might, as changed a Jew into a Christian, a blasphemer into a saint, a Pharisee into an apostle, and a persecutor into a missionary" (Eadie). "Paul at one time preyed on the Christians; now he prays for them" (Parkhill).
Verses 8, 9, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all the saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ."
LGT "To me, the less than the least of all saints, was given this grace, to announce the Glad Tidings to the Gentiles - the unsearchable riches of the Christ, and to enlighten all [as to] what is the fellowship of the mystery which has been hidden from the ages in God who created all things,"
To me, the less than the least of all the saints: this was no false humility on Paul's part, for he regretted the terrible way he treated the Christians when he was a Pharisee of all Pharisees; he now considered himself the least of all saints. "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Tim. 1:12-13). "This is no hypocritical declaration. Most men are ready enough to make professions of feigned humility, while their minds are swelled with pride, and in words to acknowledge themselves inferior to every one else, while they wish to be regarded with the highest esteem, and think themselves entitled to the highest honor. Paul is perfectly sincere in admitting his unworthiness; nay, at other times he speaks of himself in far more degrading language. 'For I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.' (1 Cor. 15:9). 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' (1 Tim. 1:15)" (Calvin). Was given this grace, to announce the Glad Tidings to the Gentiles: Paul is referring to this special grace that God had singled him out personally to bring the Gospel of grace to the Gentiles; Paul regarded this grace as a most supreme privilege, and we will continue to see this overwhelming desire of his to stress the grace of God in all his teachings. The unsearchable riches of the Christ: the Word of God has given us a taste of all that grace encompasses. We will spend all eternity learning about God's unsearchable riches in His grace. "There is no more emphatic expression in the New Testament than this. It shows that the heart of the apostle was full of admiration of the sufficiency and glory that was in the Savior; that he wanted words to express it; and that he considered it the highest honor to be permitted to tell the world that there were such riches in the Redeemer" (Barnes). And to enlighten all what is the fellowship of the mystery: this the mystery explained in verse 6, that they were joined into one body both Jew and Greek, and thus describes this age of grace; the fellowship is the economy of the grace of God. Christ's death on the cross completely removed that middle wall of partition, which separated the mighty Jews from the lowly Gentile; now the grace of God has united all believers into one body, under one Head, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. In this Age of Grace we have only one authority, and only one head, and He died for us. Which has been hidden from the ages, in God who created all things: this fact that the church would be united including all races into one body is now being revealed through the riches of grace. "That the Gentiles were to be saved was no mystery (Rom. 9:24-33; 10:19-21). The mystery 'hidden in God' was the divine purpose to make of Jew and Gentile a wholly new thing - 'the Church, which in His [Christ's] body,' formed by the baptism with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13) and in which the earthly distinction of Jew and Gentile disappears (Eph. 2:14-15; Col. 3:10-11). The revelation of this 'mystery' of the Church was foretold but not explained by Christ (Mt. 16:18). The details concerning the doctrine, position, walk, and destiny of the Church were committed to Paul and his fellow 'apostles and prophets by the Spirit' (Eph. 3:5)" (C. I. Scofield notes, pg. 1275).
Verse 10, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."
LGT "In order that now might be known to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenlies, through the assembly, the multifarious wisdom of God,"
In order that: Paul says that he was commissioned to preach the grace of God in making the Gentiles part of the body of Christ as well as the believing Jews, revealing the mystery of this grace, in order that, now might be known to the principalities, and the authorities in the heavenlies: each of these, principalities and authorities have the article so they are distinct entities. These entities represent the good angels. Through the assembly: that the Redeemer saving believers simply by believing on His name manifests the grace of God, and that this grace is made known to the higher intelligences that surround the throne of God. The fact that we are trophies of His grace, is that He could save the unsaveable by sacrificing His only begotten Son, and thus bringing lost man back to Himself; the assembly is made up of individual believers, and it is not a corporate body; we believers individually make up the body of Christ, and will some day be His bride. The multifarious wisdom of God: "Through the Church God's wisdom in its variety is to be displayed - the many-tinted wisdom of God - in different modes of power. Different characters, methods of training, providences, forms of organizations, etc." (Vincent). Gregory of Nyssa (333-395 A.D.), whose opinion has been preserved by Theophylact and Ecumenius, thus illustrates - "That the angels prior to the incarnation had seen the Divine wisdom in a simple form without variation; but now they see it in a composite form, working by contraries, educing life from death, glory from shame, trophies from the Cross, and God-becoming things from all that was vile and ignoble." The Word of God has not revealed very much regarding Gods grace being revealed by His grace given us, but we do know that we will be His trophies before all angelic beings, both good and bad, that is, both His created angelic beings that did not fall with Satan, and the third that did, which make up the demon world.
Verse 11, "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
LGT "According to [the] purpose of the ages which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,"
Paul teaches in this verse that God's Plan of the Ages is fulfilled in Christ. Our salvation is because of Christ, and all that we have become is because of Christ. All the Riches of Grace are our inheritance fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and He will display us as His trophies of grace for all eternity. The eternal wisdom of God is displayed before the entire intelligent universe, because of Christ's work on the Cross.
Verse 12, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."
LGT "In whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in Him."
Because of Christ's finished work on the Cross, we no longer have to go to God through a high priest or any other mediator, for Christ is our Mediator, and because of our faith in Him, we have free access to throne of grace with all confidence of fully adopted sons and daughters. Barnes notes: "Boldness is not rashness; and faith is not presumption; but we may come with an assurance that our prayers will be heard."
Verse 13, "wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory."
LGT "Wherefore I beseech [you] not to lose heart at the tribulations on your behalf, which is your glory."
Wherefore I beseech you not to lose heart: the Greek word for to lose heart, literally means not to become cowardly, that is, not to shrink back in the heat of battle. At the tribulations on your behalf: Paul was in prison at the time he wrote this epistle, and he sought to encourage them. Paul was not inferring that he was imprisoned because of the Ephesians, but that they felt such a bond that they identified with him in his tribulations. Which is your glory: the fact that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, and that he stood up against the legalists, and for the grace of Christ, they should glory in this. "The general opinion appears to be the correct one, that these sufferings of Paul, which came on him simply because he was the apostle of the Gentiles, were the glory of the Gentile believers, and not their disgrace . . . .His tribulations, the evidence of his official dignity and of their unconditional exemption from ceremonial bondage, were their glory, and therefore they were not to sink into faintness and lassitude [weariness], as if by his chain they had been affronted [insulted] and their apostle disgraced" (Eadie).
To Know the Love of Christ
Verse 14, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
LGT "For this cause I bow my knees to the Father,"
Paul now takes up where he left on in verse 1, the thought being, because ye are built together in Christ, "I bow my knees to the Father." Paul begins his prayer with this statement of being humbled before the Father; Paul is not teaching that all prayers must be on bended knees; it is just that this personifies a prayerful attitude. Verses 2-13 are a section by themselves of Paul's being an apostle to the Gentiles.
Verse 15, "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth are named."
LGT "Of whom every family in [the] heavens and on earth is named."
"Paul seems to mean that all the various classes of men on earth and all of angels in heaven get the name of family from God the Father of all" (Robertson). Of course all the family of God are so because of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this could not include the unbelievers, which the universalisms teaching the crap of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, and that all men are God's children.
Verse 16, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."
LGT "In order that He may give you according to the riches of His glory, with power to be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man."
In order that He may give you: Paul teaches us that the basis of all that God gives to us is by His wonderful grace, and this is why Paul calls them "Riches of Grace." According to the riches of His glory: the thought here is that God in His mercy has graced the believer out, in that, His grace cannot be exhausted. God's grace is sufficient in every situation; our Part is to know that all things work out for the good of every believer, that is, for their spiritual good. With power to be strengthened by His Spirit: this is the means of giving God glory. It is by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit giving us strength to withstand all that sin and its evil benefactor can hurl at us. In the inner man: as opposed to the outer man, the flesh, the inner man, is our regenerated spiritual man, and our outer man is our physical carnal nature. There is a constant battle in each one of us between our spirits and the flesh, that is, our inner man, and the flesh, and all the lust thereof.
Verse 17, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"
LGT "[For] the Christ to dwell in your hearts by faith, being rooted and grounded in love,"
For the Christ to dwell in your hearts by faith: to dwell means to take up residence, and this is done by faith in Christ. Once a person trusts Christ as their personal Savior, He immediately takes up residence in the heart, the spiritual center of our being, His temple. Being rooted and grounded in love: when a person becomes a Christian they have capacity to love with agape love, that is, divine love; until then, all a person is capable of is friendship-love, and sexual love. We are now Christ's possession; He has bought us with His precious blood.
Verse 18, "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;"
LGT "In order that ye may strong, to apprehend together with all the saints, what the breadth, and length, and height, and depth,"
The spiritual man can only understand these proportions set out by Paul; for they surpassing all dimension.
John Eadie notes on this verse:
"And with what reed shall we measure this stately building? How shall we grasp its Breadth, compute its length, explore its depth, and scan its height? Only by the discipline described in the previous context - by being strengthened by the Spirit, by having Christ within us, and be being thus rooted and grounded in love. This ability to measure the church needs the assistance of the Divine Spirit - of Him who forms this habitation of God - so that, we may understand the nature, feel its self-examination, and believe the glorious things spoken of it. It requires also the indwelling of Jesus - of Him in whom the whole building groweth unto a holy temple, in order to appreciate its connection with Him as its Chief Corner Stone, the source of its stability and symmetry. And they who feel themselves rooted and grounded in love need no incitement to this survey and measurement, for whom they love is its foundation, while His Father dwells in it, and His Spirit builds it up with generation after generation of believers. None have either the disposition or the skill to comprehend the vastness and glory of the spiritual temple, save they who are in it themselves, and who, being individual and separate shrines, can reason from their own enjoyment to the dignity and splendor of the universal edifice."
Verse 19, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."
LGT "And to know the knowledge surpassing love of the Christ, in order that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God."
And to know the knowledge surpassing love of the Christ: the love Christ has for us is beyond our comprehension. Paul prays that they might know that this "knowledge surpassing" love Christ has for us might be our possession in our spirits, not that we actually have this knowledge now. Someday we will be able to comprehend this great love, but for now, it is that we know that Christ loves us with love beyond our comprehension. In order that ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God: again, this we cannot comprehend. The fact that Christ dwells in each one of us, we only know the fullness of God from the Word of God; we will not reach full knowledge of this occupation with Christ here on earth, but one day, we shall see Him face to face, and we will know even as we are known.
Verses 20, 21, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end."
LGT "But to Him who is able above all things to do exceedingly above what we ask or think, according to the power which works in us; to Him [be] glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus, to all the generations of the ages of the ages, amen."
Paul concludes his prayer with a doxology (verse 20) and a benediction (verse 21.) Here Paul sets out God's omnipotence and His omniscience. "While omniscience is the actual knowledge of all, omnipotence is the ability to do all, and all that it can do has never been achieved. God is able to do 'far above what we ask', for our asking is limited and feeble. God's ability to answer prayer transcends not only our spoken petitions, but far surpasses even such thoughts as are too big for words, and too deep for utterance . . . The obligation [privilege] to glorify God lasts through eternity, and the glorified Church will ever delight in rendering praise, 'as is most due.' Eternal perfection will sustain an eternal anthem. The Trinity is here again brought into view. The power within us is that of the Spirit, and glory in Christ is presented to the Father through the Son, and by the Spirit" (Eadie). We have no idea how to pray; what we do know is that we should pray, and whatever we pray for, He will answer according to His good pleasure, and for our benefit, now and forever more.
This ends the doctrinal part of this epistle, and in chapter four Paul will teach the Church the proper conduct.
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