Ephesians 3:1–13

Verse 1. For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner, and so forth The sense seems to be, I, Paul, am a prisoner; otherwise the sense will be suspended, and interrupted by a long parenthesis till the 14th verse, where it is again repeated, “for this cause I bow my knees.” Witham.

Verse 2. If yet [1] you have heard. If yet doth not imply a doubt, but is the same as, for you have heard the dispensation. [2] This word, dispensation, is divers times taken by Saint Paul to signify the manner by which a thing is done, or put in execution; the sense therefore here is, for you have heard how by the grace of God I have been made your apostle. Witham.

Verse 3. The mystery, and so forth By this mystery, he means what he has already mentioned in the last chapter and what he continues to speak of, to wit, that by the coming of Christ, and the preaching of his gospel, all both Jews and Gentiles, all nations should be united into one Church, by one and the same faith. Witham.—Mystery, and so forth Revelation, the same as he mentions Galatians 1:12.; where speaking of his gospel, he says, For neither did I receive it of man, nor did I learn it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. This revelation seems to have regarded principally three things: 1. The redemption and justification of man by Jesus; 2. the vocation of the Gentiles; and thirdly, a positive command to announce the gospel to them. He speaks particularly of the second and third. Estius.—Made known to me by revelation, and to the other apostles and prophets. Witham.

Verse 5. As it is now revealed. [3] Saint Paul, as both S. Jerom and Saint John Chrysostom take notice, does not absolutely say that this mystery was not known, but only not known as it was afterwards to the apostles. For whether by this mystery we understand the incarnation of Christ, or the uniting of the Jews and Gentiles into one Church, we cannot doubt but both were revealed to Abraham, to David, to many prophets and just men in the time of the law; but now it was revealed and made known to all. Witham.

Verse 6. That the Gentiles should be coheirs, and so forth This is the mystery which was heretofore unknown, and now revealed. This is what the greatest part of the Jews could never be brought to believe, that the Gentiles should be equally sharers with them of God’s promises and blessings. They were strangely scandalized that Saint Peter should receive Cornelius, an uncircumcised man, into the same communion. On the like account they persecuted Saint Paul. Witham.

Verse 7. I am made a minister, and so forth that is an apostle, to preach this same doctrine of the gospel of Christ. Witham.

Verse 8. To me, the least of all the saints, (that is of the faithful) is given this mission by the grace of God, and power from the Almighty of working miracles, and other miraculous gifts from him, who created all things in order to enlighten [4] or bring light to all men, that they may know and be convinced of the dispensation and manner in which God will have this mystery now made known and preached to all the world. Witham.

Verse 9. The Lord has commanded me to teach and declare his wisdom, displayed at this time in the mystery of our redemption; a mystery, which for so many ages, nay even from all eternity, has been locked up in the breast of the Almighty, but which he has at length vouchsafed to reveal. Menochius.

TR reads “fellowship” instead of “administration”

Verse 10. That the manifold wisdom of God, and his other divine perfections of mercy, of justice, and so forth may be more known, and seen executed by the coming of his Son, according to his eternal decrees of sending a Redeemer, in whom they are to believe, and have a hope and confidence of their eternal salvation. Witham.

Verse 13. Wherefore, I beseech you, be not discouraged nor disheartened at my tribulations and persecutions on the account of the gospel, nor at your own, which ought to be a subject both for you and me to glory in. Witham.