FREE PREVIEW: Ephesians 3:1-13: Paul’s Ministry
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Introduction
As Paul begins to pray for his readers, the very mention of his imprisonment “for you Gentiles” sends him into a rich digression about his ministry — and specifically about the “mystery” that God had commissioned him to proclaim. This mystery, hidden for ages but now revealed, is the very truth we saw in chapter two: that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Jews in one body. In these verses Paul reflects on that revealed mystery, his own humble role as its minister, and the staggering purpose behind it all — that through the church, God’s manifold wisdom would be displayed to the whole cosmos.
I. The MYSTERY Revealed — Gentiles as Fellow Heirs in Christ (vv. 1–6)
“By revelation the mystery was made known to me... 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.” (Ephesians 3:3, 6)
The “mystery” in Scripture is not a puzzle to be solved but a truth once hidden and now revealed by God. Paul received it by revelation: God’s age-old plan, unknown to previous generations, to bring Gentiles into full and equal membership with Jews in the one body of Christ. We stand on the far side of that revelation.
II. The MINISTER of the Mystery — Grace Given to the Least of All (vv. 7–9)
“To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8)
Paul marvels that he — a former persecutor who calls himself less than the least of all Christians — was made a servant of this gospel by God’s grace and power. The treasure he was given to proclaim, the unsearchable riches of Christ, is infinitely greater than the unworthy messenger. God delights to use the humble.
III. The MANIFOLD Wisdom of God — Displayed Through the Church (vv. 10–13)
“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.” (Ephesians 3:10)
Paul unveils the cosmic purpose of it all: through the church, God is putting His many-colored wisdom on display before the spiritual powers of the universe. This was His eternal plan in Christ, and its fruit for us is bold, confident access to God — and courage even in the face of suffering.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.
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