1. Structure:
v.1 Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, v. 13...I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you
(NET) The author is not doubting whether his audience has heard, but is rather using provocative language (if indeed) to engage his audience in thinking about the magnificence of God’s grace. However, in English translation, the apodosis (“then”-clause) does not come until v. 13, leaving the protasis (“if”-clause) dangling. Eph 3:2–7 constitute one sentence in Greek.
2. Repeated phrases: God's grace
v.2 ...God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that by revelation the mystery was made known to... v.4...my insight into this mystery of Christ...
7 I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me...v.8...this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles
v.9 to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—the mystery
Summary: God's grace was given to Paul so that he had insight into the mystery of Christ (v.6...the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus). He also became the servant of the Gospel, i.e. to proclaim the Gospel to Gentiles. These 2 ideas actually is 1, the mystery and the Gospel.
(BKC) If the Ephesians truly understood “the administration of God’s grace that was given to” Paul (v. 2), they should not … be discouraged because of his sufferings for them... If Paul had not dispensed to the Gentiles the stewardship of God’s grace, then Jews would not have been hostile to him and he would not have been imprisoned. His preaching brought salvation to the Gentiles, but it incurred the wrath of many Jews on him. However, many others became members of the church, Christ’s body, and this was their glory.
13 For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
(NET) the believers have continued to have courage in the midst of his trials (as not to lose heart suggests) and that this is their glory.
Reflection: Sufferings do have meaning. Not only Paul understood that, but he wanted the church to understand as well. If they do and continued to have courage then this is their glory or when others becoming members of the church then this was their glory. In other words, sufferings were not the main concern for Paul. His focus was on the benefits of others. How do I do in my sufferings? My sufferings may not have any place in God's grand salvation plan, but I pray that it will bring some people to Christ.
v.14-21
1. Repeated word: power/able to v.16, 18 20; comprehend/know the love of Christ v.18, 19; surpasses/far beyond v.19, 20; glory v.16, 21
Summary: (the 1st power) according to God's glory, the power inside us be strengthened. As a result, Christ dwells in our hearts. (BKC) Instead it denotes the desire that Christ may, literally, “be at home in,” that is, at the very center of or deeply rooted in, believers’ lives. They are to let Christ become the dominating factor in their attitudes and conduct.
(2nd power/enable) The purpose of the 1st power is for us to be rooted and grounded in love so that we can know the love of Christ. And the final purpose is for us to be filled up to all the fullness of God v.19 (BKC) The participles “being rooted and established” are in the perfect tense, indicating a past action with continuing results...The content of this comprehension is to know experientially the love of Christ that supersedes all knowledge (cf. Phil. 4:7). The more a Christian knows about Christ, the more amazed he is at Christ’s love for him...experientially they are to love each other as one in Him.
(3rd power)
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