Ephesians 3:5-7 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; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
‘Ages’ [Greek: genea] generation, not aion, is the common word for age.
‘That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.’ The mystery of Christ: That God was to save Gentiles was no mystery, for Adam’s whole race was to be restored to original dominion (Gen. 3:15). Abraham (who was a Gentile) was to have a seed to bless all nations (Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3:8). The prophets predicted their salvation (Rom. 9:24-33; 10:19-21). The great mystery hid in God in all past ages was that Gentiles should be saved without observing the law and that both Jews and Gentiles would be liberated from the law, being made one new body – the congregations (1:22-23; 3:1-11; 4:11-16; 5:23-33; Col. 1:18, 24), formed by the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 12:12-13, 12:27-31), under the terms of the new covenant, in which all distinction of privilege and blessing disappears (2:14-15; 1Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27-28; Col. 1:18-29; 3:10-11; Heb. 11:10-16; 13:14; Rev. 21:9-10). This was a new revelation (3:1-9; Gal. 1:12; 2:2; 3:13-14).
‘Fellow-heirs’ [Greek: sungkleronomos] joint-heirs (Rom. 8:17; Heb. 11:9; 1Pet. 3:7).
‘Same body’ [Greek: sussomos] Members-of-a-joint-body; a new body, not joined to a Jewish body already in existence (2:15; 4:13).
‘Partakers’ [Greek: summetochos] joint-partakers. Only here and in Ephesians 5:7.
‘Minister’ [Greek: diakonos] a deacon, a servant acting under the direct orders of the great Master from whom Paul has received the gift of grace and the effectual power of God.
Living the Word 