‏ Ephesians 3:2-7

2if indeed
sn If indeed. The author is not doubting whether his audience has heard, but is rather using provocative language (if indeed) to engage his audience in thinking about the magnificence of God’s grace. However, in English translation, the apodosis (“then”-clause) does not come until v. 13, leaving the protasis (“if”-clause) dangling. Eph 3:2-7 constitute one sentence in Greek.
you have heard of the stewardship
tn Or “administration,” “dispensation,” “commission.”
of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3that
tn Or “namely, that is.”
by revelation the mystery
tn Or “divine secret” (see Eph 1:9).
was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.
tn Or “as I wrote above briefly.”
sn As I wrote briefly may refer to the author’s brief discussion of the divine secret in 1:9.
4When reading this,
tn Grk “which, when reading.”
you will be able to
tn Grk “you are able to.”
understand my insight into the mystery
tn Or “secret.”
of Christ
5(which
tn Verse 5 is a relative clause, subordinate to the thought of v. 4, but it is also parenthetical, interrupting the thought of vv. 4-6. This has been indicated by the parentheses in the translation.
was not disclosed to people
tn Grk “the sons of men” (a Semitic idiom referring to human beings, hence, “people”).
in former
tn Grk “other.”
generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by
tn Or “in.”
the Spirit),
6namely, that through the gospel
sn The phrase through the gospel is placed last in the sentence in Greek for emphasis. It has been moved forward for clarity.
the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members
tn Grk “and fellow members.”
of the body
, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
7I became a servant of this gospel
tn Grk “of which I was made a minister,” “of which I became a servant.”
according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by
tn Grk “according to.”
the exercise of his power.
sn On the exercise of his power see 1:19-20.
Copyright information for NET2full