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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Ephesians 3:2

Observe here, 1. The title given to the gospel, it is styled the grace of God; partly because the glad tidings which the gospel brings are the effect and product of God's grace and favour, and partly because the gospel is the instrument and means of working peace in the souls of persons.

Observe, 2. The title given to St. Paul's apostleship; he styles it the dispensation of the grace of God, because God had commissioned him to declare and dispense the gospel of grace to them; Christ's ministers are the dispensers of his mind to the children of men.

Observe, 3. The title here given to the calling of the Gentiles: he styles it. mystery. The calling of the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ, without the works of the law, was. mystery hid from ages.

Observe, 4. The way and manner how St. Paul came by the knowledge of this mystery: it was by divine revelation from heaven, Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery. The mystery of man's redemption in general, and of the calling of the Gentiles in particular to the participation of that grace, was made known by divine revelation to the apostles by God himself. The truth is, the redempton of. lost world, by the incarnation, death, and passion, of the Son of God, is so stupendous and surprising, so wonderful and amazing, that the very thoughts of it had been the highest blasphemy, if God himself had not revealed it.

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See also Ephesians 3:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ephesians 3:2. _IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION_] The compound particle ειγε, which is commonly translated _if indeed_, in several places means _since indeed, seeing that_, and should be t...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IF YE HAVE HEARD - Εἴ-γε Ei-ge “If at least, if indeed, if so be, spoken of what is taken for granted.” “Robinson;” compare 2 Corinthians 5:3; Galatians 3:4;...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. THE MYSTERY MADE KNOWN Chapter S 2:11-3:21 _ 1. The condition of the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11)_ 2. But now in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:13) 3. The new and great relationship (Ephesians 2

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    A DIGRESSION. PAUL THE PRISONER AND HIS RELATION TO THE MYSTERY. A knowledge of Paul's story may be presumed among those who read this letter: they will have heard how he was entrusted with the missio...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    It is for this cause that I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles you must have heard of the share that God gave me in dispensing his grace to you, because God's secret was m...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    PRISON AND PRIVILEGES (Ephesians 3:1-13) To understand the connection of thought in this passage it has to be noted that Ephesians 3:2-13 are one long parenthesis. The for this cause of Ephesians 3:1...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IF. If indeed. Greek. _eige_. See App-118. HAVE. Omit. DISPENSATION. stewardship. Greek. _oikonomia._ See Ephesians 1:10. THE. that. GRACE. App-184. GOD. App-98. IS. was. TO... -WARD. Greek. _ei...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _If ye have heard of_ Lit. IF SO BE THAT YE HEARD OF. This phrase occasions the question, Could this Epistle have been addressed to a Church familiar with St Paul? And it has thus seemed, to some extr...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Ephesians 2:15. ΚΑΤΑΡΓΉΣΑΣ אAB &c. καταρτίσας D*. Ephesians 2:21. ΠΑ͂ΣΑ ΟἸΚΟΔΟΜῊ א*BDG _al_ Clem Orig Chrys. πᾶσα ἡ οἰκ. א*ACP _al mult_. Ephesians 3:5. Τ. ἉΓΊΟΙΣ�. ΠΡΟΦΉΤΑΙΣ אAC &c.

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἼ ΓΕ ἨΚΟΎΣΑΤΕ. This claim to be conferring a benefit or at least to be suffering on behalf of his correspondents must be unintelligible except in the light of his special commission, and he cannot ta...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΕΪ ΓΕ (G1065; G1487) если действительно, конечно. Частицы здесь используются для выражения уверенности (Thrall, 87f). ΉΚΟΎΣΑΤΕ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΆΚΟΎΩ (G191) слышать. Ind. в _conj._ 1 типа, предпол...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IF YE HAVE HEARD— _Since,_ or _forasmuch as ye have heard._...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _PREVIEWING IN OUTLINE FORM_ (EPHESIANS 3:1-19) E. Paul's prayer for our strengthening. Ephesians 3:1-19. 1. Beginning of prayer. Ephesians 3:1. 2. Parenthetical Paul's mini

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    (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 ha...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (IF - not doubt [ ei-ge (G1489), 'if indeed']: 'assuming (what I know to be the fact, namely) that ye have he...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    __ Summary of the Present Grace 2 The present secret administration of which there is no hint in any Scriptures before this epistle was penned, consists essentially of three separate items, all of w...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    REASONS FOR RENEWING THE PRAYER FOR WISDOM 1-13. A digression, which, however, could not be spared. As in Ephesians 1:15, he begins to speak of himself, and this time he explains his unique interest i...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRISTIAN BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR EPHESIANS _LES PAINTER (BIBLE TEXT BY CYNTHIA GREEN)_ CHAPTER 3 3:1-13 ~ GOD HAS MADE HIS SECRET KNOWN 3:1-6 ~ GOD MADE HIS SECRET KNOWN TO PAUL V1 For this reason...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IF YE HAVE HEARD. — The original word rendered “if” (the same used below, Ephesians 4:21, and in 2 Corinthians 5:3; Galatians 3:4; Col

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    Ephesians 3:1 contain two subjects closely blended together. The first (carrying on what is implied in the contrast drawn out in Ephesians 2) is the absolute newness of this dispensation to the Gentil...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 12 THE SECRET OF THE AGES Ephesians 3:1 Ephesians 3:2 are in form a parenthesis. They interrupt the prayer which appears to be commencing in the first verse and is not resumed until Ephesian...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    These verses make a paragraph by themselves. Their main subject is the call of the Gentiles and Paul's Apostolic vocation in relation thereto. He reminds his readers of the mystery of that call, its r...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    εἴγε ἠκούσατε τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι εἰς ἡμᾶς : _if so be that ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given me to you-ward_. The comp. particle εἴγε...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GENTILES SHARE THE “UNSPEAKABLE RICHES” Ephesians 3:1 _ Dispensation_ should be rendered, “stewardship.” We are God's trustees for men. To each of us is given some special phase of truth which we mus...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    God's dwelling in the Church is not finality. It is equipment for the fulfillment of the divine purpose. The apostle claims a stewardship in the mystery of the Church, and declares the astounding fact...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    A Prisoner in Christ's Service Paul begins a prayer in 3:1, but immediately digresses. He does not return to his prayer until verse 14. Because Jew and Gentile were built together on the one foundatio...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _If yet [1] you have heard. If yet doth not imply a doubt, but is the same as, for you have heard the dispensation. [2] This word, dispensation, is divers times taken by St. Paul to signify the manner...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, (2) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: It is more than probable, that...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    In this epistle we have the unfolding of the grace of God in all its fulness, not merely the application of His righteousness to man's need on His part, but God from out of Himself, and for Himself, a...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

    Equality in Christ I. INTRODUCTION A. Last week, in Chapter 2 of Ephesians we took a look at the Lord's "Never Ending Grace." 1. And although the Apostle Paul was speaking specifically to Gentiles,...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2._If ye have heard. _There is reason to believe, that, while Paul was at Ephesus, he had said nothing on these subjects, no necessity for doing so having arisen; for no controversy had taken place am...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The whole of Chapter 3 is a parenthesis unfolding the mystery; and presenting at the same time, in the prayer that concludes it, the second character of God set before us at the beginning of the epist...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD,.... Not the free love and favour of God in his heart towards his people; nor internal grace wrought in the heart of the apostle; but either th...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Ver. 2. _Of the dispensation_] Gr. economy. The Church is God's house, 1 Timothy 3:15. Paul was faithful therei...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _For this cause_ That you may be so built up together, and made the temple of God, and his habitation through the Spirit; _I bow my knees_, &c., see Ephesians 3:14, with which the words are evidently...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN ME TO YOU WARD,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE MINISTRY OF PAUL FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH. The revelation of knowledge to Paul:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST REVEALED (vs.1-13) "For this cause" -- because of the marvelous greatness of the work God had accomplished for and in His saints -- Paul preached "the unsearchable riches of Chr...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    CHAPTER 3 Paul describes himself as: The ____________ of Jesus Christ For the ____________. We are living in the _________________ of the grace of God. A dispensation is a period of _______ given...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “IF SO BE THAT YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THAT GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN ME TO YOU-WARD”. “If so be”: “Surely you have heard” _(Boles p. 242). _“Dispensation”: “Stewardship responsibilit...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious of...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IF YE HAVE HEARD; this doth not imply doubting, but rather the apostle takes the thing for granted; q.d. Seeing ye have heard; and so some render it. See the like, 1 PETER 2:3. OF THE DISPENSATION OF...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ephesians 3:2 if G1489 heard G191 (G5656) dispensation G3622 grace G5485 God G2316 which G3588 given G1325 ...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Ephesians 3:2. IF INDEED. The same phrase occurs in chap. Ephesians 4:21; it does not imply doubt, but rather assumes something to be true, challenging the reader to verify the assumption in his own c...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1. _Paul's Office as Apostle to the Gentiles._ In view of the great privilege detailed in chap. Ephesians 2:19-22, culminating in Ephesians 2:22, the Apostle begins to speak of his prayer on behalf of...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    IF SO BE THAT YE HAVE HEARD (ε γε ηκουσατε). Condition of first class with ε and first aorist active indicative and with the intensive particle γε that gives a delicate touch to it all. On οικονομια...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    GRACE Grace (imparted). (Ephesians 3:2); (Ephesians 4:7); (Ephesians 4:29); (Romans 6:1); ...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ephesians 3:1. The Grace Given to Paul. The enthusiasm with which the Apostle speaks of preaching the Gospel to the heathen is contagious. His words burn on the page, and our hearts take fire as we r...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Church, a mystery hidden in past ages. Prayer for inner fullness and knowledge. CHARACTERS: Christ, God, Holy Spirit, Paul. CONCLUSION: The divine purpose to make of both Jew and Gentile a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ephesians 3:1. _Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ._ He was indeed the prisoner of Caesar, but a greater than Cæsar had said to him in the castle at Jerusalem, “Be of good cheer, Paul, for as thou has...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THAT GOD. "You cannot doubt that I am imprisoned for the sake of you Gentiles, since you have heard about the mission God gave me, to preach the Good News to you without requiring you to obey the Law...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward._ GOD’S DISPENSATION OF GRACE The ministerial calling is termed grace, because the designing to it is of grace...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EPHESIANS—NOTE ON EPHESIANS 3:1 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 Chris...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Ephesians 3:1. THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST may be regarded as “the prisoner whom the Lord has bound” (so Winer and Meyer), or as “a prisoner belonging to Christ,” or...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 3:1 DIGRESSION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE GENTILES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD....

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to the third chapter of Ephesians. For this cause [Paul said] I, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1), It is interesting that Paul was actually a prisoner of Rome,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 1 Timothy 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:7;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    If ye have heard [ε ι γ ε η κ ο υ σ α τ ε]. Here begins a long digression extending to ver. 14. If, Rev., if so be, means upon the supposition that; not implying the certainty of the assumption, thoug...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The dispensation of the grace of God given me in your behalf — That is, the commission to dispense the gracious gospel; to you gentiles in particular. This they had heard from his own mouth....

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Old Testament