Ephesians 3:10

Ephesians 3:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
• New International Version (NIV)His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
• New King James Version (NKJV)to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
• New Living Translation (NLT)God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Context of Ephesians 3:10

8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Ephesians 3:10 word by word

ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• To the intent thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• unto the principalitiesἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• powersἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• heavenlyἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032
• might be knownγνωρίζωgnōrizō · to make knownG1107
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• the manifoldπολυποίκιλοςpolupoikilos · manifoldG4182
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for Ephesians 3:10

• Exodus 25:17"You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.
• Psalms 103:20Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
• Psalms 148:1Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
• Isaiah 6:2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
• Ezekiel 3:12Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from its place!"
• 1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
• Revelation 5:9And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
• Ephesians 1:21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
• Romans 8:38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
• Colossians 1:16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
• 1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
• Ephesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
• Ephesians 1:8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
• Psalms 104:24O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
• Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Commentaries on Ephesians 3:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10That now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places - Who are these principalities and powers? Some think evil angels are intended, because they are thus denominated, Ephesians 6:12. Others think good angels are meant; for as these heavenly beings are curious to investigate the wondrous economy of the Gospel, though they are not its immediate objects, see 1 Peter 1:12, it is quite consistent with the goodness of God to give them that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10To the intent - Greek, “that” ̔́ HinaThe sense is, that it was with this design, or that this was the purpose for which all things were made. One grand purpose in the creation of the universe was, that the wisdom of God might be clearly shown by the church. It was not enough to evince it by the formation of the sun, the stars, the earth, the seas, the mountains, the floods. It was not enough to show it by the creation of intelligent beings, the formation…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 Those whom God advances to honourable employments, he makes low in their own eyes; and where God gives grace to be humble, there he gives all other needful grace. How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ; the unsearchable riches of Christ! Though many are not enriched with these riches; yet how great a favour to have them preached among us, and to have an offer of them! And if we are not enriched with them it is our own fault. The first creation…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10The church has an important purpose in God's plan. It is meant to show to the entire universe how wise God is. The church displays God's wisdom in all its rich variety. This wisdom is shown through how God saves people from sin and brings them into his family (see Romans 11:33–36). the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms: See Ephesians 1:21 and corresponding study note.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. The design of God in giving Paul grace to proclaim to the Gentiles the mystery of salvation heretofore hidden. now--first: opposed to "hidden from the beginning of the world" (Ep 3:5). unto the principalities and--Greek adds "the" powers--unto the various orders of good angels primarily, as these dwell "in the heavenly places" in the highest sense; "known" to their adoring joy (1Ti 3:16; 1Pe 1:12). Secondarily, God's wisdom in redemption is made known…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 3:10

• Angel (a Spirit)
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Minister, Christian
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Wisdom of God
• Boldness
• Effectual
• Fall of man
• Ground
• Inner
• Mystery
• Purpose

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