Chapter 3

3:1: Just as Peter was made a minister to the Jews, Paul was made a minister to the Gentiles. Paul was called to spread the gospel, especially to the Gentiles, and because of His non-compromising behavior in the spreading of the Gospel, he was unfortunately imprisoned. This epistle, along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, were written from prison.

3:2: Paul was given the role of a steward for the ministry of Christ. A steward was a "household manager" or "one who managed another's resources". Paul was given authority over the ministry of the Gentiles by God's grace. He did not claim this authority or ask for it rather it was given to Him by God.

3:3: "by revelation..." See Galatians 1:11-12. "the mystery..." in this context, "the mystery" refers to the Gentiles being grafted in as co-heirs and members of Christ. (Ephesians 3:6) "as I wrote about before..." Likely Referring to Ephesians 1:9-10 or Ephesians 2:11-12.

3:4: Paul was giving the Ephesian believers "insight" into the mystery of Christ, that they might have understanding in it.

3:4-7: Part of the mystery is that the gentiles were made into fellow heirs and partakers of God through Christ.

3:6: It is through Christ alone that believers are made co-heirs, fellow members, and fellow partakers.

3:7: "minister..." The word used here for "minister" is "diakonos" which means "servant". The "servanthood" described in this word is not a servant like "doulos" which means slave and is a service out of authoritative subjection but rather describes a servanthood more like a waiter. "God's grace..." Paul was made not a minister because of his own strength or claim to servanthood but instead it was a claim on him from God. It was a gift according to God's grace, by God's working. God's claim on Paul was "by grace, by power." "unfathomable..." While we can come to a partial knowledge of these things, they are ultimately unsearchable, meaning that we will never find the end of them as they are "hidden in God".

3:8: Here, Paul is not saying "I once was the least" but rather "I am the least". He is not speaking in a past tense but in a present tense. The statement he made here was not a harmful, self-compromising, statement but was spoken out of humility by Paul. Also compare with Galatians 1:16

3:9: "administration..." refers to God's "stewardship" and the way in which he effectually works His plan as to "bring to light" and "unveil" the mystery which has been hidden from past generations.

3:10: This "administration of the mystery", so called, was brought to light so that God's wisdom might be made known through the church. "manifold..." One wisdom, but manifested in many different manners. "rulers and authorities..." refers to angels, both holy and unholy. (cf. 1 Peter 1:12)

3:11: God wrought about the eternal purpose of the mystery by Christ's sacrifice and grafting in of the Gentiles.

3:12: cf. Hebrews 4:16

3:13: Paul suffered the afflictions he did for the furtherance of the gospel and because of his servanthood of Christ towards the Church.

3:14-16: While it may seem that here Paul is referring to all families everywhere, In reality He is referring to all of His beloved children through Christ. We know this in two ways. The first is that we can use simple logic to conclude that since Paul is praying for them to be given "riches of His glory", the people He is referring to here must have their faith firmly planted in Christ. Second, the language here is "from whom every family". These families (or people rather) are not "from earth" or "from heaven" but are "from" the Father. They are named out of the father and their identity is found in Him. They are not named out of the earth or out of themselves they are named out of the Father, their heavenly father.

3:15: "from whom... named..." In the ancient Near East, the name of something pointed to its "identity". Because we are named from the Father, our identity is found in Him.

3:16: The part of Paul's prayer found here in verse 16 is clear. He was praying for them (the Ephesians) to be strengthened with power. "through His Spirit in the inner man..." This empowering with power happens through Christ's indwelling Spirit inside of us.

3:17: When we put our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Christ) dwells within us and enables us to "walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) and begin the process of sanctification.

3:20: "according to the power that works within us..." refers to the indwelling Spirit of Christ. "now to him..." Jewish prayers customarily ended with a blessing to God. "far more abundantly..." When we are filled with the fullness of God (v. 19), the Spirit can do far more than we can ask or understand.