EPHESIANS 3:1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Note 1 at Eph 3:1: In this verse is a subtle glimpse of one of the things that enabled Paul to endure extreme suffering for the cause of Christ.
Paul saw differently than most of us do. He wasn't a prisoner of Rome;
he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Paul used this same terminology in Eph 4:1; 2Ti 1:8; Phm 1, and 9. In Eph 6:20, he referred to himself in his imprisonment as "an ambassador in bonds."
By just about everyone else's evaluation, Paul was a prisoner of Rome, but that's not the way Paul saw it. It really doesn't matter how other people see you; it's how you view yourself that determines your actions. If Paul had viewed his situation from a merely human
perspective, he would have been depressed and probably very fearful.
But he had a heavenly perspective. He knew he was a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was his devotion to the Lord that landed him in jail, not some fault of his own. Therefore, Jesus was in control and not Rome.
The Lord was using Paul's imprisonment to give him an all-expense-paid trip to Rome to witness to the caesar and his entire house (Php 1:13). Paul refused to give Rome or the devil the victory. God was at the controls, and Paul expressed that conviction by calling himself "the prisoner of Jesus Christ."
EPHESIANS 3:2
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Note 2 at Eph 3:2: The word "dispensation" is used four times in the New Testament (1Co 9:17; Eph 1:10, this verse; and Col 1:25). The same Greek word used for "dispensation" was also translated as
"stewardship" three times (Lu 16:2-4). In the Revised Standard Version, the word "dispensation" was translated as "the stewardship of God's
grace." This word has to do with the oversight and administration of another's property.
In the context of this verse, it has to do with the act of dispensing, or giving out, an understanding of God's grace toward man. Paul stated that the revelation of grace was "given me to you-ward." In other words, "It was given to me (Paul) that I might give it to you (the
Gentiles)." The Greek word "HUMAS" ("you-ward") was also translated as "for your sake." God's grace and gifts are always given to us for others.
EPHESIANS 3:3
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Note 3 at Eph 3:3: "Mystery" can be defined as the quality or air of being unexplained, secret, or unknown. The biblical mystery spoken of here is something that is secret or unknown until it is revealed, and can only be known by divine revelation. Paul stated in Ga 1:12 that the Gospel he preached was not after man: "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
According to Eph 3:6, the mystery spoken of here involves not only the Gentiles sharing in the promise of the Messiah but also the Jews and Gentiles being joint-heirs with the Messiah and incorporated into His one body. This is the mystery that was unknown in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament unto His apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
EPHESIANS 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Note 4 at Eph 3:4: Paul stated here that through reading his words, the mystery of the Gentiles and Jews being one body could be understood.
It is through the reading of the Word and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that Christ in His fullness is known. What a privilege it is today to have God's Word in our own language. Six hundred years ago there was no English translation of the whole Bible. Thanks to the efforts of John Wycliffe and William Tyndale, we now can read and understand the writings of Paul for ourselves. People gave their lives to bring us God's Word. We should take advantage of this wonderful privilege.
EPHESIANS 3:5
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;
Note 5 at Eph 3:5: Paul's statement here raises new questions. Why wasn't this truth of Jew and Gentile being united in one new body revealed in the Old Testament? He didn't explain here. However, in 1Co 2:14, Paul said, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Surely one reason this mystery was not revealed to O.T. people is because they were not born again (see note 2 at Joh 3:3); therefore, they could not grasp spiritual truth as readily as New Testament believers can (see notes 1-3 at 1Co 2:14).
Note 6 at Eph 3:5: Revelation knowledge (see note 1 at Lu 2:26, note 1 at Mt 13:11, note 2 at Mt 13:12, and note 9 at 1Co 14:26) comes from the Holy Spirit. One of the primary ministries of the Holy Spirit is to give us understanding (see note 35 at Joh 14:26). Those who do not have the Holy Spirit, or do not yield to the Holy Spirit, are cut off from
revelation knowledge.
EPHESIANS 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Note 7 at Eph 3:6: Believers are united not only to Christ but also to each other. The Gentiles did not become part of some Jewish body, but Jew and Gentile became part of the new body of Christ.
EPHESIANS 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace