Ephesians 3:5

3 ^ahow that by revelation ^bHe made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

6 that the Gentiles ^ashould be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

7 ^aof which I became a minister ^baccording to the gift of the grace of God given to me by ^cthe effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

8 To me, ^awho am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ^bthe unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to make all see what is the¹ fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who ^acreated all things through Jesus Christ;

10 ^ato the intent that now ^bthe manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church ^cto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

11 ^aaccording to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Ephesians 3:5

Which in other ages - The great purposes of God in regard to the salvation of mankind were not revealed; see the notes at Romans 16:25.

And prophets - Those who exercised the office of a prophet or inspired teacher in the Christian church; see the notes at I Corinthians 12:1.

By the Spirit - This proves that those who exercised the office of prophet in the Christian church were inspired. They were persons endowed in this manner for the purpose of imparting to the newly formed churches the doctrines of the Christian system. There is no evidence that this was designed to be a permanent order of people in the church. They were necessary for settling the church on a permanent basis, in the absence of a full written revelation, and when the apostles were away. When the volume of revelation was finished, and the doctrines of the gospel were fully understood, the functions of the office ceased.

Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Ephesians 3:5:

Psalms 117:1
Romans 1:7
Ephesians 3:21
Colossians 1:23
Colossians 1:26
Colossians 1:27
Revelation 1:1

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Ephesians 3:6 >>

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Purpose of the Mystery

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