Ephesians 3

(1)  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
(2)  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
(3)  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
(4)  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
(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;
(6)  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
(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.
(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;
(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:
(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,
(11)  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
(12)  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
(13)  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
(14)  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(15)  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
(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;
(17)  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
(19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(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,
(21)  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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Study Questions

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1. Was Paul literally a prisoner in Rome when he wrote to the Ephesians? If he was, why didn’t he refer to himself as the prisoner of Nero? Verse 1.

2. How did Paul’s imprisonment help Gentiles? Verse 1.

3. Is Paul expressing doubt when he says “if so be that ye heard”? Of what did Paul’s dispensation (or stewardship) consist? Verse 2.

4. By what means was the mystery made known to Paul? Where had Paul already told them “in few words”? Verse 3.

5. May we expect God to put his truths directly into our minds? How do we come to understand Paul’s knowledge of the mystery of Christ? Verse 4.

6. Did Adam, Abraham, Moses or other Old Testament saints know about God’s plan of salvation? How did the apostles and prophets of the New Testament learn about it? Verse 5.

7. In what three things are the Gentiles now “fellows” with the Jews? Did they share in the promise by becoming Jews or in some other way? Verse 6.

8. According to what two things was Paul made a minister? Verse 7.

9. Why did Paul consider himself “less than the least of all saints”? Are the riches of Christ called unsearchable because they are confusing or for another reason? Verse 8.

10. What was Paul to make all men see? Where had the mystery been hidden? Verse 9.

11. What are the principalities and powers in heavenly places? Through what is the wisdom of God made known? Verse 10.

12. Was the church just an afterthought or a stop-gap measure? Who is the central figure in God’s eternal purpose? Verse 11.

13. Should we not approach a holy and just God with fear and trembling? What is it that gives us boldness and access with confidence toward God? Verse 12.

14. What did Paul ask the Ephesians not to do because of his tribulations? For whom were Paul’s tribulations? What were his tribulations to them? Verse 13.

15. What were some of the things that gave Paul cause for prayer on behalf of the Ephesians? In what physical position did Paul pray? Verse 14.

16. How many families does God have (as in the King James Version)? Who makes up the family of God? Verse 15.

17. Paul prayed that God would grant the Ephesians to be strengthened according to what? Through what are we strengthened with power? Verse 16.

18. What is the “inner man”? How does the Spirit strengthen the inner man? Verse 16.

19. How does Christ dwell in us? In what are we to be rooted and grounded? Verse 17.

20. What are the four dimensions of the Christian faith? Verse 18.

21. What is it that passes knowledge? To what degree are we to be filled? Verse 19.

22. Who is it that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think? Verse 20.

23. What is ascribed to God and how long will it endure? Verse 21.