Ephesians 3:6-7

that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

should be (v.6) = in Greek, this reads “the Gentiles are”

of the same body (v.6) = “belonging jointly to the same body”

promises (v.6) — God’s promise to Himself

Christ (v.6) — the best manuscripts have “Christ Jesus”

Now what is this mystery which in other ages was hidden from the sons of men? We are told in verse 6: “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same Body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.” In what does this differ from the Old Testament declaration that God would bless the Gentiles through Israel? The great difference, I take it, is this: According to the Old Testament prophets the day is coming when Israel will be restored to covenant relationship with God and will be brought into a place of special blessing here on the earth, and the Gentile nations living at that time will be blessed with and in subjection to them. But the great truth for our age is, that God is now calling out a people for the heavens to be the Body of His Son throughout the ages to come, and through whom He will administer the affairs of a redeemed universe. This Body is composed of those who were once by nature Jews and others who were Gentiles, but who have both been brought into the new creation by a second birth and united to the Lord Himself by the Spirit, thus becoming one Body with Him and each other. It was this great truth that Paul was specially called to minster “according to the gift of the grace of God,” which had been bestowed upon him. The Holy Spirit effectually worked in and through him to bring lost sinners of the Gentiles into this wonderful place of privilege and inalienable blessing. — Ironside, page 149.

minister (v.7) = a servant seen in his activity, one who serves

the gift of the grace (v.7) = the gift consisting in the grace — the office of apostleship

The ministry of this Mystery was a gift to the Apostle Paul, not because of any merit in him, for it was a gift of grace; and that same grace furnished him with spiritual power adequate to the discharge of the ministry. Gift, grace and power are the important words in this verse. — Williams, page 924.

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