Ephesians 3:1–7

¹ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—² if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ³ how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶ that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷ of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Commentary

Vs. 1 "For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—"

"For this reason" is referring to what the Apostle Paul previously stated about the reconciling of Jews and Gentiles to God and each other through Christ into one Body of believers (Eph 2:11-22). Now that the Apostle Paul calls himself "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for us Gentiles" was not for crimes or wrongdoing, rather the Apostle Paul was frequently and unjustly incarcerated for his faith in and confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. Therefore Paul as an Apostle to us Gentiles very often endured such things in the service of our faith. Now this should not surprise anyone because our Lord and Savior was both arrested and then sentenced to crucifixion death by the same authorities, whom Paul describes elsewhere as the rulers of this age (see 1 Cor. 2:6-9). And so whenever and wherever the Gospel is faithfully preached and followed, there is always the potential for our coming under the wrath and unjust treatment/punishment by those of this world (consider John 15:18-25). That said, the Apostle Paul never rebelled against any ruling authorities (whether these were Jews or Gentiles), nor did he ever encourage anyone to do anything other than to submit themselves to them, (and to pray for them, 1 Tim 2:1-7), just as all the Apostles had done (Rom 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 3:13-17). For our trust is in God, whose Sovereignty and Power is over and above all rulers and authorities (Prov 21:1; Acts 3:18; 4:23-31, vs. 28 etc.). And so though God does not always sanction or approve of every thing done by them, yet He very often works out His Will for us all through them. Therefore the Apostle Paul could joyfully see his imprisonment; not that being imprisoned is joyful; in light of his faith in and obedience towards the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through which God was God fulfilling His Word to him, by bringing him into such circumstances so that Paul could be His witness of the Lord Jesus Christ's Life, Death, Resurrection to all Jews, Gentiles and ruling authorities everywhere (consider Acts 9:15-16; 20:17-24, vs. 22-24; 22:1-21; 23:11 etc.). And so Paul's declaration here is that he is Christ Jesus' prisoner for us Gentiles who believe and will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:8-13). 

Vs. 2 "if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you," 

The Apostle Paul by way of a question reminds us his readers of the dispensation (stewardship NKJ margin) of the grace of God which was given to him by God for us all, specifically for us Gentiles. For it was God who chose the Apostle Paul not only to be Christ's witness, but also to be His apostle to us Gentiles for the dispensation of the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ's Gospel. 

Vs. 3-4 "how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 

Now this mystery of Christ God entrusted to the Apostle Paul by way of revelation, that is God by His Holy Spirit revealed to Paul His plans to unite believing Jews and Gentiles as One In Christ (see vs. 6). And so by stating as much the Apostle Paul is preparing us to receive this glorious revelation for ourselves as well. 

Vs. 5 "which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:"

Previously this mystery of Christ was not made known to the sons of men, that is in the O.T. Scriptures though God foretells of Christ, and the reconciling of the Gentiles to God through Him, it wasn't until the church age, that God revealed by His Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets His plans to make believing Gentiles equal and full heirs with every and all believing Jews.  

Vs. 6 "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel," 

In Christ then all believing Gentiles are fellow and equal heirs with believing Jews. And so not only is the middle wall of separation that created such hostility and alienation between the two groups been done away with; but in Christ's Body there are no "second class" citizens. That is the Jews who once held an exclusive place in their relationship with God, thus no longer do. For it is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that every believing Gentile is now a fellow heir of the same body (that is Christ's Body of believers) and partakers of God's promise (of remission of sins and everlasting life) through the Gospel to one and to all who repent and believe in Him (Mark 1:15). 

Vs. 7 "of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power."

Therefore the Apostle Paul according to the gift of the grace of God became a minister not of the Old Covenant, that gave the Jews an exclusive place and privileges with God, but of the New Covenant, that every believing Jew and Gentile is now under (see 2 Cor 3:1:18, vs. 5-6, 9-11 etc.). And so the Apostle Paul became Christ's minister by Christ both equipping and enabling Him by His Spirit for this service of His Good News through His Gospel for one and for all who again repent and believe in Him through it. For this mystery only remains a mystery until one turns from seeking salvation through Moses and the law and rather in faith turns to the Lord Jesus Christ through His Gospel (2 Cor 3:14). Therefore seek God and His Righteousness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ so that you might have remission of all your sins and everlasting life by faith in Him. For truly the grace of God is available to you, but you have to avail yourself of it by repenting and believing in the Gospel. Now to repent means to have a change of mind about yourself, and quite likely even God Himself. And so repentance means acknowledging our own lost and sinful state, and thus our own alienation from God, it means then we must see ourselves in the light of His Holiness and Righteousness and Goodness and Truth and confess to Him that we have in no way upheld or can we live according to it, and thus we can in no way save ourselves by obedience to Moses and law, or anything else that we try to do (Rom 4:4-5). Repentance then disarms us of every and all pretense about ourselves and brings us to place of seeing our need for Christ Jesus who became for us from God His Holiness and Righteousness and Justice and Truth so that He could save us from the just wrath and judgment of God against all our sins and transgressions the moment we believe in Him (John 3:16). Therefore if you see your need for salvation from sin and death, and do believe, then by all means receive the Lord Jesus Christ here and now and confess Him as Lord so that you will have remission of all your sins and everlasting life (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Now this you can do this by praying a simple prayer of faith, you can use your own words, or you can pray the prayer given here. Whatever expresses your heart and desire to be reconciled to God through Christ's Crucifixion death and resurrection from dead for you that pray, and the God of peace will come to you and dwell in you the moment you receive His Son (Rev. 3:20). Therefore pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner and I can in no way save myself or even change myself. And I believe you came and You alone lived a Holy and Righteous life, then you suffered by the Will of God Crucifixion death to atone for all my sins so that you could not only impute Your Righteousness to me and to everyone who believes in You, but you did so, so that you can now freely justify us all who believe in You. Therefore I believe in You Lord Jesus Christ and I'm trusting You alone to both save me and give me new and everlasting life, therefore I now invite You into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior, in Your Name Lord Jesus, amen. 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.