Ephesians 3:9-11 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

Here we have the account which Paul gives the Ephesians concerning himself, as he was appointed by God the apostle of the Gentiles. I. We may observe that he acquaints them with the tribulations and sufferings which he endured in the discharge of that office, Eph. 3:1. The first clause refers to the preceding chapter, and may be understood either of these two ways:?1. ?For this cause,?for having preached the doctrine contained in the foregoing chapter, and for asserting that the great... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 3:1-13

To understand the connection of thought in this passage it has to be noted that Ephesians 3:2-13 are one long parenthesis. The for this cause of Ephesians 3:14 takes up again and resumes the for this cause of Ephesians 3:1 . Someone has spoken of Paul's habit of "going off at a word." A single word or idea can send his thoughts off at a tangent. When he speaks of himself as "the prisoner of Christ," it makes him think of the universal love of God and of his part in bringing that love to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery ,.... Or "the dispensation of the mystery" as the Complutensian, and several copies, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, read. The mystery is the Gospel; the fellowship of it is the communication of grace by it, a participation of the truths and doctrines of it, communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, which the Gospel calls and leads unto, and that equal concern and interest which both Jews and Gentiles have in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:10

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places ,.... By whom are meant, not civil magistrates, much less evil angels, but the good angels, the angels in heaven; See Gill on Ephesians 1:21 . might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God ; not the perfection of wisdom, nor Jesus Christ the wisdom of God, nor the holy Scriptures; but the Gospel, which is the pure produce of the wisdom of God; which is gloriously displayed in the several doctrines of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:11

According to the eternal purpose ,.... The whole of salvation, in which is displayed the great wisdom of God, is according to a purpose of his; the scheme of it is fixed in the council of peace; the thing itself is effected in pursuance of it; Christ, the Redeemer, was set forth in it; his incarnation, the time of his coming into the world, his sufferings and death, with all their circumstances, were decreed by God; and the persons for whom Christ became incarnate, suffered, and died, were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see - Και φωτισαι παντας· And to illuminate all; to give information both to Jews and Gentiles; to afford them a sufficiency of light, so that they might be able distinctly to discern the great objects exhibited in this Gospel. What is the fellowship of the mystery - The word κοινωνια , which we properly translate fellowship, was used among the Greeks to signify their religious communities; here it may intimate the association of Jews and Gentiles in one Church or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

That now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places - Who are these principalities and powers? Some think evil angels are intended, because they are thus denominated, Ephesians 6:12 . Others think good angels are meant; for as these heavenly beings are curious to investigate the wondrous economy of the Gospel, though they are not its immediate objects, see 1 Peter 1:12 , it is quite consistent with the goodness of God to give them that satisfaction which they require. And in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:11

According to the eternal purpose - Κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων· According to the purpose concerning the periods. This seems to refer to the complete round of the Jewish system, and to that of the Gospel. I have often observed, that though the proper grammatical meaning of the word is ever-during or endless duration, yet it is often applied to those systems, periods, governments, etc., which have a complete duration, taking in the whole of them, from their commencement to their termination,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

Verse 9 9.What is the fellowship of the mystery. The publication of the gospel is called a fellowship, because it is the will of God that his purpose, which had formerly been hidden, shall now be shared by men. There is an appropriate metaphor in the words φωτίσαι πάντας, to enlighten all men, — conveying the thought, that, in his apostleship, the grace of God shines with the brightness of noon-day. Which hath been hid in God. This is intended, as before, to obviate the prejudice of novelty,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

Verse 10 10.That now to the principalities and powers. Some are of opinion that these words cannot apply to angels, because such ignorance, as is here supposed, could not be found in those who are permitted to behold the brightness of God’s countenance. They choose rather to refer them to devils, but without due reflection; for what could have been regarded as extraordinary in the assertion, that, by the preaching of the gospel and the calling of the Gentiles, information was, for the first... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 3:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

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