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Study :: Bible Study Notes :: ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Ephesians 3
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ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Ephesians 3

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Click here to view listing below for Eph 3:4

Eph. 3:1–13 Revelation of the Gospel Mystery. Paul explains his calling and ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. This assured his Gentile readers that their inheritance in Christ is authentic because of its divine origin.

Eph. 3:1 For this reason. Paul breaks off his thought here and resumes it in v. 14 (compare the similar break in 2:1, 5). prisoner of Christ. Paul suffered imprisonment or confinement several times while serving Christ (4:1; Acts 16:23; 24:23; Col. 4:10). on behalf of you Gentiles. Paul was the apostle, teacher, and preacher to the Gentiles (1 Tim. 2:7). The sufferings he experienced during his ministry were for them (2 Cor. 6:5; 11:23).

Eph. 3:3 mystery. See note on Col. 1:26–27. This mystery is now revealed: Christ has come to unify Jews and Gentiles in one body through the gospel (see Eph. 1:9, 17). Christ revealed this mystery to Paul by revelation on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–7) and more fully at other times (see Acts 22:17–21; 2 Cor. 12:1–7; Gal. 1:12; 2:2).

Eph. 3:5 not made known. The full realization of who Christ was and the extent of the salvation that would come to the Gentiles was not clear until after the giving of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:8–10).

Eph. 3:6 the Gentiles are fellow heirs. See Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:28–29.

Eph. 3:7 minister. A servant or official given a particular area of responsibility.

Eph. 3:8 very least of all the saints. Paul never forgets that he once had been a persecutor of Christ and his church (Acts 9:4; 1 Tim. 1:13).

Eph. 3:10 now. In this age, in contrast to the time before Christ’s first coming. rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Angelic beings.

Eph. 3:11 eternal purpose. God’s redemption in Christ originated in eternity with God’s “manifold wisdom” (v. 10; compare 1:3–14). realized in Christ Jesus. God’s plan of salvation had to be put into effect within human history, and this was accomplished through the work of his incarnate Son.

Eph. 3:14–21 Paul’s Prayer for Strength and Insight. Paul prays that his readers would be strong in their faith (vv. 14–19). He concludes with words of praise to God (vv. 20–21).

Eph. 3:14–15 For this reason. Paul returns to his thought from v. 1. named. See note on John 1:12–13.

Eph. 3:17–18 In v. 16 Paul speaks of the indwelling “Spirit” and here of the indwelling Christ. This suggests that the Spirit and the Son are both God. breadth . . . length . . . height . . . depth. The immeasurable dimensions of God’s riches in Christ. On saints, see note on 1:1.

Eph. 3:21 church. Paul considers the church a unified whole (see 4:4–6).

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