![]() The same words are used in Ephesians 4:21 where Paul says, “If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.” Paul surely does not mean they have never heard of Christ! The words introduce a presupposition-Paul assumes they have heard of the stewardship that had been given to Paul. The words if indeed do not suggest doubt. “if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you….” ![]() As chapter 3 opens, Paul begins a personal description of his ministry with regard to the Gentiles: and with this word Paul begins his digression. It was the jailer, not the prisoner, who was in bondage. Paul knew that true servanthood is true freedom. Nero’s prisoner? Absolutely not! Driven to despair by the Jews who had dogged his footsteps across the continent? Never! Paul in chains was the freest of all men for he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ-in chains by His will and for His work. The emphatic I, Paul underscores the intensity of his feelings and the authority of his words. Now in Ephesians 3:2-13, Paul becomes intensely personal as he describes the role he has played in bringing the truth of the gospel to the Gentiles. He has said nothing of his office, of the special relationship he bears to the church, or of his sufferings and hard labor expended in order to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. His only reference to himself since the salutation is found in 1:16 where he says he does not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers. To this point in the epistle, Paul has been unlike himself in one particular way. The words for this reason look back to the great blessings that have been bestowed on the Gentiles as described in 2:11-22 and now, as Paul looks at his chains, he is reminded of where he is and why he is there. He concludes-by resuming the prayer he began in verse 1 (Ephesians 3:14-21).Īn Explanation of Paul’s Mystery 3:1-6 His Imprisonment 3:1.He digresses-by explaining his special place in the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 3:2-13).He begins-by reminding his Gentile readers that he is in prison for their sake (Ephesians 3:1).The flow of Paul’s thought runs this way: To what do the words for this reason refer? They refer to the glorious truth of Jew and Gentile brought together into one body called the church. The subject of the broken sentence starts in verse 1 with the words I Paul and the verb is suspended until verse 14 where he continues, saying bow my knees. 1 Notice the three opening words of verse 1 and verse 14 are for this reason. With the opening of chapter 3, Paul once again begins a sentence and then he immediately breaks it off. “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-”
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