Ephesians 3 - Introduction

The hidden mystery, that the Gentiles should be saved, was made known to St. Paul by revelation: and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it: he desireth them not to faint for his tribulation, and prayeth that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them.

Anno Domini 62.

THE Apostle having formerly shewed, that the faithful among the Gentiles, though uncircumcised, have redemption through Christ's blood, chap. Ephesians 1:7 and, as the sons of God, are heirs of heaven, chap. Ephesians 1:11 and made into one church with the Jews, so as to grow together into an holy temple for the Lord to officiate in, ch. Ephesians 2:21 he, in this chapter, informed the Ephesians that his doctrine concerning the Gentiles was so offensive to the Jews, that it had occasioned his imprisonment, first at Caesarea, and then at Rome, Ephesians 3:1.—But he assured them, and all in the province of Asia, who were not acquainted with his apostolic commission, Ephesians 3:2.—That by revelation God had made that doctrine known to him, as he had before told them in few words, chap. Ephesians 1:8. And to recommend it to the Ephesians, and the other brethren in Asia, he termed it The mystery, Ephesians 3:3.—and The mystery of Christ, Ephesians 3:4.—and observed, that in other generations, it was not made known to the sons of men, as it isnow made known to his holy apostles and prophets, by the Spirit, Ephesians 3:5.—The short account of which mystery is this, that the faithful among the Gentiles are joint-heirs with the faithful among the Jews, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of God's promise concerning Christ, that is, of all the blessings promised to the spiritual seed of Abraham through Christ, Ephesians 3:6.—which therefore he terms the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8.—These riches the apostle was appointed, not to conceal, but to preach, that all men might know what a grand, and honourable, and advantageous society, the fellowship of the mystery of God and of Christ is, which is now established by the building of the Christian church, Ephesians 3:9.—Nay, he assured the Ephesiansthattheangelichoststhemselveshaveacquired a more comprehensive idea than formerly of the multiform wisdom of God, through the fellowship of the mystery, or church, Ephesians 3:10.—as it is now constituted, according to the arrangement, which, from the beginning, God had made of the dispensations of religion, to prepare the world for the coming of Christ Jesus, Ephesians 3:11.—Next, as one of the chief privileges which all the members of the fellowship of the mystery of Christ enjoy in the present constitution of the church, the apostle mentioned liberty of praying to God through the mediation of Christ, and access to his presence at all times, with assurance of being heard, Ephesians 3:12.

But, as the apostle was now in bonds for maintaining the before-mentioned doctrine concerning the Gentiles, he intreated the Ephesians not to be discouraged on account of his sufferings for them, which were their glory, Ephesians 3:13.—and told them, that his prayer to God was, that Christ, the head of the fellowship of the mystery, might dwell in the hearts of the Ephesians through faith; and that, as constituent parts of the temple of God, being rooted and founded in the love of Christ, they might be able to comprehend with all the saints the different dimensions of that great fabric, the church, which is the temple of God, composed of believers of all nations, Ephesians 3:14.—and, as constituent parts of the temple of God, be themselves filled with all the fulness of God, Ephesians 3:19.—To conclude, the honourableness of the fellowship of the mystery, and the inestimable worth of the unsearchable riches of Christ, which belong to the members of that fellowship, together with the grandeur of the spiritual temple, of whichtheyaretheconstituentparts,making a strong impression on the apostle's mind, he ended his account of these subjects with a sublime doxology to God, the original founder of that noble fellowship, who, by the power with which he now worketh in the members thereof, hath shewn himself able and willing, through Christ, to bestow blessings on them in the life to come, if faithful unto death, blessings exceeding abundantly beyond all that they can ask or conceive. For which reason, the apostle devoutlyprayed, that glory might be ascribed to him in the church, for Christ Jesus the head of the church, and the dispenser of all the blessings belonging to the Christian fellowship; and that during all the successions of eternal ages, Ephesians 3:20.