Ephesians 3:2

Ephesians 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
• New International Version (NIV)Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
• English Standard Version (ESV)assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
• New King James Version (NKJV)if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Context of Ephesians 3:2

1For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles — assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.

Ephesians 3:2 word by word

εἴ γε ἠκούσατε τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι εἰς ὑμᾶςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἴγεeige · if indeedG1489
• ye have heard ofἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• the dispensationὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the dispensationοἰκονομίαoikonomia · managementG3622
• of the graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• is givenδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• you-wardσύsu · youG4771

Cross-references for Ephesians 3:2

• Ephesians 4:21assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,
• Galatians 1:13For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.
• Colossians 1:4for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints
• 2 Timothy 1:11For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher,
• Ephesians 3:8This grace was given to me — the least of all the saints — to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ,
• Ephesians 4:7Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
• Acts 9:15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites.
• Acts 13:2As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
• Acts 22:21“He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
• Acts 26:17I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
• Romans 1:5Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,
• Romans 11:13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Insofar as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
• Romans 12:3For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
• Romans 15:15Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God
• 1 Corinthians 4:1A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God.
• 1 Corinthians 9:17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a commission.

Commentaries on Ephesians 3:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2If ye have heard of the dispensation - The compound particle , which is commonly translated if indeed, in several places means since indeed, seeing that, and should be translated so in this verse, and in several other places of the New Testament. Seeing ye have heard of the dispensation of God, which is given me to you-ward: this they had amply learned from the apostle during his stay at Ephesus, for he had not shunned to declare unto them the whole…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2If ye have heard - ̓́- Ei-ge“If at least, if indeed, if so be, spoken of what is taken for granted.” “Robinson;” compare 2 Corinthians 5:3; Galatians 3:4; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:23, for the use of the particle. The particle here is not designed to express a doubt whether they had heard of it or not, for he takes it for granted that they had. Doddridge renders it, “since I well know you have heard,” etc. He had informed them of his being called to be…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-13Paul pauses his thought in 3:1 to talk about his role in God's plan. When Paul first converted, God gave him the special task of sharing his grace with the gentiles (see Acts 9:15–16; 22:14–15, 21; 26:17–18; Romans 1:5; 11:13–14; 15:15–18; Galatians 1:15–16; 2:7–9; Colossians 1:25–27; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:17).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. If--The Greek does not imply doubt: "Assuming (what I know to be the fact, namely) that ye have heard," &c. "If, as I presume," The indicative in the Greek shows that no doubt is implied: "Seeing that doubtless," &c. He by this phrase delicately reminds them of their having heard from himself, and probably from others subsequently, the fact. See Introduction, showing that these words do not disprove the address of this Epistle to the Ephesians. Compare…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 3:2

• Gentiles
• Gospel
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Boldness
• Dispensation
• Effectual
• Ephesians, Epistle to
• Ground
• Inner
• Purpose
• Revelation

Commentaries on Ephesians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings