SUBDIVISION TWO - CHAPTER 3:1-13THE MINISTRY OF THE MYSTERY The Message of Paul Postscripts are almost always very important. When it is a postscript of an apostle, it deserves even closer attention. This is the case in Romans 16:25-27, where Paul declares in explicit terms that the Gospel, which... [ Continue Reading ]
The "Mystery" revealedEPH_14-17. "I, Paul, (am) the prisoner (lit. "fettered"), is not the bond-slave designation used in other places, but rather a word for being constrained or tied down. Here, "of" is possessive and designates ownership by "the Christ Jesus". Use of the article before "Christ" sa... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:2) "If" is first class and states an assumption that they "have heard" all of this before. "Administration" ("dispensation" in the KJV) is oikonomia, literally "the law of the house." The Father had deposited in Paul that which was going to be required of the Gentiles in order for them to be buil... [ Continue Reading ]
The Mystery Defined... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:4,5) His purpose in writing this epistle, then, is to enable them to better "understand" his "insight into the mystery of Christ,". "Understand" refers to their application of what they know to experience. They are to live in light of truth revealed. "Apostles" is understood to mean those men sel... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:6) "That the Gentiles are" is a translation of one word in the Greek and identifies a fact, not a purpose. "Fellow-heirs, joint-members, and sharers together" all indicate a common ownership through common holdings of people. The Gentiles now hold with the Israelites, a common ownership of that s... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:7) "Minister" is diakonos, from which we get our word "deacon". "According to" is kata and indicates a standard or means of measuring. Paul's service of the Gospel is to be commensurate with the power given as a gift of God's grace. He does not act out of his own power or on the basis of his own... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul's Unique Commission... [ Continue Reading ]
The Purpose of the Church"That" introduces us to a purpose clause. *"Now" gives us the time frame of reference. *"Manifold" is multi-faceted, as a cut gem. *"Rulers and authorities" are classes of angelic beings that have to do with man and his world. *"Heavenly realms" tells us that we are here... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:12) Now, the focus shifts and is on the Son. It is "in Him and through faith in Him" that we have the freedom from sin and the confidence in our redemption to "approach God (the Father)." Would the Son of God approach His Father with thanksgiving and petitions? Absolutely! So, too, may we approac... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:13) Knowing that he has suffered on their behalf, Paul says, in effect, "get a grip on it", you are caused to "glory" (shine) by means of his "sufferings". There are circumstances in which a believer is in difficulty specifically for the benefit of others. This should not be a cause of discourage... [ Continue Reading ]
Stage One--The focus of our adoration is God the Father.... [ Continue Reading ]
Stage Two--Our strength and enlargement is of the Holy Spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:17) Our preparation as a temple is for a purpose. "That" introduces a purpose clause, "that Christ may dwell". The place of His dwelling is in our "hearts" ("inner being"). "Faith" is the means of appropriating His presence. "Rooted" refers to our source of sustenance. It must be the Living Word.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:18) "Power" is "strength," while that ability "to grasp" is "to apprehend," not of experience, but of knowledge itself. It means to take possession of the breadth of the "love of Christ". Every believer should live within the knowledge that God loves us and has given us every asset necessary to g... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:19) Where verse 18 presents knowledge as fact, verse 19 presents knowledge as tried experientially. "Know" and "knowledge" are both from ginosko and speak of experiential information. "Love" is agape and refers to source love. "That" introduces a purpose clause--our purpose as believers is to be... [ Continue Reading ]
(3:20,21) This doxology begins with a double statement of God's omnipotence. He is "able beyond all things" translates huper, "over, in a measure exceeding", and "to do immeasurably more" translates huperekperissou, "exceeding some number, more than necessary". "Power" is dunamis "a source energy th... [ Continue Reading ]