EPHESIANS

W. J. Franklin

Chapter 3:9-16

AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL MEN SEE

“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”—V. 9. The first part of this verse may be translated, “Bring to light” or “Illuminate all.” so that they might see clearly what he has said, is saying, and will say.

The word translated “Fellowship” is the same word translated “Dispensation” in verse two and in Eph. 1:10. Here it seems to refer to God’s arrangement of the Jew and Gentile in one body and citizenship and the administration of that citizenship. God manifested the mystery through Paul, though it had been hid in God in all past ages.

God created all things with a plan for each and all. Without the creation and the plan, there could have been no unfolding to us of that plan. We are seeing some of the unfoldings of His purposes now, and shall see the consummation at a later date. In this chapter the mystery is unfolded, and we shall see the final drama in God’s own time.

PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS MADE TO KNOW

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”—V. 10. Again, we have the word in the Greek language that introduced the marvelous statement in Eph. 2:7. There, it is translated “That”; here, it is translated “To the intent,” or for this purpose or cause, is the meaning.

The principalities and powers are the rulers and authorities of the heavens, we feel, both good and bad. Note 6:12 of this book which refers to evil powers. They will be angry and disappointed at what they have missed.

The good angelic orders have a great desire to look into the redemptive truths taught in the New Testament. See I Pet. 1:12. God is granting at least some of their desire. He is using the church to enlighten them. The church is a channel or an instrument of enlightenment to them.

Angels had seen creation of material and creatures. They had seen God’s wisdom in natural creation. They had seen Him display His hatred of sin by passing judgment on fallen angels. But they had never seen grace at work in its fulness. Now they are being made wiser, and more appreciative of their God and Creator.

The “Manifold wisdom” of God is the “All embracing wisdom,” “That multifarious and greatly diversified wisdom.” It means, much, deep or vast wisdom. It also means, immense or infinite wisdom. It is all of this and more. As this plan of redemption and all His plans for this age are unfolded, the different orders of the angels are being profited greatly. They are made wiser, and are greatly enlightened regarding things about their Creator that they had never known before.

To the Gentiles, Paul preached the unsearchable riches of Christ. He tried to enlighten all men, and now in this verse, God is enlightening some or all of the angelic orders.

“According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord”—V. 11. This should read, “According to the purpose of the ages.” The ages are those successive periods of time into which God has measured off time even as a clock measures off hours. In each of those ages, certain things and events were to occur and be developed. In some of those times, different phases of creation came into being. In one, Israel was developed as nation. There are also different purposes, but then why the ages? There is a purpose of the ages. In that purpose being unfolded and realized in this age, the church, the body of Christ, was to be brought into being, to be developed, and from it a bride for the Son of God was to be taken.

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him”—V. 12. Let us translate, “In whom we have liberty of speech and the introduction.”We have liberty to pray, to praise, and to speak to others, even the Gentiles, despite the objection of the Jews. Also, we are introduced to our great Sovereign God in Christ. Jesus alone can bring us to God. Also, there is no other name authorized of God in which we can pray.

“Confidence” means, trust or reliance. “Faith of Him” does not mean His own personal faith, but our faith in Him, even as we speak of the “Fear of God,” when we really mean our fear toward Him.

FAINT NOT

“Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory”—V. 13. “My tribulation for you” indicates why Paul was in prison. He had stood boldly for the Gospel of the grace of God to the Gentiles. This created evil feeling among the Jews who did not wish him to reach to the Gentiles. See I Thess. 2:14-16. At the first opportunity, they shut him up in prison and would have killed him, but God intervened. This tribulation was for them. It was for a good cause. It was on their behalf, and would work for them, hence it was their glory.

THE SECOND GREAT PRAYER

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”—V. 14. Because of this, for this cause, or for this grace or even joy, I bow my knees. We can remember that when Solomon offered his dedicatory prayer of the temple, he knelt before God—II Chron. 6:13. Jesus knelt in prayer—Luke 22:41; and this seems to be the common posture for prayer. See Acts 20:36. Paul unfolded much truth in the chapter regarding the real temple of God of which Solomon’s temple was just a figure. It was filling that he should kneel.

“Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named”—V. 15. The whole family means also every fatherhood. Every fatherhood is named because of God. However, it very definitely can mean the whole family also. The whole family in this instance means all the people of God, and most of them are, as to their spirits, in heaven with Jesus. A small segment remains on earth. It is better to depart and be with Jesus, Paul said. So that part of the family which is in heaven is happier today then we who remain on the earth.

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man”— V. 16. We feel that the prayer here recorded is the grandest of the Bible. The prayer of chapter one was for opened eyes. This one is for full hearts. Paul saw what the saints could have in Christ and prayed accordingly. “In order that He may give: would be a better translation of the first part of this verse. Things that come to us from God, come as gifts of His grace.

“The riches of His glory.” As we think of the glory of God’s heaven, His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19), we marvel at the fulness of glory, and marvel more that He is going to share them with us. “The glory Thou hast given Me, I have given them,” said Jesus. This glory, nay, the riches of this glory, is the measuring stick of Paul’s prayer.

“To be strengthened with might.: Our foes are many, and they are cunning and cruel, and we need power to overcome them. But the strength of this chapter is not primarily for battle but for appropriating and comprehending. We need power for services and works, but again, that is not what is in view here. This blessed strength is not physical, but spiritual, and comes to us from the Spirit of God. It is not for the body, but for the new, the inner man.

In this part of Paul’s petition, he prays that these bounties may come to us according to God’s riches in glory, not according to the meager conception of most of God’s people.