Ephesians 3:1-7
Fundamentally, I’m happy not to be a Bible scholar. The confusions are many, the options are numerous, and the clues are muddled. Today, another confusion… Three days ago I wrote this paragraph relating to Ephesians 1:15:
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints… (v. 15) This is a strange sentence coming from Paul, the “I have heard…” portion. He had spent two to three years in Ephesus, so he knew well of their faith – a faith that he had brought to them and encouraged in them. So why the present perfect tense? It is extremely unlikely that Paul could have written this letter before he had ever visited Ephesus. Bible scholars also wonder about this construction, with explanations like news coming to Paul in prison about a major growth in the Ephesian Christian community or in the surrounding cities if this letter were to be one of his circular letters. Strange.
Now in today’s reading, another oddity: …assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you… (v. 2). Again, …assuming that you have heard… How could the Ephesians not have heard, since he spent 2-3 years there? So what are the possible explanations? First, Paul could be anticipating that major growth in the Ephesian area, which I mentioned above. Second, Paul could have meant this as a circular letter to be read in many cities that he had never visited. And third, Paul could have written this letter before he ever visited Ephesus, which he had done briefly on his second missionary journey and where he had stayed longer on this third missionary journey. But this third possibility is very unlikely in that we have no record of Paul having spent time in prison before Caesarea (except for one overnight stay in Philippi). There are a number of other reasons to reject this third possibility. In the end the circular letter makes the most sense, except that Paul never mentions that this letter should be read in other churches, like he does in Colossians 4:16. So again, strange…
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (v. 6) Paul has mentioned this “mystery” on other occasions (Romans 11:25, 16:25); Colossians 1:25-27), but this verse is his most clear statement of what he means, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs (with the Jews) in the gospel. For a full discussion of Paul and his “mysteries”, please click on the following URL: http://helpmewithbiblestudy.org/11Church/TeachPaulMysteriesOfGod.aspx#sthash.VMfOApO0.dpbs. Here is a foretaste of what you will find in that link: “In 20 instances, Paul speaks of a mystery or secret (Greek: mystērion) of God in the context of something formerly hidden in meaning but now revealed by God for all to know and understand (Rom 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:7-10).” The writer goes on to discuss four types of mysteries that Paul covers in his letters. The Gentiles as “fellow heirs” is his number three. Enjoy!
Slava Bohu!
Whoa, lots in these 7 verses! I was struck by the vv. 5-6 mystery. Previously in OT, it was clear that Gentiles would be included and saved. The NT mystery here is that they are co-equals, not second class sons!
I am repentant that some of our evangelism in sharing the Gospel to other cultures, especially in the past, has been more like to second class sons, they have to be more like us in our ways of singing, praising, customs, etc. to be real Christians. Sometimes we are way more “American Christian” than Christ followers.