Chapter 3

(Ephesians 3 KJV) "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: {3} How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

There seems to be a difference between a secret and a mystery. At the very least, the Bible seems to use the word “mystery” in more than once sense. For example, there might be something that can be known but has been deliberately kept secret. Then there can be something that even though stated is not understood. This is the only way I can understand what Paul is saying when he declares that the conversion of the gentiles was a mystery–that it was not made known to the sons of men.

{4} Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) {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; {6} That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

This is Paul’s mystery, but it is a mystery to me how this could be a mystery. We saw in references above that the stranger, the non-Israelite, could live in Israel as one born in the land. The Israelites were commanded to love the stranger as God loved the stranger. The stranger was even allowed to offer sacrifices in the same manner as an Israelite. They seem to be of the same body.

Isaiah adds a little to the mix in a prophetic reference to Jesus (Isaiah 42:1). This passage is best understood in the light of Matthew12:9-21.

Now if you are a careful reader, you may conclude that Matthew is playing fast and loose with Isaiah’s prophecy. But it is almost certain that Matthew is citing a different Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament. There is a lot we didn’t know about the Old Testament in years gone by. We assumed that there was only one manuscript tradition of the Old Testament called the Massoretic Text. The KJV of the Old Testament was translated from that text.

But there is a Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, which was translated from a different Hebrew text with some important variations. Today, we know that there was a third manuscript tradition. We know this from the Dead Sea Scrolls. One thing is clear. Whatever manuscript Matthew is citing, he understood the mystery of the conversion of the Gentiles.

Then there is an important passage from Isaiah 49.  In it, Isaiah speaks in the first person as though he were the nation of Israel. Israel is “the servant.” But there is a lot more than this. Just look up the word Gentile in a concordance. When you do this, it may be a mystery to you that Paul would call it a mystery that the Gentiles are to be a part of the body of God’s people. 

But it was a mystery to the Jews of Paul’s day. They had developed a tradition of separation.  It was a tradition so strong, that even Jesus’ apostles were slow in breaking out of it, and as late as the time Ephesians was written, the church was still divided along the lines of Jew and Gentile. This is the only way we can make sense of what Paul is saying here.

Paul is returning to the promises and obligations that God had given to Abraham centuries before. It comes in a short, misunderstood phrase: “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

I fear this is often taken as a sort of generalized “wealth effect,” that everyone will be better off because of Abraham. But I think that what God is talking about here is an active blessing. For example, when Lot and his family were taken captive in a raid, Abraham rescued not only Lot, but also all the people and goods of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was what Abraham did that blessed these people; it was not some vague divine “blessing.” And when God had determined to destroy Sodom, Abraham interceded, trying to save the people. Abraham may have been the last to take this idea seriously.  

It was a duty of Israel to be a blessing to the nations around them, in the same way that Abraham was a blessing to Sodom and Lot. But Israel failed to be that blessing and was ultimately scattered. Even the NT church failed initially, and was ultimately scattered. Israel went into exclusivism, and so did many in the early church.

It was in Paul, at long last, that Jesus found him a man who would actually go to the Gentiles. In chapter 4, Paul will return to his theme of unity in the church and we should remember that he is referring to the unity that includes everyone and excludes no one. “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Ephesians 1:10).

{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. {8} Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; {9} And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: {10} To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, {11} According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: {12} In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. {13} Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. {14} For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, {15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, {16} That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; {17} That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, {18} May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; {19} And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. {20} Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, {21} Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."


 

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