Context No. 2983 of 4322 · Ephesians

Ephesians 3:1-13: in context

1For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, 2if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you, 3how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, 4by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, 5which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit, 6that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News, 7of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 8To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ, 10to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, 11according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. 13Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.

Paul, a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles, explains the mystery that was revealed to him: that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ through the gospel. This truth, hidden in former ages, has now been made known, and Paul was made a servant of it, given the grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Two things shine here. The mystery is that the gospel breaks the old wall so that Gentiles are not second-class additions but full fellow heirs, equal members of one body, a staggering unity accomplished in Christ. And Paul, the former persecutor, counts himself as nothing among God's people, and yet is entrusted with proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ to the nations. Grace both humbles him to the ground and lifts him to a great task. The greatness of the message and the smallness of the messenger belong together.

Do I grasp that in Christ I am a full fellow heir, and hold together, like Paul, a low view of myself with a high view of the grace entrusted to me?

Sources

Ephesians 3:6: "That the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 3:8: "To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."
Ephesians 2:19: "You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints."