31 For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you the nations, 2 if, indeed, ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me in regard to you, 3 that by revelation He made known to me the secret, according as I wrote before in few 'words'— 4 in regard to which ye are able, reading 'it', to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit— 6 that the nations be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in the Christ, through the good news, 7 of which I became a ministrant, according to the gift of the grace of God that was given to me, according to the working of His power; 8 to me—the less than the least of all the saints—was given this grace, among the nations to proclaim good news—the untraceable riches of the Christ, 9 and to cause all to see what 'is' the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ, 10 that there might be made known now to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly 'places', through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have the freedom and the access in confidence through the faith of him,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 3:1-12
Commentary on Ephesians 3:1-7
(Read Ephesians 3:1-7)
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.
Commentary on Ephesians 3:8-12
(Read Ephesians 3:8-12)
Those whom God advances to honourable employments, he makes low in their own eyes; and where God gives grace to be humble, there he gives all other needful grace. How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ; the unsearchable riches of Christ! Though many are not enriched with these riches; yet how great a favour to have them preached among us, and to have an offer of them! And if we are not enriched with them it is our own fault. The first creation, when God made all things out of nothing, and the new creation, whereby sinners are made new creatures by converting grace, are of God by Jesus Christ. His riches are as unsearchable and as sure as ever, yet while angels adore the wisdom of God in the redemption of his church, the ignorance of self-wise and carnal men deems the whole to be foolishness.