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Selected Verse: Ephesians 3:3 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Eph 3:3 |
King James |
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
he made known--The oldest manuscripts read, "That by revelation was the mystery (namely, of the admission of the Gentiles, Eph 3:6; Eph 1:9) made known unto me (Gal 1:12)."
as I wrote afore--namely, in this Epistle (Eph 1:9-10), the words of which he partly repeats. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
How that by revelation - see the notes at Gal 1:12. He refers to the revelation which was made to him when he was called to the apostolic office, that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles, and that he was converted for the special purpose of carrying it to them; see Act 9:15; Act 22:21.
Unto me the mystery - The hitherto concealed truth that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles; see the notes, Eph 1:9, on the meaning of the word "mystery."
As I wrote afore in few words - Margin, "a little before." To what this refers commentators are not agreed. Bloomfield, Doddridge, Rosenmuller, Erasmus, Grotius, Locke, and others, suppose that he refers to what he had written in the two previous chapters respecting the plan of God to call the Gentiles to his kingdom. Calvin supposes that he refers to some former epistle which he had written to them, but which is now lost. Hc remarks in regard to this, "If the solicitude of Paul be rightly considered; if his vigilance and assiduity; if his zeal and studious habits; if his kindness and promptitude in assisting his brethren, it is easy to suppose that he wrote many epistles publicly and privately to this place and to that place. But those only which the Lord saw necessary to the welfare of his church has he taken care to have preserved." In this opinion there is nothing in itself improbable (compare introduction to Isaiah, section 5 (1)), but it may be doubted whether Paul here refers to any such epistle. The addition which he makes, "whereby, when ye read," etc., seems rather to imply that he refers to what he had just written. |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
mystery
(See Scofield) - (Mat 13:11). |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
The mystery - Of salvation by Christ alone, and that both to Jews and gentiles. As I wrote before - Namely, Eph 1:9-10; the very words of which passage he here repeats. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
By revelation he made known unto me - Instead of εγνωρισε, he made known, εγνωρισθη, was made known, is the reading of ABCD*FG, several others, both the Syriac, Coptic, Slavonic, Vulgate, and Itala, with Clemens, Cyril, Chrysostom, Theodoret, Damascenus, and others: it is doubtless the true reading.
The apostle wishes the Ephesians to understand that it was not an opinion of his own, or a doctrine which he was taught by others, or which he had gathered from the ancient prophets; but one that came to him by immediate revelation from God, as he had informed them before in a few words, referring to what he had said Eph 1:9-12. |
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.