New King James Version
Ephesians 3:5
5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
Ephesians 3:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
- New International Version (NIV)which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
- English Standard Version (ESV)which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
- New Living Translation (NLT)God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
Context of Ephesians 3:5
3how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Read all of Ephesians 3Ephesians 3:5 word by word
ὃ ἑτέραις γενεαῖς οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὡς νῦν ἀπεκαλύφθη τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ προφήταις ἐν πνεύματι,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- otherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- agesγενεάgenea · generationG1074
- wasγνωρίζωgnōrizō · to make knownG1107
- notοὐou · noG3756
- unto the sonsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- unto the sonsυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- it isἀποκαλύπτωapokaluptō · to revealG601
- nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
Cross-references for Ephesians 3:5
- Ephesians 3:9and 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;
- Matthew 13:17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
- Luke 10:24for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”
- Acts 10:28Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
- Romans 16:25Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
- 2 Timothy 1:10but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
- Hebrews 11:39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
- 1 Peter 1:10Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
- Ephesians 2:20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
- Ephesians 4:11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
- Matthew 23:34Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
- Luke 11:49Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’
- 1 Corinthians 12:28And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
- 2 Peter 3:2that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
- Jude 1:17But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Luke 2:26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Commentaries on Ephesians 3:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Which in other ages was not made known - That the calling of the Gentiles was made known by the prophets in different ages of the Jewish Church is exceedingly clear; but it certainly was not made known in that clear and precise manner in which it was now revealed by the Spirit unto the ministers of the New Testament: nor was it made known unto them at all, that the Gentiles should find salvation without coming under the yoke of the Mosaic law, and that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Which in other ages - The great purposes of God in regard to the salvation of mankind were not revealed; see the notes at Romans 16:25. And prophets - Those who exercised the office of a prophet or inspired teacher in the Christian church; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 12:1. By the Spirit - This proves that those who exercised the office of prophet in the Christian church were inspired. They were persons endowed in this manner for the purpose of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5God's holy apostles and prophets: See 1:1. The order of the terms apostles and prophets (see 2:20) suggests that Paul is referring to New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is more about delivering a special message from God than predicting the future (see 1 Corinthians 12:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. in other ages--Greek, "generations." not made known--He does not say, "has not been revealed." Making known by revelation is the source of making known by preaching [Bengel]. The former was vouchsafed only to the prophets, in order that they might make known the truth so revealed to men in general. unto the sons of men--men in their state by birth, as contrasted with those illuminated "by the Spirit" (Greek, "IN the Spirit," compare Re 1:10), Mt 16:17…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 3:5
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries