God's Mystery and Paul's Responsibility

The fact that the Gentiles have been brought near to Christ (See Chapter 2.) causes Paul to state that this is a reason for prayer. However, as he describes himself as a prisoner of Christ, he diverts to add some thoughts on his ministry. (He picks up the prayer in v14.) Paul states that if they have heard of the responsibility given to him (v2), namely the mystery revealed to him (v3), then they should not lose heart at his trials (v13). He then describes this responsibility (v7-12) and mystery (v4-6). The mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body and fellow partakers of the promises. Pauls responsibility is that he has been made a minister to the Gentiles. He is to preach the gospel to them so that God's wisdom may be made known to all powers in the heavens.

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editing

Ephesians 3:1-13

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Τούτου χάριν ἐγὼ Παῦλος ὁ δέσμιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν

For this reason I, Paul, a the prisoner of b Christ Jesus c for the sake of you d Gentiles—

Deswegen bin ich, Paulus, der Gebundene Christi Jesu für euch, die Heiden

- εἴ γε ἠκούσατε τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι εἰς ὑμᾶς,

if indeed you have heard of the a stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

wenn ihr nämlich von der Verwaltung der Gnade Gottes gehört habt, die mir für euch gegeben worden ist,

[ὅτι] κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν ἐγνωρίσθη μοι τὸ μυστήριον,

a that b by revelation there was c made known to me d the mystery,

daß mir das Geheimnis durch Offenbarung kundgetan worden ist,

καθὼς προέγραψα ἐν ὀλίγῳ,

e as I wrote before in brief.

wie ich zuvor in Kürze geschrieben habe,

ideaexplanation

πρὸς ὃ δύνασθε ἀναγινώσκοντες νοῆσαι τὴν σύνεσίν μου ἐν τῷ μυστηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

1 By referring to this, when you read you can understand a my insight 2 into the b mystery of Christ,

woran ihr, wenn ihr's leset, meine Einsicht in das Geheimnis Christi erkennen könnet,

ὃ ἑτέραις γενεαῖς οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men,

welches in frühern Geschlechtern den Menschenkindern nicht kundgetan wurde,

ὡς νῦν ἀπεκαλύφθη τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ προφήταις ἐν πνεύματι,

as it has now been revealed to His holy a apostles and prophets 1 in the Spirit;

wie es jetzt seinen heiligen Aposteln und Propheten im Geiste geoffenbart worden ist,

comparison

εἶναι τὰ ἔθνη συγκληρονόμα

to be specific, that the Gentiles are a fellow heirs

daß nämlich die Heiden Miterben seien

καὶ σύσσωμα

and b fellow members of the body,

und Miteinverleibte

καὶ συμμέτοχα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

and c fellow partakers of the promise in d Christ Jesus

und Mitgenossen seiner Verheißung in Christus Jesus

series

διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου,

through the gospel,

durch das Evangelium,

actionmanner

οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος

a of which I was made a b minister,

dessen Diener ich geworden bin

κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ.

according to the gift of c God’s grace which was given to me d according to the working of His power.

nach der Gabe der Gnade Gottes, die mir gegeben ist nach der Wirkung seiner Stärke.

Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν

To me, a the very least of all 1 saints, this grace was given,

Mir, dem allergeringsten unter allen Heiligen, ist diese Gnade gegeben worden,

εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

to b preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable c riches of Christ,

unter den Heiden den unausforschlichen Reichtum Christi zu verkündigen,

καὶ φωτίσαι [πάντας] τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι,

and to 1 bring to light what is the administration of the a mystery which for ages has been b hidden in God c who created all things;

und alle zu erleuchten darüber, was die Haushaltung des Geheimnisses sei, das von den Ewigkeiten her in dem Gott verborgen war, der alles erschaffen hat,

actionpurpose

ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ,

so that the manifold a wisdom of God might now be b made known through the church to the crulers and the authorities in dthe heavenly places.

damit jetzt den Fürstentümern und Gewalten in den himmlischen Regionen durch die Gemeinde die mannigfaltige Weisheit Gottes kund würde,

διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας,

through the church .

durch die Gemeinde,

κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν,

This was in a accordance with the 1 eternal purpose which He 2 carried out in b Christ Jesus our Lord,

nach dem Vorsatz der Ewigkeiten, den er gefaßt hat in Christus Jesus, unserm Herrn,

ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν

in whom we have boldness

in welchem wir die Freimütigkeit

καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει

and 1 a confident b access

und den Zugang haben in aller Zuversicht,

διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ.

through faith 2 in Him.

durch den Glauben an ihn.

actionresult

διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσίν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν,

Therefore I ask 1 you not a to lose heart at my tribulations b on your behalf,

Darum bitte ich, nicht mutlos zu werden in meinen Trübsalen für euch,

ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν.

2 for they are your glory.

welche euch eine Ehre sind.

ground

conditional

First class conditional assumed to be true from the author's perspective.

Paul states that if they have heard of the responsibility given to him (v2), namely the mystery revealed to him (v3), then they should not lose heart at his trials (v13). He then describes this responsibility (v7-12) and mystery (v4-6).

start of an object clause - what they have heard

Paul breaks off his sentence here and picks up this thought in v14. " However, when he comes to describing himself as a “prisoner of Christ,” his train of thought shifts to the theme of his own personal circumstances, resulting in the lengthy parenthesis of vv.2–13. " ECB

The result of the revelation of the mystery to Paul that the Gentiles are fellow heirs was that he was made, be God's grace, a minister to the them.

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Phrase

Ephesians 3:1-13

Beginning of Prayer

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Diversion - Introduction

if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery,

as I wrote before in brief.

God's Mystery - Gentiles Are Fellow Heirs

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men,

as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs

and fellow members of the body,

and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus

through the gospel,

Paul's Responsibility - Minister to the Gentiles

of which I was made a minister,

according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

through the church

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness

and confident access

through faith in Him.

Diversion - Conclusion

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf,

for they are your glory.

phrasing

Phrase Greek

Ephesians 3:1-13

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Τούτου χάριν ἐγὼ Παῦλος ὁ δέσμιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Deswegen bin ich, Paulus, der Gebundene Christi Jesu für euch, die Heiden

- εἴ γε ἠκούσατε τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι εἰς ὑμᾶς,

if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

wenn ihr nämlich von der Verwaltung der Gnade Gottes gehört habt, die mir für euch gegeben worden ist,

[ὅτι] κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν ἐγνωρίσθη μοι τὸ μυστήριον,

that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.

daß mir das Geheimnis durch Offenbarung kundgetan worden ist, wie ich zuvor in Kürze geschrieben habe,

καθὼς προέγραψα ἐν ὀλίγῳ,

πρὸς ὃ δύνασθε ἀναγινώσκοντες νοῆσαι τὴν σύνεσίν μου ἐν τῷ μυστηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

woran ihr, wenn ihr's leset, meine Einsicht in das Geheimnis Christi erkennen könnet,

ὃ ἑτέραις γενεαῖς οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

welches in frühern Geschlechtern den Menschenkindern nicht kundgetan wurde, wie es jetzt seinen heiligen Aposteln und Propheten im Geiste geoffenbart worden ist,

ὡς νῦν ἀπεκαλύφθη τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ προφήταις ἐν πνεύματι,

εἶναι τὰ ἔθνη συγκληρονόμα καὶ σύσσωμα καὶ συμμέτοχα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου,

to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

daß nämlich die Heiden Miterben seien und Miteinverleibte und Mitgenossen seiner Verheißung in Christus Jesus durch das Evangelium,

οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ.

of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

dessen Diener ich geworden bin nach der Gabe der Gnade Gottes, die mir gegeben ist nach der Wirkung seiner Stärke.

Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ φωτίσαι [πάντας]

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

Mir, dem allergeringsten unter allen Heiligen, ist diese Gnade gegeben worden, unter den Heiden den unausforschlichen Reichtum Christi zu verkündigen, und alle zu erleuchten darüber, was die Haushaltung des Geheimnisses sei, das von den Ewigkeiten her in dem Gott verborgen war, der alles erschaffen hat,

τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι,

ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ, κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων

so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

damit jetzt den Fürstentümern und Gewalten in den himmlischen Regionen durch die Gemeinde die mannigfaltige Weisheit Gottes kund würde, nach dem Vorsatz der Ewigkeiten, den er gefaßt hat in Christus Jesus, unserm Herrn,

ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν,

ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ.

in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

in welchem wir die Freimütigkeit und den Zugang haben in aller Zuversicht, durch den Glauben an ihn.

διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσίν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν,

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

Darum bitte ich, nicht mutlos zu werden in meinen Trübsalen für euch, welche euch eine Ehre sind.

ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν.

Τούτου χάριν ἐγὼ Παῦλος ὁ δέσμιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ] ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν

- εἴ γε ἠκούσατε τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι εἰς ὑμᾶς,

[ὅτι] κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν ἐγνωρίσθη μοι τὸ μυστήριον, καθὼς προέγραψα ἐν ὀλίγῳ,

πρὸς ὃ δύνασθε ἀναγινώσκοντες νοῆσαι τὴν σύνεσίν μου ἐν τῷ μυστηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

ὃ ἑτέραις γενεαῖς οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὡς νῦν ἀπεκαλύφθη τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ προφήταις ἐν πνεύματι,

Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν,

ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ.

διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσίν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν.

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scripturetext

components

Ephesians 3:1-13

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equals

solid

equal

table

Παῦλος

drop

revrocket

line

ὁ

δέσμιος

prepphrase

pstack

cword

ὑπὲρ

ὑμῶν

pred

τῶν

ἐθνῶν

τοῦ

Χριστοῦ

[Ἰησοῦ]

subjectverb

ἐγὼ

χάριν

Τούτου

text

διὸ

αἰτοῦμαι

directobject

shelf

vertical

infinitive

ἐγκακεῖν

μὴ

ἐν

ταῖς

θλίψεσίν

ὑπὲρ

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μου

obtuse

ἠκούσατε

γε

τὴν

οἰκονομίαν

τῆς

χάριτος

τοῦ

θεοῦ

τῆς

participle

δοθείσης

indirectobj

μοι

εἰς

ὑμᾶς

dblaccusative

τὸ

μυστήριον

ἐγνωρίσθη

κατὰ

ἀποκάλυψιν

μοι

προέγραψα

ἐν

ὀλίγῳ

καθὼς

[ὅτι]

εἴ

v13a

ἥτις

ἐστὶν

predicate

δόξα

ὑμῶν

smartline

dashed

free

ttext

v13b

v3a

v3b

δύνασθε

ἀναγινώσκοντες

πρὸς

ὃ

νοῆσαι

τὴν

σύνεσίν

τῷ

μυστηρίῳ

τοῦ

Χριστοῦ

τὰ

ἔθνη

quoteshelf

εἶναι

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συγκληρονόμα

συμμέτοχα

σύσσωμα

καὶ

τῆς

ἐπαγγελίας

διὰ

τοῦ

εὐαγγελίου

ἐν

Χριστῷ

Ἰησοῦ

μου

line2

ὃ

ἐγνωρίσθη

οὐκ

τοῖς

υἱοῖς

τῶν

ἀνθρώπων

γενεαῖς

ἑτέραις

ἀπεκαλύφθη

νῦν

τοῖς

ἀποστόλοις

ἁγίοις

προφήταις

αὐτοῦ

καὶ

ἐν

πνεύματι

ὡς

v5a

v5b

bracket

ἐγενήθην

διάκονος

κατὰ

τὴν

δωρεὰν

τῆς

χάριτος

τοῦ

θεοῦ

τῆς

δοθείσης

κατὰ

τὴν

ἐνέργειαν

τῆς

δυνάμεως

αὐτοῦ

μοι

οὗ

αὕτη

ἡ

χάρις

ἐδόθη

Ἐμοὶ

τῷ

ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ

πάντων

ἁγίων

εὐαγγελίσασθαι

τοῖς

ἔθνεσιν

τὸ

πλοῦτος

ἀνεξιχνίαστον

τοῦ

Χριστοῦ

φωτίσαι

[πάντας]

τίς

ἡ

οἰκονομία

τοῦ

μυστηρίου

τοῦ

ἀποκεκρυμμένου

ἐν

τῷ

θεῷ

τῷ

κτίσαντι

τὰ

πάντα

ἀπὸ

τῶν

αἰώνων

καὶ

v9b

γνωρισθῇ

νῦν

ταῖς

ἀρχαῖς

ταῖς

ἐξουσίαις

καὶ

ἐν

τοῖς

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ἡ

σοφία

πολυποίκιλος

τοῦ

θεοῦ

κατὰ

πρόθεσιν

τῶν

αἰώνων

διὰ

τῆς

ἐκκλησίας

ἵνα

ἐποίησεν

ἣν

ἐν

τῷ

Χριστῷ

Ἰησοῦ

τῷ

κυρίῳ

ἡμῶν

v11b

ἔχομεν

τὴν

παρρησίαν

προσαγωγὴν

ἐν

πεποιθήσει

καὶ

διὰ

τῆς

πίστεως

αὐτοῦ

ἐν

ᾧ

God's purpose for a) giving grace to Paul, b) for his preaching and c) for his enlightening all is to His wisdom to the rulers and authorities.

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