New Living Translation
Ephesians 3:10
10God’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.
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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
- 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,
Context of Ephesians 3:10
8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 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. 11This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Read all of Ephesians 3Ephesians 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“Then make the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It must be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.
- Psalms 103:20Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
- Psalms 148:1Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies!
- Isaiah 6:2Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
- Ezekiel 3:12Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the Lord be praised in his place!)
- 1 Peter 1:12They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
- Revelation 5:9And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
- Ephesians 1:21Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
- Romans 8:38And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
- Colossians 1:16for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
- 1 Peter 3:22Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.
- Ephesians 1:3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
- Ephesians 1:8He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
- Psalms 104:24O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
- Romans 11:33Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and 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
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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