God’s Word Translation
Ephesians 3:9
9He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past.
Ephesians 3:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
- New International Version (NIV)and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
- New King James Version (NKJV)and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
Context of Ephesians 3:9
7I became a servant of this Good News through God’s kindness freely given to me when his power worked ⌞in me⌟. 8I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish. He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past. 10He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom. 11This was God’s plan for all of history which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Read all of Ephesians 3Ephesians 3:9 word by word
καὶ φωτίσαι πάντας τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντιRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- to makeφωτίζωphōtizō · to illuminateG5461
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- the fellowshipκοινωνίαkoinōnia · participationG2842
- of the mysteryμυστήριονmustērion · mysteryG3466
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the beginning of the worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
- hath been hidἀποκρύπτωapokruptō · to concealG613
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- createdκτίζωktizō · to createG2936
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
Cross-references for Ephesians 3:9
- Matthew 10:27Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered.
- Matthew 28:19So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 16:15Then Jesus said to them, “So wherever you go in the world, tell everyone the Good News.
- Luke 24:47Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.
- Romans 16:26but now is publicly known. The everlasting God ordered that what the prophets wrote must be shown to the people of every nation to bring them to the obedience that is associated with faith.
- Colossians 1:23This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been spread throughout all creation under heaven.
- 2 Timothy 4:17However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could finish spreading the Good News for all the nations to hear. I was snatched out of a lion’s mouth.
- Revelation 14:6I saw another angel flying overhead with the everlasting Good News to spread to those who live on earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
- Ephesians 3:3You have heard that he let me know this mystery through a revelation. I’ve already written to you about this briefly.
- Ephesians 1:9when he revealed the mystery of his plan to us. He had decided to do this through Christ.
- 1 Timothy 3:16The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory.
- Ephesians 1:4Before the creation of the world, he chose us through Christ to be holy and perfect in his presence.
- Matthew 13:35So what the prophet had said came true: “I will open my mouth to illustrate points. I will tell what has been hidden since the world was made.”
- Matthew 25:34“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
- Acts 15:18He is the one who will do these things that have always been known!’
- Romans 16:25God can strengthen you by the Good News and the message I tell about Jesus Christ. He can strengthen you by revealing the mystery that was kept in silence for a very long time
Commentaries on Ephesians 3:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9And to make all men see - · And to illuminate all; to give information both to Jews and Gentiles; to afford them a sufficiency of light, so that they might be able distinctly to discern the great objects exhibited in this Gospel. What is the fellowship of the mystery - The word , which we properly translate fellowship, was used among the Greeks to signify their religious communities; here it may intimate the association of Jews and Gentiles in one Church…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9And to make all men see - In order that the whole human family might see the glory of God in the plan of salvation. Hitherto the revelation of his character and plans had been confined to the Jews. Now it was his design that all the race should be made acquainted with it. What is the fellowship of the mystery - Instead of “fellowship” here - ́ koinōnia- most mss. and versions read ̓́ oikonomia- “dispensation;” see Mill. This reading is adopted by…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. 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. 99. to make all men see--Greek, "to enlighten all" (Ep 1:18; Psa 18:28; He 6:4). "All" (compare Col 1:28). fellowship--The oldest manuscripts read, "economy," or "dispensation" (compare Col 1:25, 26; and see on Ep 1:10, above). "To make all see how it hath seemed good to God at this time to dispense (through me and others, His stewards) what heretofore was a mystery." Ellicott explains it, "the arrangement," or "regulation" of the mystery (the union of…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 3:9
In the dictionaries
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
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