Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
to make all men see—Greek, "to enlighten all" (Ephesians 1:18; Psalms 18:28; Hebrews 6:4). "All" (compare Colossians 1:28).
fellowship—The oldest manuscripts read, "economy," or "dispensation" (compare Colossians 1:25-26; and see on Ephesians 1:10, above). "To make all see how it hath seemed good to God at this time to dispense (through me and others, His stewards) what heretofore was a mystery." ELLICOTT explains it, "the arrangement," or "regulation" of the mystery (the union of Jews and Gentiles in Christ) which was now to be humbly traced and acknowledged in the fact of its having secretly existed in the counsel of God, and now having been revealed to the heavenly powers by means of the Church.
from the beginning of the world—Greek, "from (the beginning of) the ages." Compare Ephesians 1:4; Romans 16:25; I Corinthians 2:7. The "ages" are the vast successive periods of time, marked by successive stages of creation and orders of beings.
in God—"hidden in" His counsels (Ephesians 1:9).
created all things by Jesus Christ—God's creation of the world and all things therein is the foundation of the rest of the "economy," which is freely dispensed according to the universal power of God [BENGEL]. AS God created "the whole range of things" (so the Greek), physical and spiritual alike, He must have an absolute right to adjust all things as He will. Hence, we may see His right to keep the mystery of world-wide salvation in Christ "hidden in Himself," till his own good time for revealing it. The oldest manuscripts omit "by Jesus Christ."
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ephesians 3:9:
Genesis 1:1
Isaiah 42:1
Matthew 13:11
Romans 11:25
Romans 16:26
1 Corinthians 11:3
Ephesians 3:1
Ephesians 3:18
Colossians 1:26
1 Timothy 2:7
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