a3:3
b1:9-10
c2:11-22
d1:9-10
eGal 1:11-12
f15-17
gActs 9:3-6
h1 Cor 12:1
jGal 2:2
k3:5
l1:1
m2:20
n1 Cor 12:10
o3:6

‏ Ephesians 3:3-6

3:3  a What Paul briefly wrote earlier is a reference either to 1:9-10  b (cp. 2:11-22  c) or to an unknown letter.

• Paul’s understanding of God’s mysterious plan (see study note on 1:8-10) came as God himself revealed it to him (see 1:9-10  d; Gal 1:11-12  e, 15-17  f; cp. Acts 9:3-6  g; 1 Cor 12:1  h, 7  i; Gal 2:2  j).
3:5  k his holy apostles: See 1:1  l.

• The order of the terms apostles and prophets (see 2:20  m) suggests that Paul is speaking of New Testament, not Old Testament, prophets. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is concerned less with predicting the future than with speaking a special word from God (see 1 Cor 12:10  n).
3:6  o God’s plan that has now been revealed to Paul is that the Gentiles are now included in God’s family, the body of Christ, just as Jews are. They share equally in God’s eternal blessings.
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