Ephesians 3:1

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, As the first chapter treated of THE FATHER'S office; the second, THE SON'S; so this, that of THE SPIRIT. OF JESUS CHRIST - Greek, 'Christ Jesus' (Philemon 1:13): the office is thus prominent; the person in the English version. He marks Jesus' Messiahship as the origin of his being a "prisoner," owing to the jealousy of the Jews being roused at his preaching it to the Gentiles. My very bonds are profitable "for [ huper (G5228), 'in behalf of'] you Gentiles" (Ephesians 3:13; 2 Timothy 2:10). He digresses at "For this...

1._For this cause. _Paul’s imprisonment, which ought to have been held as a confirmation of his apostleship, was undoubtedly presented by his adversaries in an opposite light. He therefore points out to the Ephesians that his chains served to prove and to declare his calling; and that the only reason why he had been imprisoned was, that he had preached the gospel to the Gentiles. His unshaken firmness was no small additional proof that he had discharged his office in a proper manner. _The prisoner of Jesus Christ. _(131) To strengthen his authority still more, he speaks in lofty terms of his prison. In the presence of the world and of wicked men, this might have appeared to be foolish boasting; but, in addressing godly persons, it was a dignified and faithful manner. The glory of Christ not only overcomes the ignominy of the chains, but converts what was in itself a reproach into the hig...

1-7 For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation through Christ. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the ages before Christ, as unto the prophets of the New Testament. This was the great truth made known to the apostle, that God would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ. An effectual working of Divine power attends the gifts of Divine grace. As God appointed Paul to the office, so he qualified him for it....

CHAPTER III. _Paul, a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus, declares his_ _knowledge of what had been a mystery from all ages, that the_ _Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body with the_ _Jews_, 1-6. _Which doctrine he was made a minister, that he might declare the_ _unsearchable riches of Christ, and make known to principalities_ _and powers this eternal purpose of God_, 7-12. _He desires them not to be discouraged on account of his_ _tribulations_, 13. His prayer that they might be filled with all the fulness of

FOR THIS CAUSE - On account of preaching this doctrine; that is, the doctrine that the gospel was to be proclaimed to the Gentiles. I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST - A prisoner in the service of the Lord Jesus; or made a prisoner in his cause. Not a prisoner for crime or debt, or as a captive in war, but a captive in the service of the Redeemer. This proves that at the time of writing this, Paul was in bonds, and there can he no question that he was in Rome. This would be more correctly rendered, “For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner,” etc. So Tyndale renders it, “For this cause I, Paul, the servant of Jesus, am in bonds.” So also Locke, Rosenmuller, Doddridge, Whitby, Koppe, and others understand it. By this construction the abruptness now manifest in our common version is avoided. FOR YOU GENTILES - Made a prisoner at Rome on your behalf, because I m

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 3:1 DIGRESSION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE GENTILES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. EPHESIANS 3:1 FOR THIS CAUSE. The reference is not merely to the last statement or illustration, but to the whole view of the purpose of God toward the Gentiles unfolded in Ephesians it. The apodosis does not come in till verse 14, at the beginning of which this conjunctive clause is repeated. I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU GENTILES. He introduces himself in order to make known the feelings which w

FOR THIS CAUSE I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST,.... Not actively, whom Christ had apprehended by his grace, and made a prisoner of hope; but passively, who was made a prisoner for Christ, on account of preaching Christ, and his Gospel: he was not a prisoner for any capital crime, as theft, murder, c. and therefore be was not ashamed of his bonds, but rather glories in them and a prison has often been the portion of the best of men in this world: from hence we learn, that this epistle was written when the apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and the consideration of this his condition serves much to confirm the truths he had before delivered, seeing they were such as he could, and did suffer for; and which must engage the attention of the Ephesians to them, and especially since his sufferings were on their account: FOR YOU GENTILES: because he preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, which t...

EPHESIANS 3:1 tou/ Cristou/ @VIhsou/# {C} The balance between the weight of the evidence that supports the presence of VIhsou/ following Cristou/ and its absence from several significant witnesses is reflected in the Committee’s decision to include the word but to enclose it within square brackets....

3. THE MYSTERY MADE KNOWN Chapter S 2:11-3:21 _ 1. The condition of the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11)_ 2. But now in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:13) 3. The new and great relationship (Ephesians 2:19) 4. The Mystery made known and Paul's ministry (Ephesians 3:1) 5. The prayer (Ephesians 3:14) 6. The doxology (Ephesians 3:20) With the eleventh verse of the second chapter we reach a new divisio

A DIGRESSION. PAUL THE PRISONER AND HIS RELATION TO THE MYSTERY. A knowledge of Paul's story may be presumed among those who read this letter: they will have heard how he was entrusted with the mission of proclaiming to the Gentiles God's dispensation of grace towards them (Ephesians 3:1 f.); it was by revelation, as aforesaid (_cf. Ephesians 1:17_), that the glorious secret of God was made known to him how fully they can judge for themselves by reading the passage (Ephesians 3:13) in which he has already summed it up (Ephesians 3:3 f.). This secret, hidden from former generations, was now revealed in the Spirit to the apost