Ephesians Chapter 3 continues Paul’s exploration of God’s redemptive plan, focusing specifically on the mystery of the gospel that has now been revealed through the apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Paul explains that this mystery, once hidden throughout the ages, is that Gentiles are now fellow heirs together with Israel, sharing equally in the promises of God through the gospel of Christ. He describes himself as a servant of this gospel, given the grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, even though he considers himself the least among all believers.
Paul then expresses his purpose in suffering for the sake of the gospel, encouraging the Ephesians not to be discouraged by his imprisonment, since it serves to reveal God’s eternal plan through the church to the spiritual powers in the heavenly realms. The chapter closes with one of the most beautiful and heartfelt prayers in the New Testament, where Paul asks that believers would be strengthened in their inner being through the Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they would come to fully grasp the depth of Christ’s love. He ends with a powerful doxology praising God’s ability to do far more than anyone could ask or imagine, according to His power at work within believers.
Chapter 3 (BBE)
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles,
2 If that ordering of the grace of God has come to your knowledge, which was given to me for you,
3 How by revelation the secret was made clear to me, as I said before in a short letter,
4 By the reading of which you will be clear about my knowledge of the secret of Christ;
5 Which in other generations was not given to the sons of men, but the revelation of it has now been made to his holy Apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 Which is that the Gentiles have a part in the heritage, and in the same body, and in the same hope in Christ through the good news,
7 Of which I was made a preacher, through that grace of God which was given to me in the measure of the working of his power.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, so that I might make clear to the Gentiles the good news of the unending wealth of Christ:
9 And make all men see what is the ordering of the secret which from the first has been kept in God who made all things;
10 So that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavens might be made clear through the church the wide-shining wisdom of God,
11 Which is seen in his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 By whom we come near to God without fear through faith in him.
13 For this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory.
14 For this cause I go down on my knees before the Father,
15 From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 That in the wealth of his glory he would make you strong with power through his Spirit in your hearts;
17 So that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love,
18 May have strength to see with all the saints how wide and long and high and deep it is,
19 And to have knowledge of the love of Christ which is outside all knowledge, so that you may be made complete as God himself is complete.
20 Now to him who is able to do in full measure more than all our desires or thoughts, through the power which is working in us,
21 To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. So be it.
Important Verses
Ephesians 3:6 Paul reveals the mystery of the gospel, explaining that Gentiles are now fellow heirs with Israel, sharing together in the promise of Christ through the gospel.
Ephesians 3:8 Paul humbly describes himself as the least of all believers, yet given the grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Ephesians 3:12 Through faith in Christ, believers now have confident access to God, approaching Him with freedom and boldness.
Ephesians 3:16-19 Paul prays that believers would be strengthened in their inner being through the Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts, and that they would come to know the full breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Paul closes with a powerful doxology, praising God’s ability to do far more than anyone could ask or imagine, according to His power at work within His people.
