Ephesians 3:4
in Ephesians 3In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
KJV
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
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This verse in Ephesians 3
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWhereby, when ye read - When ye refer back to them. Ye may understand my knowledge - Ye may see what God has given me to know concerning what has been hitherto a mystery - the calling of the Gentiles, and the breaking down the middle wall between them and the Jews, so as to make both one spiritual body, and on the same conditions.
This site's exposition
ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ
Whereby, when ye read expects the letter itself to do the teaching, the Ephesians grasping Paul's understanding of the mystery of Christ simply by reading what he has set down. My knowledge in the mystery is revelation given to be shared, not private illumination Paul keeps for himself. The clause closes the parenthetical aside begun at verse three before the main argument continues in verse five.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Amazing! So then he wrote not the whole, nor so much as he should have written. But here the nature of the subject prevented it. Elsewhere, as in the case of the Hebrews and the Corinthians, the incapacity of the hearers. "Whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive," saith he, "my understanding in the mystery of Christ," i.e., how I knew, how I understood either such things as God hath spoken, or else, that Christ sitteth at the right hand of God; and then too the dignity, in that God "hath not dealt so with any nation." And then to explain what nation this is with whom God hath thus dealt, he adds.
The Medieval Church2 voices
I wrote, he says, not as much as I ought, but according to your capacity and ability to receive. And from this you can perceive and understand my comprehension of the mystery of Christ, that is, how I understood the mystery of Christ, or how …
Nevertheless, note that Augustine remarks how a doctor should aim at being understood. As long as he strives for this his words are not superfluous, but if he remains on a point after he is understood he wastes his words. He adds my prudence since …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Here we may observe that the coalition of Jews and Gentiles in the gospel church was a mystery, a great mystery, what was designed in the counsel of God before all worlds, but what could not be fully understood for many ages, till the accomplishment expounded the prophecies of it.
Whereby when ye read,.... The above chapters, and seriously consider what is contained in them: ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ of his person, office, and grace; and which knowledge was very large indeed.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
By perceiving his understanding of the mysteries, they, too, will be enabled to understand. the mystery of Christ--The "mystery" is Christ Himself, once hidden, but now revealed (Col 1:27).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Whereby, when ye read - By the bare reading of which you may understand the view which I entertain of the plan of salvation, and the knowledge which I have of God’s method of saving people, particularly of his intention in regard to the salvation of the Gentiles. In the mystery of Christ - This does not refer to anything “mysterious” in the person of Christ; or the union of the divine and human nature in him; or to anything difficult of apprehension in the work of the atonement. It means the hitherto concealed doctrine that through the Messiah, the Gentiles were to be received to the same privileges as the Jews, and that the plan of salvation was to be made equally free for all. This great truth had been hitherto concealed, or but partially understood, and Paul says that he was appointed to make it known to the world. His “knowledge” on the subject, he says, could be understood by what he had said, and from that they could judge whether he was qualified to state and defend the doctrines of the gospel. Paul evidently supposed that the knowledge which he had on that subject was of eminent value; that it was possessed by few; that it was important to understand it. Hence he dwells upon it. He speaks of the glory of that truth. He traces it back to the counsels of God. He shows that it entered into his eternal plans; and he evidently felt that the truth which he had communicated in the former part of this Epistle, was among the most important that could come before the mind.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πρὸς | pros | by | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὃ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δύνασθε | dunasthe | you are able | G1410 → | 207 times |
| ἀναγινώσκοντες | anaginoskontes | reading [it] | G314 → | |
| νοῆσαι | noesai | to understand | G3539 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σύνεσίν | sunesin | insight | G4907 → | |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐν | en | into | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μυστηρίῳ | musterio | mystery | G3466 → | 27 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ, | christou | of Christ, | G5547 → | 523 times |
πρὸςby
prosG4314 →700 times
ὃwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
δύνασθεyou are able
dunastheG1410 →207 times
ἀναγινώσκοντεςreading [it]
anaginoskontesG314 →
νοῆσαιto understand
noesaiG3539 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
σύνεσίνinsight
sunesinG4907 →
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἐνinto
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
μυστηρίῳmystery
musterioG3466 →27 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦ,of Christ,
christouG5547 →523 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 4:1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
- 1 Timothy 3:9
They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
- Titus 1:7
As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
- 1 Peter 4:10
Through
Colossians 4:3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Through
Colossians 2:2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
it leads to
- Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Colossians 4:8
I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about us, and that he may encourage your hearts.
- Colossians 1:27
Where this verse is studied
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About Ephesians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.