Ephesians 3:3

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery. — The words “by revelation” are doubly emphatic. By revelation, not by the wisdom of man (as in 1 Corinthians 2:7): for “God hath revealed them to us by His Spirit.” By direct revelation to St. Paul himself, as in Galatians 1:12, “not of man or by man, but by revelation of Jesus Christ,” and in Romans 16:25, “according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery.” (See also 2 Corinthians 12:17.) This revelation we may refer especially to the time when, after his conversion, he was “in a trance while praying in the Temple,” and “saw Christ Himself,” saying unto him, “Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles” (Acts 22:17).

As I wrote afore in few words. — The reference is to the brief notice in Ephesians 1:10, and to the further explanation in Ephesians 2:11. Hence, in English, the idea would be more clearly expressed by “I have written above.” St. Paul refers them back to these passages as embodying his “understanding,” or conception, of the mystery thus revealed especially to him. The reference is one of those parenthetical remarks, which, to those remembering how St. Paul’s Epistles were dictated, almost irresistibly suggest insertion on the reading over of the Epistle.

(3) Ephesians 3:20 sum up the whole in a doxology to God the Father through Christ Jesus. It may be compared with the other more solemn doxologies in the New Testament: as Romans 16:25; 1 Timothy 5:15; Jude 1:24; Revelation 1:6. Each has its distinctive character. Here the prevailing idea of the preceding Chapter s is the wonder and the mystery of God’s fore-ordaining love, overflowing in the riches of His grace to those who are made one with Him and with each other in Christ Jesus. Hence, God is here described as He “who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,” and to do all “by His power dwelling” and working in us.