How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;(as I wrote afore in few words,
EPHESIANS 3:3KJVWhat does Ephesians 3:3 mean?
Ephesians 3:3 says that God revealed a hidden truth, called a "mystery," directly to Paul, and Paul had already written briefly about this before. Paul is explaining that what he knows about this mystery did not come from human teaching but from a special revelation given by God.
Paul, the writer of Ephesians, is speaking to the believers in Ephesus. He is reminding them that the knowledge he has about God’s plan—especially about including non-Jewish people (Gentiles) in God’s promises—came to him through a direct act of God, not by his own discovery. Paul points out that he has already mentioned this mystery earlier in his letter, setting up for a fuller explanation in the verses that follow.
The Greek behind Ephesians 3:3
- ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis, "revelation"): This word means an uncovering or unveiling, often used for something previously hidden that God now makes known. Here, it emphasizes that Paul’s understanding is not from tradition or study, but from God’s direct disclosure.
- μυστήριον (mystērion, "mystery"): In Paul’s letters, this word refers to a truth that was once hidden but is now revealed by God. It is not a puzzle to solve, but a divine secret now made known.
- ἐγνώρισεν (egnōrisen, "made known"): This verb stresses that the knowledge was actively given to Paul, not something he figured out himself. The initiative is entirely with God.
Why Ephesians 3:3 matters
- Ephesians 3:3 clarifies that Paul’s authority and message come from God’s direct revelation, not from secondhand sources or personal opinion, which would have been important for his readers to trust his teaching.
- The verse highlights the idea of a "mystery" in Paul’s writings—something God kept hidden in the past but has now chosen to reveal, especially about the inclusion of all people in God’s plan.
- This sets up the following verses, where Paul will explain more about what this mystery is, helping readers understand the unique message of unity in Christ that Ephesians emphasizes.