Ephesians 3:9 and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. NET
Here we see the “mystery” again that we saw earlier in verse 3. The story of the Jews begins with God blessing them so that they can be a blessing to the world. In the time since then, they have lost the idea that salvation is for everyone. Paul describes the mystery in Romans as follows:
Romans 11:25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. NET
Again, it isn’t Paul’s idea to preach to the Gentiles – it is God’s idea.
Ephesians 3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. NET
One of the reasons for the church is to make the manifest (or multi-faceted) wisdom of God known. Keep in mind reading this verse that at the time Paul is writing this, there are no church buildings. Paul is referring to the members. Paul preaches one God and one people yet in this church, the Jewish and Gentile members are fighting each other. People who are outside the church should be able to look at the church members in order to see what God is doing (and what they are seeing at this particular time isn’t all that pretty).
We talked about the heavenly places (or realms) back in chapter one. There is an invisible world that affects our physical world.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. BSB
There is a battle that is constantly taking place. There are people in this world who are opposed to us but we face more opposition than mere flesh and blood. There is a supernatural realm of opposition, as well.
“Our personal afflictions involve the living God; the only way in which Satan can persecute or afflict God is through attacking the people of God. The only way we can have personal victory in the midst of these flying arrows raining down on us is to call upon the Lord for help. It is His strength, supplied to us in our weakness, that makes victory after victory possible”. From Affliction by Edith Schaeffer.
Edith Schaeffer’s book is based upon Job where Satan shows up and tells God that Job is only faithful because God has blessed him. This accusation not only puts Job on trial but God, as well. Her conclusion is that the key for us is perseverance and in keeping our trust in God.
Going back to verse 10, we sense the struggles in this world (and if we are paying attention, those outside of this world). This verse implies that we may have a bigger role in the struggle between the powers than we typically think we have as our actions have consequences both in the spiritual world and in the physical world.
Ephesians 3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness. NET
Eternal purpose means from the beginning of time. We have the ability to access God boldly and confidently because of Jesus.
Ephesians 3:13 For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. NET
Paul is anxious that people who became Christians are now looking at him and thinking about how things haven’t worked out too well for him. Paul doesn’t want them to be discouraged just because he is in jail as this isn’t a bad thing for them or for Paul.
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named NET
Now we get back to the theme Paul started at the beginning of this chapter before briefly getting sidetracked. (You can go from Ephesians 2:20 to 3:14 and see the line of argument).
Everyone can be part of God’s family as it isn’t just limited to the Jews. Glory is a reflection of God’s energy. (The Eastern Orthodox Church views God as having an essence that we don’t have access to, and an energy which we do have access to). Paul’s petition is that the abundance of God’s glory will dwell in you so that the truths we have been talking about will be made real in your life.
This becomes the doctrine of the communion of the saints where even in death, we are still part of the same family. This is a real relationship between the living and the dead as we still have a connection with those who came before. (Note that it is lower case “saints”). In the early church, people on their deathbed would be reminded about who they were about to see as they leave this cluster of relationships here to a cluster of relationships there. In Revelation, we see how everyone in heaven and earth become one and transcend all divisions and barriers.