EPHESIANS
CHAPTER 3
Gentiles are fellowheirs with Israel—The love of Christ passeth all understanding.
3 How that by revelation he made known unto
me the mystery; [ Mystery in Greek is "Musterion" which means: The counsels of God once hidden but now revealed, in the gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation. When we say "mystery" we might as well say ordinances. This is from Greek Mysterion (usually in plural mysteria) "secret right or doctrine (known and practiced by certain initiated persons only) consisting of purifications, sacrificial offerings, processions, songs, etc." from mystes "one who has been initiated," Myein "to close shut" (see nute(adj.)); perhaps referring to the lips (in secrecy) or to the eyes (only initiates were allowed to see the sacred rites). (Online Etymology Dictionary) So mystery as we know it today has been perverted to resemble something in a mystery novel when it came from the ancients to mean sacred rights, and initiations. So as we find in the scriptures that the word mystery is always tied to some form of Salvation and or sacred rights. What
is the mystery that he is speaking about? That
the gospel which was primarly reserved for members of selected families
- is now to go to all the world. see verse 6 ] (as
I wrote afore
in few words, [I.V.As ye have heard that by revelation
he made known unto me the mystery of Christ; as I wrote before in a few
words.]
5 Which in other ages was not made
known unto the sons of men, [ In
other ages or times the gospel was limited to what? Being
in specific families to which the ordinances were given, it was not available
for all to partake. ] as it is now revealed unto
his holy apostles [ While the other prophets had
taught that someday the gospel would go to the gentiles - the exactness
of how that would happen was not required until now. Just as it is today;
inspired persons have a more perfect knowledge because they
are participating in the process. Does this one statement here not show
you the need for prophets and apostles on the earth at all times to direct
the work of his church? ] and prophets by
the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should
be fellowheirs, and of the same body, [This is
the essence of the revelation that Paul received.] and partakers
of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, [ Mystery in Greek is "Musterion" which means: The counsels of God once hidden but now revealed, in the gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation. ] , which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.