Ephesians 3:1-6

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Ephesians 3:1


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

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Notice that this thought is interrupted by verses 2 to 13. That is, verse 14 is a continuation of verse 1, with verses 2 to 13 in parentheses.

Paul is saying that because of the previous statements, he has cause to bow his knees in prayer for the Gentiles. We will deal with those verses when we come to them, but it is good to notice again the actual substance of Paul's prayer for his Christian friends.

So he begins this section with the intention of praying, but he pauses to write about two other subjects: the "mystery", and the "ministry".

Paul always prays that Christians will grow in Christ. He seldom prays for the details of life. He understands, and certainly the Holy Spirit understands, that the most important feature of the Christian life is to be occupied with Christ and to absorb the doctrines of the Word of God, under the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.

In this verse, Paul refers to his status as a prisoner - he wrote this epistle when he was incarcerated in Rome.


Ephesians 3:2


If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you:

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"If you have heard" - this is one of the most important phrases in the Christian life. A believer must hear the Word of God in order to perform any function in the Christian life, including worship and service to Christ.

Worship is the ability to hear and think about God's Word while under the control of the Holy Spirit.

"God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

When you stop concentrating on the Word, you stop worshipping. Worship demands concentration, learning, understanding. Your ability to worship depends on what you understand about God, about Christ, and about the Holy Spirit. It depends on how well you understand God's plan for your life and how you are to function as a believer.

Worship includes singing, giving, praising, teaching, and other activities. Worship can be accomplished privately, alone with onesself, or with a group of other Christians. But it all depends on the content!

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"of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you."

God gave to Paul the knowledge of His grace so that Paul could communicate it to people. Paul is saying, "If you have heard and understood the basic features of the grace of God that I have communicated to you before, you will be able to understand which I am about to describe."

Topic: GRACE


Ephesians 3:3


How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery: (as I wrote before in a few words,

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"by revelation he made known unto me" - the Lord communicated His thinking directly to Paul. The first instance was during his desert experience shortly after his conversion. The second was during his writing of the inspired epistles, during which the Holy Spirit was involved in communicating the "mind of Christ" so that Paul could communicate divine viewpoint accurately.

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"the mystery"

Topic: DOCTRINE OF THE MYSTERY

The word "mystery" in the New Testament refers to the doctrine which is specific for the Church Age. It is called "the mystery" because these things were never revealed in Old Testament scriptures.

Paul states in Rom 16:25-26, Col 1:25-26 and in this passage that this mystery is now revealed. Especially in this passage, he points out that there is no excuse for ignorance.

If the Ephesians appreciated the way that special knowledge of the plan of God had been given to him, and the particular work of communication that God had entrusted to him (see Eph. 3:7-12), they would agree that "by revelation" God had made known to Paul "the mystery".

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"As I wrote afore in few words."

Or, "I have already written a brief account of this."

He refers to what he had already written earlier in the letter, namely that the Gentiles and the Jews were to be included in one Body and in the household of God.

Some expositors suggest that this phrase refers to another non-inspired epistle which Paul wrote to the Ephesians, a document which has been lost. I am inclined to the conclusion in the previous paragraph, however.


Ephesians 3:4


By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

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"By which, when you read, you may understand"

Christians must have the ability to understand. And understanding comes from "reading", that is through edification, the building up of the Christian life "line upon line; precept upon precept". This is the only way a believer can become occupied with Christ, be spiritually self-sustaining, and can have the productivity associated with Christian maturity.

The Holy Spirit indwells a Christian for the purpose of teaching, among other things. "And I will send another Comforter, and He shall teach you all things", Christ said.

A newborn Christian, a "babe" in Christ, has minimum ability to understand principles of Bible doctrine. If the novice Christian does not receive a lot of Bible truth from some source, preferably face-to-face with a strong pastor-teacher, he will not grow in his understanding. He will be spiritual malnourished; and he will exhibit all of the symptoms of lack of feeding, though he have been a Christian for many years.

Nothing is more pitiable that to see a grownup with the mind of a child. Yet we understand that many people are challenged thus through no fault of their own. How much more distressing to see in an older Christian, one who has been saved many years, not the "mind of Christ", but the mind of a babe.

A Christian can have a live of purpose, inner peace, a relaxed mental attitude, great inner happiness (joy), and can be very stable, but it only comes through the Word of God - "understanding".

Hebrews 5:12-14

"For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.

"For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

"But solid food belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Topic: EDIFICATION

A brief synopsis of 2 Timothy 2:1,2:
"You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

"And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Paul speaks to Timothy as his spiritual "son". Timothy was in Paul's traveling seminary for several years, and he was now a pastor himself, but a man who still needs instruction.

The phrase "be strong" is in the passive voice in Greek, indicating that Timothy is to "receive strength". No Christian has inner strength to perform in the Christian life. Spiritual strength come only from God. We are weak in all the areas of doctrine and teaching, especially when it comes to Grace.

Note in 2:2 that Timothy is being given specific instructions as to how to disciple people in the congregation.

He is not advised to set up action groups, to create social situations, to promote sharing and fellowship.

He is told to TEACH. He is to teach the same doctrines that he has learned from Paul, from his mother and grandmother, from others. Whatever other activities might occur in his church, TEACHING has the top priority and cannot be interrupted.

Timothy is commanded to COMMIT Bible teaching to other men, to "deposit" the Word in the entire congregation. Some of the people in his congregation will take the bit in the teeth and move out into their own teaching ministries. Some of these faithful people will have wonderfully productive lives of their own, based on the good teaching that Timothy has provided.

And note that Timothy's teaching must be such that his students, in turn, will be able to teach themselves. This implies a much more intensive level of teaching that simply giving out the facts and hoping that people catch on. He must TRAIN people to be teachers.

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"my knowledge in the mystery of Christ"

(See the discussion in Verse 3 regarding "mystery")


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.

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"in other ages"

This is another reference to the fact that many features of the Christian life, known as "mystery" doctrines, were not made known to people prior to the beginning of the New Testament church.

But now, God is making additional revelation available through the communicators of the inspired Scriptures.

Topic: INSPIRATION

Topic: INERRANCY


Ephesians 3:6


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

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Topic: INHERITANCE, THE CHRISTIAN'S

Topic: THE GOSPEL



End of Lesson 16




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