The third chapter of Ephesians stands as a pivotal moment in the Apostle Paul’s letter, shifting from profound theological doctrine to passionate prayer and personal revelation. It is here that Paul unveils a divine secret, long hidden but now revealed, and invites believers into the immeasurable dimensions of God’s love. This chapter is not merely a historical account; it is a living, breathing blueprint for our identity and purpose in Christ. Let’s delve into the rich tapestry of Ephesians 3 to understand the mystery, the mission, and the magnificent love that defines our faith.
The Divine Mystery Revealed to Paul
Ephesians 3 opens with Paul identifying himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.” This is not a statement of self-pity but of purpose. His imprisonment in Rome was a direct result of his obedience to the mission God had given him. He then begins to explain the “administration of God’s grace” that was given to him for the believers.
The core of this revelation is the “mystery” of Christ. In the New Testament, a “mystery” is not a riddle to be solved but a truth once hidden in God’s plan that has now been made known through revelation. For generations, this mystery was not made known to humanity as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
What is this mystery? It is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6). This was a radical, earth-shattering truth. The wall of hostility that once separated Jew and Gentile had been torn down by Christ’s work on the cross (Ephesians 2:14). They were no longer two separate groups but one new humanity, a single body.
The Apostle’s Mission to Proclaim Grace
Paul was given a specific, weighty responsibility: to be a servant of this gospel by God’s grace. He describes himself as “less than the least of all the Lord’s people,” a profound statement of humility born from his encounter with the overwhelming grace of God. His past as a persecutor of the church never left his memory, making the grace he received all the more astounding.
His mission was to “preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.” The term “boundless riches” speaks of an infinite treasure—the unsearchable, incalculable wealth of a salvation that includes forgiveness, redemption, adoption, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul’s task was not to preach a message of minimal requirements but to proclaim an extravagant inheritance available to all who believe, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.
Furthermore, Paul’s role was to “make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery.” His preaching and his writing were designed to bring clarity and understanding. He was a steward of divine truth, entrusted with explaining how God’s eternal plan was unfolding in real time through the church.
The Ultimate Purpose: Wisdom Made Known Through the Church
Why did God orchestrate history in this way? Paul reveals a purpose that stretches beyond the church itself and into the heavenly realms. It was so that “the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is a breathtaking concept. The church is God’s exhibit A to the cosmic powers and spiritual authorities. Our unity in Christ—Jew and Gentile, every tribe and tongue—displays the “manifold” or “multi-faceted” wisdom of God. It is a wisdom so rich and complex that it can only be displayed through the living, breathing body of Christ, the church. Our reconciled relationships and shared identity in Jesus testify to the victory and supreme wisdom of God, confounding the powers of darkness.
Access to the Father with Confidence
This access is the foundation for the famous prayer that follows. Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now approach God’s throne of grace with freedom and confidence. The Greek word used for “confidence” (παρρησία, parrhesia) means freedom of speech, boldness, and unreserved utterance. We do not have to approach God cowering in fear or uncertainty, but as beloved children running to a perfect Father, assured of our welcome because of the blood of Jesus.
Paul’s Powerful Prayer for Inner Strength
Ephesians 3:14-21 contains one of the most profound prayers in all of Scripture. Upon hearing the glorious truths of the first half of the chapter, Paul’s natural response is to fall to his knees in prayer for the Ephesian believers. This is not a prayer for material blessing or circumstantial change. It is a deep, spiritual petition for inner transformation.
He prays that God, out of His glorious riches, would strengthen them with power through His Spirit in their inner being. This strength is not for personal achievement but for a specific purpose: so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. The word “dwell” (κατοικέω, katoikeo) means to settle down and be at home. Paul is praying for a deep, settled, and permanent sense of Christ’s presence and lordship in the very core of their being.
He then prays that they, being “rooted and established in love,” would have the power to grasp the dimensions of Christ’s love. This is not an intellectual exercise but an experiential one. He wants them to know a love that surpasses knowledge—a love that can be known in the heart even as it transcends full intellectual comprehension.
The Four Dimensions of Christ’s Incomprehensible Love
Paul describes the love of Christ in four dimensions: width, length, height, and depth. This poetic language points to its totality and completeness.
- Width: This love encompasses all people—Jew and Gentile, from every nation, tribe, and language. Its embrace is universally wide.
- Length: This love is eternal, stretching from the everlasting past into the everlasting future. It is from eternity to eternity.
- Height: This love lifts us up to the heavenly realms, seating us with Christ in glory. It connects us to the very throne of God.
- Depth: This love reached down to us in our sin and despair, meeting us at our lowest point to bring us up into new life.
To know this love is to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” This is the ultimate goal of the Christian life—to be so saturated with God’s presence that we reflect His character and glory in the world.
A Doxology of Praise
The chapter concludes with a magnificent outburst of praise: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
This doxology reminds us that God’s ability to work exceeds our ability to even ask or dream. The same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is the power that is actively at work within every believer. The ultimate end of understanding the mystery, embracing our mission, and experiencing God’s love is that He receives endless glory. Our lives, our unity, and our love for one another exist to magnify His name for all eternity.