rwp - Ephesians:3:1-13

rwp@Ephesians:3:1 @{For this cause} (\toutou charin\). Use of \charin\ (accusative of \charis\) as a preposition with the genitive and referring to the preceding argument about God's elective grace. It is possible that Paul started to make the prayer that comes in verses 14-21| when he repeats \toutou charin\. If so, he is diverted by his own words "the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles" (\ho desmios tou Christou Isou huper humn tn ethnn\) to set forth in a rich paragraph (1-13|) God's use of him for the Gentiles.

rwp@Ephesians:3:2 @{If so be that ye have heard} (\ei ge kousate\). Condition of first class with \ei\ and first aorist active indicative and with the intensive particle \ge\ that gives a delicate touch to it all. On \oikonomian\ (stewardship, dispensation) see strkjv@1:9; strkjv@3:9; strkjv@Colossians:1:25|.

rwp@Ephesians:3:3 @{By revelation} (\kata apokalupsin\). Not essentially different from \di' apokalupses\ (Gal strkjv@1:12|). This was Paul's qualification for preaching "the mystery" (\to mustrion\. See strkjv@1:9|). {As I wrote afore} (\kaths proegrapsa\). First aorist active indicative of \prograph\ as in strkjv@Romans:15:4|, not picture forth as strkjv@Galatians:3:1|. But when and where? Epistolary aorist for this Epistle? That is possible. A previous and lost Epistle as in strkjv@1Corinthians:5:9|? That also is abstractly possible. To the preceding discussion of the Gentiles? Possible and also probable. {In few words} (\en oligi\). Not = \pro oligou\, shortly before, but as in strkjv@Acts:26:28| "in brief space or time" = \suntons\ (Acts:24:4|), "briefly."

rwp@Ephesians:3:4 @{Whereby} (\pros ho\). "Looking to which," "according to which." {When ye read} (\anaginskontes\). This Epistle will be read in public. {My understanding in the mystery of Christ} (\tn sunesin mou en ti mustrii tou Christou\). My "comprehension" (\sunesin\, strkjv@Colossians:1:9; strkjv@2:2|). Every sermon reveals the preacher's grasp of "the mystery of Christ." If he has no insight into Christ, he has no call to preach.

rwp@Ephesians:3:5 @{In other generations} (\heterais geneais\). Locative case of time. He had already claimed this revelation for himself (verse 3|). Now he claims it for all the other apostles and prophets of God.

rwp@Ephesians:3:6 @{To wit}. Not in the Greek. But the infinitive (\einai\) clause is epexegetical and gives the content of the revelation, a common idiom in the N.T. \Ta ethn\ is in the accusative of general reference. Paul is fond of compounds with \sun\ and here uses three of them. {Fellow-heirs} (\sunklronoma\). Late and rare (Philo, inscriptions and papyri). See also strkjv@Romans:8:17|. {Fellow-members of the body} (\sunsma\). First found here and only here save in later ecclesiastical writers. Preuschen argues that it is equivalent to \sundoulos\ in strkjv@Colossians:1:7| (\sma\ in sense of \doulos\). {Fellow-partakers} (\sunmetocha\). Another late and rare word (Josephus). Only here in N.T. In one papyrus in sense of joint possessor of a house.

rwp@Ephesians:3:7 @For this verse see strkjv@Colossians:1:25; strkjv@Ephesians:1:19f.; strkjv@3:2|.

rwp@Ephesians:3:8 @{Unto me who am less than the least of all saints} (\emoi ti elachistoteri pantn hagin\). Dative case \emoi\ with \eloth\. The peculiar form \elachistoteri\ (in apposition with \emoi\) is a comparative (\-teros\) formed on the superlative \elachistos\. This sort of thing was already done in the older Greek like \eschatoteros\ in Xenophon. It became more common in the _Koin_. Songs:the double comparative \meizoteran\ in strkjv@3John:1:4|. The case of \hagin\ is ablative. This was not mock humility (15:19|), for on occasion Paul stood up for his rights as an apostle (2Corinthians:11:5|). {The unsearchable riches of Christ} (\to anexichniaston ploutos tou Christou\). \Anexichniastos\ (\a\ privative and verbal of \exichniaz\, to track out, \ex\ and \ichnos\, track) appears first in strkjv@Job:5:9; strkjv@9:10|. Paul apparently got it from Job. Nowhere else in N.T. except strkjv@Romans:11:33|. In later Christian writers. Paul undertook to track out the untrackable in Christ.

rwp@Ephesians:3:9 @{To make see} (\phtisai\). First aorist active infinitive of \photiz\, late verb, to turn the light on. With the eyes of the heart enlightened (Ephesians:1:18|) one can then turn the light for others to see. See strkjv@Colossians:1:26|.

rwp@Ephesians:3:10 @{To the intent that} (\hina\). Final clause. {Might be made known} (\gnristhi\). First aorist passive subjunctive of \gnriz\ with \hina\. The mystery was made known to Paul (3:3|) and now he wants it blazoned forth to all powers (Gnostic aeons or what not). {Through the church} (\dia ts ekklsias\). The wonderful body of Christ described in chapter strkjv@Ephesians:2|. {The manifold wisdom of God} (\h polupoikilos sophia tou theou\). Old and rare word, much-variegated, with many colours. Only here in N.T. \Poikilos\ (variegated) is more common (Matthew:4:24|).

rwp@Ephesians:3:11 @{According to the eternal purpose} (\kata prothesin tn ainn\). "According to the purpose (1:11|) of the ages." God's purpose runs on through the ages. "Through the ages one eternal purpose runs."

rwp@Ephesians:3:12 @{In confidence} (\en pepoithsei\). Late and rare word from \pepoitha\. See strkjv@2Corinthians:1:15|. {Through our faith in him} (\dia ts pistes autou\). Clearly objective genitive \autou\ (in him).

rwp@Ephesians:3:13 @{That ye faint not} (\m enkakein\). Object infinitive with \m\ after \aitoumai\. The infinitive (present active) \enkakein\ is a late and rare word (see already strkjv@Luke:18:1; strkjv@2Thessalonians:3:13; strkjv@2Corinthians:4:1,16; strkjv@Galatians:6:9|) and means to behave badly in, to give in to evil (\en, kakos\). Paul urges all his apostolic authority to keep the readers from giving in to evil because of his tribulations for them. {Your glory} (\doxa humn\). As they could see.