(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
Ephesians Chapter 3
(Ephesians 3:1) For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
"For this cause":
Because we were far off, alienated, pilgrims, strangers
Because we were under God's Wrath
Because of Jesus Christ's Salvation through the Cross
Because we are made One with Jews as Gentiles in Christ
Because Paul's ministry is to the Gentiles
A prisoner meaning Paul is compelled to preach to them, the Gentiles
"You Gentiles" meaning Paul is a Jew, they are Gentiles
(Ephesians 3:2) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
This is given to Paul, as in "given me"
This is a direct statement of his ministry to the Gentiles
Because the Law could do nothing to save: GRACE
(Ephesians 3:3) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;(as I wrote afore in few words,
Paul had this revelation about the Church, "the mystery" in the Old Testament
(Acts 22:17) And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
(Acts 22:21) And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
Paul's personality was to not mince words, to speak clearly, strong, straight out
(Ephesians 3:4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Making and keeping the Gospel so simple a child can understand was what Paul did.
It is what we need to do also
(Ephesians 3:5) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
This proves it was truly a mystery, unrevealed
The Holy Spirit is the One Who reveals truth to us, this truth and all truth
AGE, n. [L. aetas,or aevum. But these are undoubtedly contracted words.] 1. The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; as, the usual age of man is seventy years; the age of a horse may be twenty or thirty years; the age of a tree may be four hundred years. 2. That part of the duration of a being, which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth? Jesus began to be about thirty years of age. Luke 3. 3. The latter part of life, or long continued duration; oldness. The eyes of Israel were dim for age. Gen 48. 4. A certain period of human life, marked by a difference of state; as, life is divided into four stages or ages, infancy, youth, manhood, and old age; the age of youth; the age of manhood. 5. The period when a person is enabled by law to do certain acts for himself, or when he ceases to be controlled by parents or guardians; as, in our country, both males and females are of age in twenty-one years old. 6. Mature years; ripeness of strength or discretion. He is of age, as him. John 9.
7. The time of life for conceiving children, or perhaps the usual time of such an event. Sarah was delivered of a son when she was past age. Heb. 11. 8. A particular period of time, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of iron, the age of heroes or of chivalry. 9. The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation and a succession of generations; as, ages yet unborn. The mystery hid from ages. Col 1.
10. A century; the period of one hundred years.
(Ephesians 3:6) That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
We are grafted into the Beloved of God's people
The "in Christ" is the key, though the Gospel, not by blood (ours) inheritance but by Blood (Jesus Christ's) inheritance
This continues the words of Ephesians 2, specifically verse 13
(Ephesians 2:13) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
FELLOW-HEIR, n. A co-heir, or joint-heir; one entitled to a share of the same inheritance. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs. Eph 3.
(Ephesians 3:7) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
The Gospel is the source of Paul's ministry, and ours
Gift, Grace, God, God's Power=SALVATION!
God is the source of Paul's salvation, and ours-no works needed
(Ephesians 3:8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Paul persecuted Christians and had them killed
He had Stephen stoned (Acts 7)
He got much grace because of much sin. Hope for us!
Again more proof of his Gentile ministry
(Ephesians 3:9) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
All men see that the body of Christ, the mystery, is fellowship
It is a mystery because God hid it
The Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Creator of it all, being God Himself in the flesh
FEL'LOWSHIP, n.
Companionship; society; consort; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms; familiar intercourse. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Eph 5. Men are made for society and mutual fellowship.
Association; confederacy; combination. Most of the other christian princes were drawn into the fellowship of that war. [Unusual.]
Partnership; joint interest; as fellowship in pain.
Company; a state of being together. The great contention of the sea and skies parted our fellowship.
Frequency of intercourse. In a great town friends are scattered, so that there is not that fellowship which is in less neighborhoods.
Fitness and fondness for festive entertainments; with good prefixed. He had by his good fellowship - made himself popular, with all the officers of the army.
Communion; intimate familiarity. 1 John 1.
In arithmetic, the rule of proportions, by which the accounts of partners in business are adjusted, so that each partner may have a share of gain or sustain a share of loss, in proportion to his part of the stock.
An establishment in colleges, for the maintenance of a fellow.
(Ephesians 3:10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
This is a sight, a spectacle, for the angels
We, our existence, show, reveal the manifold wisdom of God Himself
(1 Peter 1:12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
UN'TO, prep. a compound of un, [on,] and to; of no use in the language, as it expresses no more than to. I do not find it in our mother tongue, nor is it ever used in popular discourse. It is found in writers of former times, but is entirely obsolete.
(Ephesians 3:11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
This was all God's plan eternally, in eternity past
This was purposed, to be accomplished, through Jesus Christ our LORD
(Ephesians 3:12) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
We can talk to the Father confidently because of Jesus Christ and not because of ourselves, our works
(Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Ephesians 3:13) Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Paul's tribulations, trials, tests would work out for their glory in Christ
In short, they were his prize
(Ephesians 3:14) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
This whole process made Paul humble
(Ephesians 3:15) Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
The Body of CHRIST we are
The people of GOD we are
We remain such in Heaven, as down here
(Ephesians 3:16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Our power and strength is a gift
It is abundantly available to us
It is through the might of the Holy Spirit, who is God
It is mighty through that Spirit that we are strengthened
(Ephesians 3:17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
The soil and the root determine the rest of the plant's health
That said, we will exude the sap of love
(Ephesians 3:18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Infinity in each dimension, up, down, left, right, front, back
That we may understand is after we are granted, strengthened, indwelt, rooted and grounded
(Ephesians 3:19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Man's knowledge cannot understand the love of Christ for us, it is not science, philosophy, it is an action verb
This knowledge will fulfill as it fills
(Ephesians 3:20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
God uses simple men to do impossible work
This is above our expectations or imaginations, which lead to our prayers
(Ephesians 3:21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
To God the Father be the Glory through God the Son, forever past, and forever future
A hearty amen is a fitting ending to this chapter
Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.
