Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: (IF - not doubt [ ei-ge (G1489), 'if indeed']: 'assuming (what I know to be the fact, namely) that ye have heard,' etc. The indicative (Greek) implies: 'seeing that doubtless,' etc. He delicately reminds them of their having heard from himself, and probably from others, the fact (Ephesians 4:21: see 'Introduction.' These words do not disprove Paul's a personal acquaintance with his readers, or the address of this letter to the Ephesians (cf. Acts 20:17). THE DISPENSATION - `the office of dispensing, as a steward, the grace of God which was (not "is") given me to you-war...

2._If ye have heard. _There is reason to believe, that, while Paul was at Ephesus, he had said nothing on these subjects, no necessity for doing so having arisen; for no controversy had taken place among them about the calling of the Gentiles. If he had made any mention of them in his discourses, he would have reminded the Ephesians of his former statements, instead of referring generally, as he now does, to common report and to his own Epistle. He did not, of his own accord, raise unnecessary disputes. It was only when the wickedness of his adversaries made it necessary, that he reluctantly undertook the defense of his ministry. _Dispensation _( οικονομια) means here a divine order or command, or, as it is generally expressed, a _commission _...

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....

Verse Ephesians 3:2. _IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION_] The compound particle ειγε, which is commonly translated _if indeed_, in several places means _since indeed, seeing that_, and should be translated so in this verse, and in several other places of the New Testament. _Seeing ye have heard of the dispensation of God, which_ _is given me to you-ward_: this they had amply learned from the apostle during his stay at Ephesus, for _he had not shunned to_ _declare unto them the whole counsel of God_, Acts 20:27, and _kept nothing back that was profitable to them_, Acts 20:20. And this was certainly among those things that were _most profitable_, and most necessary to be known....

IF YE HAVE HEARD - Εἴ-γε Ei-ge “If at least, if indeed, if so be, spoken of what is taken for granted.” “Robinson;” compare 2 Corinthians 5:3; Galatians 3:4; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:23, for the use of the particle. The particle here is not designed to express a doubt whether they had heard of it or not, for he takes it for granted that they had. Doddridge renders it, “since I well know you have heard,” etc. He had informed them of his being called to be the minister to the Gentiles...

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

IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD,.... Not the free love and favour of God in his heart towards his people; nor internal grace wrought in the heart of the apostle; but either the gift of grace, as in Ephesians 3:7 qualifying him for the work of the ministry; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "if ye have heard the gift of the grace of God"; or rather the doctrine of grace, the Gospel, the subject matter of which is the grace of God; it is a declaration of the free grace of God in the salvation of men; and it is the means of conveying the grace of God into their hearts. Now the apostle had a dispensation to preach this Gospel committed to him; he acted by authority, and as a steward of the mysteries of God; and which he faithfully dispensed to the family of Christ, who appointed him to this service: this the Ephesians had heard of, from the relations of the apo...

GRACE Grace (imparted). (Ephesians 3:2); (Ephesians 4:7); (Ephesians 4:29); (Romans 6:1); (2 Peter 3:18)....

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