The "mystery" of Ephesians

[basilfo]

Preparing for a Bible study in Ephesians and would appreciate any comments on what Paul means by the "mystery" - specifically in Eph 3:3.

Ephesians 3:1 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.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

It seems to me Paul defines it in verse 6 (mystery="that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs", "and partakers of His promise"). This would align with one of the main truths of the New Covenant: faith in Christ is the only distinguisher of peoples, not genetics. (Mat 3:9, 21:43, Gal 3:16, 3:29, the vision given to Peter to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (Cornelius), the olive tree illustration of Rom 11, Rom 9:6-8, Rom 2:28,29 to name a few).

Do any of you understand "the mystery" here in Eph 3 as something other than "that Gentiles should be fellow heirs"?

Thanks and peace to you all,
Dave

[CWH]

To understand the meaning of the mystery, we may need to look at other scriptures that Paul have written. I believe they are inter-connected. Interestingly Ephesians 5:32 perhaps hinted what was meant by the mystery.... Christ and the church. I have a list of the word "mystery" written by Paul and perhaps we could find the meaning of the mystery from there:

Romans 11:25
[ All Israel Will Be Saved ] I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 16:25
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

1 Corinthians 15:51
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

Ephesians 1:9
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

Ephesians 3:3
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

Ephesians 3:4
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:9
and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Ephesians 5:32
This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 6:19
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 1:26
the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 2:2
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,

Colossians 4:3
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Many Blessings.

[Screaming Eagle]

Note that it says 'fellow heirs' rather than 'heirs'. We have been 'joined with' them (Jews) IN Him by faith in Him. A 'new kind' of being IN Christ. Christ in you, the hope of Glory.

It really IS scandalous if you think about it. No wonder the enemy hates us so. 'It' hates us now with the same hatred 'it' has had since the beginning in wanting to destroy ALL of the people of God. Pharaoh, Haman etc were earlier manifestations of that same 'thing'/spirit.

[EndtimesDeut32/70AD]

Preparing for a Bible study in Ephesians and would appreciate any comments on what Paul means by the "mystery" - specifically in Eph 3:3.

Ephesians 3:1 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 (comparative AS, not the word because or since) 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.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

It seems to me Paul defines it in verse 6 (mystery="that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs", "and partakers of His promise"). This would align with one of the main truths of the New Covenant: faith in Christ is the only distinguisher of peoples, not genetics. (Mat 3:9, 21:43, Gal 3:16, 3:29, the vision given to Peter to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (Cornelius), the olive tree illustration of Rom 11, Rom 9:6-8, Rom 2:28,29 to name a few).

Do any of you understand "the mystery" here in Eph 3 as something other than "that Gentiles should be fellow heirs"?

Thanks and peace to you all,
Dave

Dispy's like to use the 'dispensation' of grace in vs 2 as a pull out phrase referring to an 'age' of Grace to the Gentiles without understanding it's context.

The fellow heirs with Israel are not heirs of the mosaic covenant in the manner that we are ingrafted into mosaic conditional law, but that international peoples including those within national Israel of faith in the covenant of Grace/Mercy are joined in one body as heirs of the Spiritual promises to the children of God made from the beginning of the ages.

The contextual understanding, and understanding that this grace was promised first to the nation of Israel, helps to clarify his words.

To break this down, one should look to see where this 'mystery' has already been mentioned by Paul in this letter as he referred to in vs 3.
It is the 'mystery' of Grace to all in faith through the Holy Spirit.

[joel]

Dave,

The mystery of Ephesians 3:3 is stated;

In Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles εθνος G1484 ethnos 334
should be ει G1511 i\n einai 15
fellowheirs, συγκληρονομος G4789 sugkleronomos 1261
and και G2532 kai 31
of the same body, συσσωμος G4954 sussomos 2110
and και G2532 kai 31
partakers συμμετοχος G4830 summetochos 1925
of his αυτος G0846 autos 971
promise επαγγελια G1860 epaggelia 138
in εν G1722 en 55
Christ Χριστος G5547 Christos 1480
by δια G1223 dia 15
the gospel: ευαγγελιον G2098 euaggelion

Nowhere else in the oracles of God is this truth revealed. That is why it is a mystery. There is no way to identify a mystery in prior writings. It is hidden in God until He chooses to unveil it.

This is one of the mysteries revealed to Paul. This is one reason why his writings need to carefully and revenently studied.

In the OT, the Gentiles are mentioned throughout. But, primarily they are viewed as being under the ministry of Israel if they are seeking to approach the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The Gentiles had no inheritance in the allotments of God's vast estate except through the intermediacy of Israel. Gentiles could become proslyetes, but even then, there would be limitations to their access to the bounty of the Kingdom.

All changed in this era, and will be made apparent in that which follows.
Paul, in this mystery, reveals three things that have changed as to the relationship of the Gentiles, these three things being described by three separate words;
1.) sugkleronomos, fellowheirs
2.) sussomos, of the same body,
3.) summetochos. partakers of his promise in Christ
.....by the gospel.

Joel

[HaShaliach]

Joel, Perhaps the key to understanding this is actually in vs 4. It is the "mystery of Christ."
The mystery of "Christ" is the fact that God would become flesh, and become the "seed of the woman." It goes all the way back to Gen 3. 15, and in 1 Pt. where Jesus is a "lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
IMO the mystery of Christ is the incarnation, and in vs6 here, its further revealed that believers will be unified in "Christ."

[joel]

HaShaliach,

If the "mystery" concerns his incarnation......was this not contained in prophecies concerning Him? If so, then, that was not a mystery when the spirit revealed His incarnation as a fulfillment of prophecy.

If, on the other hand, there are particulars held within Himself (God chosing to keep secret certain things until He reveals them) which have been hidden until revealed to Paul, then Paul had an understanding that was hidden to others until Paul spoke of them and put them out in writing. The incarnation was revealed to others, was it not?

Joel

[HaShaliach]

HaShaliach,

If the "mystery" concerns his incarnation......was this not contained in prophecies concerning Him? If so, then, that was not a mystery when the spirit revealed His incarnation as a fulfillment of prophecy.

If, on the other hand, there are particulars held within Himself (God chosing to keep secret certain things until He reveals them) which have been hidden until revealed to Paul, then Paul had an understanding that was hidden to others until Paul spoke of them and put them out in writing. The incarnation was revealed to others, was it not?

Joel
Brother Joel,

This is indeed a very interesting topic and I am delighted to discuss the mysteries of God with you.

No, I don't believe that plan of God was fully revealed to anyone until the manifestion of God in the flesh. They were given only glimpses of the coming redeemer. It was at his birth that he was revealed as the "Immanuel." And Paul revealed it doctrinally as part of his ministry, as a divine truth, "proving that he was the Christ" (Ac. 9:22). The "mystery" is more than just the incarnation, it is the whole plan of redemption, the complete restoration of man back to the our state of perfection as first created in the garden (Ac. 3:21, 19). This is our destiney, not a fly away "rapture."

This verse states that even at the Crucifixion, the "princes of the world" did not know (this could have a dble meaning of the Roman/Jewish govt. leaders and satanic "princes").

1 Cor. 2: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

This verse refers to our salvation which was wrought in Christ. It was not revealed until the NT apostles and prophets were manifest and in order.

Eph. 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

This verse proves that all the prophets may have had hints at the incarnation, glimpes "through a glass darkley" but did not know the fullness of the incarnation.

1 Pt. 3:5 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The plan of the incarnation was hidden in God.

Eph. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Ac. 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Rv. 13: 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

[joel]

Brother Joel,

This is indeed a very interesting topic and I am delighted to discuss the mysteries of God with you.

No, I don't believe that plan of God was fully revealed to anyone until the manifestion of God in the flesh. They were given only glimpses of the coming redeemer. It was at his birth that he was revealed as the "Immanuel." And Paul revealed it doctrinally as part of his ministry, as a divine truth, "proving that he was the Christ" (Ac. 9:22). The "mystery" is more than just the incarnation, it is the whole plan of redemption, the complete restoration of man back to the our state of perfection as first created in the garden (Ac. 3:21, 19). This is our destiney, not a fly away "rapture."

This verse states that even at the Crucifixion, the "princes of the world" did not know (this could have a dble meaning of the Roman/Jewish govt. leaders and satanic "princes").

1 Cor. 2: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

This verse refers to our salvation which was wrought in Christ. It was not revealed until the NT apostles and prophets were manifest and in order.

Eph. 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

This verse proves that all the prophets may have had hints at the incarnation, glimpes "through a glass darkley" but did not know the fullness of the incarnation.

1 Pt. 3:5 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The plan of the incarnation was hidden in God.

Eph. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Ac. 3:24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

Rv. 13: 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

HaShaliach,

It is good to discuss this with you and you are glorifying God by boasting in Him concerning the "incarnation"..........and in no way do I seek to minimize the greatness of the mystery of godliness.....and the revelation of God's Christ.

I join with you in thanking Him for His indescribable gift.

As to the plan of God to place His Son within a woman, and to cloth Him in a body of flesh, and then to subject Him to the humility of stepping down into this world, and then.....the ultimate of suffering the shame and passion of such a horrible death.....to be rejected by those whom He came to save....is the highest expression of God's love.

We will surely glory in His expression of love together as we fellowhip in the mysteries of God in His Christ.

Joel

[HaShaliach]

HaShaliach,

It is good to discuss this with you and you are glorifying God by boasting in Him concerning the "incarnation"..........and in no way do I seek to minimize the greatness of the mystery of godliness.....and the revelation of God's Christ.

I join with you in thanking Him for His indescribable gift.

As to the plan of God to place His Son within a woman, and to cloth Him in a body of flesh, and then to subject Him to the humility of stepping down into this world, and then.....the ultimate of suffering the shame and passion of such a horrible death.....to be rejected by those whom He came to save....is the highest expression of God's love.

We will surely glory in His expression of love together as we fellowhip in the mysteries of God in His Christ.

Joel


My brother,
Your words remind me of 1 Tim. 3:16,

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, (God was) justified in the Spirit, (God was) seen of angels, (God was) preached unto the Gentiles, (God was) believed on in the world, (God was) received up into glory.