Prayer: 

Father, We praise you that above everything else you have deigned to give us your heart, both Jew and Gentile. That this mystery would be revealed to the apostle Paul is of great consequence to the entire world. As we humbly seek the truths found in this portion of Scripture grant us the awareness that you fully intended for the world to hear.

Key Word - "mystery"

Ephesians 3

Mystery 1-7

Authority … 8-12

The Prayer…..………. 13-21

As we look at Scripture there are certain truths relevant to the folks at the time it was written. Certain truths as we read now that are valuable for us today. Seeing the difference between the two is where the fun begins. Without recognizing the difference we could get caught up in unnecessary debate on trivial matters. Legalism is born out of this melee of scriptural misinterpretation. The outgrowth of wanton liberalism, the other end of the spectrum, is surely the other tragic conclusion. The upbeat side of scripture study is that we have the chance every time we open the Word to enter a journey whereby we are catapulted into the search for great and unfathomable riches.

Ephesians 3:1-7

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,…..

The first phrase of this chapter uses the Greek word for grace. How marvelous that God , writing through Paul, stating the purpose of the chapter, would use the very thing (grace) essential for the complete revelation of the mystery!

There can be no doubt that this verse of scripture speaks about Paul being a literal prisoner in a literal jail, because of the Greek word used here and the placement of the comma after Paul’s name: desmios (des'-mee-os); a captive (as bound) This is important for proving the date of the writing, and the authenticity for some folks, of Paul’s authorship.

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you ward:

The key word is dispensation in this verse. Stewardship is an appropriate substitution for this Greek word and makes the verse clearer to understand. Paul is stating here that he has been given the stewardship or watch care of the grace of God for the Gentiles. He is a caregiver of God’s grace to the Ephesians. How wonderful that this caring apostle wrote these words to give us comfort today as well, for surely God’s grace is still for man today in our world.

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

The first keyword is revelation. The Greek word is disclosure. Paul was not one of the original apostles, so his validation for receiving the message of the mystery was that it was a revelation or disclosure.

The second word is mystery. In the Greek it means: musterion (moos-tay'-ree-on); from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites). The parenthetical expression as I wrote afore in few words, could refer to many things, such as a different or lost letter, but it is a definite reference to our earlier chapter 2 study detailing the word mystery.

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

When these letters were read to a body of believers it was generally read in public due to the primitive times that they were written. The key verse word in verse four is understand. Sunesis (soon'-es-is); a mental putting together, i.e. intelligence or (concretely) the intellect.

Perhaps this is a very graphic description how the revelation of the mystery came into being or evolved in Paul’s mind. This is so rich! It gives the reader insight how we may grasp truth today as well !

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;

The word now appears to have significant thought in this verse. Its definition from the Greek is powerful. Now in verse 5 nun (noon); is a primary particle of present time; "now" (as an adverb of date, a transition or emphasis).

We see that there must also be apostles and prophets after the original twelve. This sets the dialogue for a discussion of whether or not there is room for the same ministries today.

6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel…

This verse specifically states the mystery of which Paul has been talking to us. Christ’s death on the Cross was the vicarious atonement for all people groups every where. During Paul's time this would be considered blasphemy to Jews. No more would the Jewish singularity of redemption be valid.

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.

Paul, here states that he was made a minister. The noun "minister" (Phps, NEB) in English may be misunderstood as a person ordained to an ecclesiastical position. Being a "minister of the Gospel," an inanimate thing, requires no ordination except that of action. We now seem to depend upon literary words instead, because we see no action, generally speaking.

Grace or charis (khar'-ece); graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude) There are now pockets of folks around the world that do experience the miraculous hand of God in their lives. Thoughts of Toronto, Pensacola, and New Zealand instantly flash into my mind. Pockets of Glory where the Holy Spirit is allowed free reign, and He moves mightily.

Effectual working energeia (en-erg'-i-ah); from; efficiency ("energy"): operation, strong, (effectual) working. There can be no doubt that God is moving, and effectively as well. The secret is that He is salting certain areas with power all over the world. He is allowing us the opportunity to hear about His handiwork so we will seek Him out. We must rise to the challenge.