Ephesians 3: The Mystery Revealed
Paul unfolds the mystery hidden for ages—that Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ—and prays the church would be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3 (WEB)
1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;
3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
7 of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;
12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
13 Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3 (KJV)
1 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,
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:
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.
Ephesians 3 (ASV)
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—
2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,
4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
5 which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;
10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through 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 in confidence through our faith in him.
13 Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto 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 the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
Summary
Paul, a prisoner of Christ for the sake of the Gentiles, pauses to explain his calling and the mystery entrusted to him. By revelation God made known a truth hidden in former generations: that in Christ the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise through the gospel. Though he counts himself the very least of all the saints, Paul was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make plain this administration of the mystery. The purpose is breathtaking—that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known even to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, according to God's eternal purpose accomplished in Christ. So Paul urges the Ephesians not to lose heart over his sufferings for them. Then he bows his knees before the Father and prays one of the great prayers of Scripture: that God would strengthen them by his Spirit in their inner being, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that, rooted and grounded in love, they would have power to comprehend with all the saints the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love—a love that surpasses knowledge—so that they would be filled with all the fullness of God. He closes with a doxology to the God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.
Key Figures
- Paul — A prisoner of Christ for the Gentiles and the least of the saints, given grace to reveal the mystery and to pray for the church's inner strength and fullness.
- The Father — The One before whom Paul bows his knees, from whom every family is named, who strengthens believers by his Spirit and is able to do far more than we ask or think.
- Christ Jesus — The One whose unsearchable riches are preached, who dwells in believers' hearts by faith, and whose love surpasses knowledge.
- The Gentiles — Those once excluded who, through the revealed mystery, are now fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of God's promise in Christ.
Key Verse
Ephesians 3:19 (WEB)
and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Lessons Learned
- The inclusion of the Gentiles as fellow heirs was God's plan all along, now made known in Christ.
- God uses humble, even imprisoned, servants to display the unsearchable riches of Christ.
- Through the church God puts his manifold wisdom on display even to unseen rulers and powers.
- Christ's love is so vast that it surpasses knowledge, yet we are invited to know it together with all the saints.
- God is able to do far more than we ask or imagine, by the power already at work within us.
- The gospel includes those once excluded. The mystery is “that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6, WEB). Grace makes outsiders into family.
- God exalts the humble servant. Paul calls himself “the very least of all saints” (Ephesians 3:8, WEB), yet is entrusted with preaching Christ's unsearchable riches. God's greatest work often flows through our smallness.
- The church displays God's wisdom. “Through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers” (Ephesians 3:10, WEB). The church is God's exhibit before heaven itself.
- Christ's love is meant to be experienced. Paul prays we would “know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19, WEB). This love is not only studied but inhabited and felt.
- God can do more than we imagine. He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20, WEB). Our prayers fall short of his ability.
- What is the “mystery” Paul says was hidden for ages and now revealed (3:3-6), and why is it such good news?
- Paul calls himself “the very least of all saints” (3:8). How does his humility relate to the greatness of his calling?
- What does it mean that God's wisdom is displayed “through the assembly” to the powers in heavenly places (3:10)?
- Paul prays we would know a love that “surpasses knowledge” (3:19). How can we know something that is beyond knowing?
- Where do you need to trust the God who can “do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (3:20)?
- The mystery is that Gentiles are fellow heirs, members, and partakers in Christ (3:6)—not second-class additions but full members of God's family. This was God's plan from eternity, now unveiled. Help the group feel the wonder that the gospel reaches across every former barrier.
- Paul's deep humility and his great commission go together; the least of the saints preaches the unsearchable riches of Christ (3:8). This is partly personal application; encourage members to see that a low view of self and a high view of God's calling are not contradictory but complementary.
- The very existence of a reconciled, Jew-and-Gentile church proclaims God's wisdom to unseen powers (3:10). The church is a kind of cosmic display. Invite the group to see that ordinary congregational life has significance far beyond what we see.
- Christ's love is inexhaustible; we can truly know it while never reaching its limits, and we grasp it best “with all the saints” (3:18-19). It is known by experience and in community, not merely by analysis. Encourage members to seek this love in worship and fellowship, not only in study.
- This is a personal-application question. God's power already works within us and exceeds our requests (3:20). As leader, invite members to name a situation where they have stopped expecting much, and to pray with renewed boldness to the God who does more than we ask.