Efésios 3

III.

[3.

Prayer for the Further Knowledge of this Mystery (Efésios 3:1).

(1) PREFATORY DECLARATION of the newness of the revelation of this mystery of the calling of the Gentiles, and of the special commission of it to St. Paul, to be manifested before men and angels, both by word and by suffering (Efésios 3:1).

(2) PRAYER for their full understanding of this mystery (although passing knowledge) by the indwelling of Christ, wrought in them by the gift of the Spirit, and accepted in faith and love (Efésios 3:14).

(3) DOXOLOGY TO THE FATHER through Christ Jesus for ever and ever (Efésios 3:20).]

The chapter is in form a parenthesis of fervent prayer and thanksgiving between the doctrinal teaching of Efésios 2 and the resumption and summing up of that teaching in Efésios 4:1. At the same time it involves much profound implicit teaching in itself.