What mystery of Gentile inclusion and divine love does Saint Paul unfold during his prayer in Ephesians 3?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

In Ephesians 3, Saint Paul reveals the once-hidden mystery that Gentiles are full co-heirs and members of the same body in Christ Jesus, culminating in an apostolic prayer that believers may be fortified by the Spirit to comprehend the boundless charity of Christ.

Chapter breakdown

Paul presents himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ on behalf of the Gentile community. He appeals to their knowledge of the apostolic stewardship entrusted to him by divine benevolence. By revelation, the sacred mystery of salvation was unveiled to the apostle, as he previously touched upon in brief remarks. Reading his explanation, the faithful can appreciate his profound insight into the mystery of Christ—a cosmic truth concealed from earlier human generations, but now revealed through the Holy Spirit unto His consecrated apostles and inspired prophets. The heart of this unveiled secret is that Gentiles are full co-heirs, belonging to the very same ecclesial body and sharing equally in the divine promise fulfilled in Christ Jesus through the proclamation of the Gospel.

Of this magnificent Gospel, Paul became a servant through the gratuitous gift of divine favor, imparted to him through the dynamic working of almighty power. Although regarding himself as the least among all the holy saints, he was entrusted with the extraordinary mission of announcing among the pagan nations the inexhaustible, unsearchable riches of Christ. His mandate is to enlighten all peoples regarding the administration of the eternal mystery concealed throughout preceding ages within God, the Creator of the universe. Through the historical reality of the Church, the multifaceted wisdom of God is now openly demonstrated to celestial principalities and spiritual powers in heavenly domains, fulfilling the eternal purpose realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him, believers possess confidence and boldness and access with confidence to God through living faith. Because this divine plan is being accomplished, Paul implores the Ephesians not to succumb to grief or despondency over his apostolic imprisonment, which actually constitutes their spiritual glory.

Stirred by this cosmic mystery, the apostle bends his knees in reverent prayer before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom all paternity and family identity in heaven and on earth receives its name. A Challoner annotation notes that God is the supreme Father of both angels and mortal men, and whoever else is named father does so only in subordination to His supreme fatherhood. Paul petitions that out of the inexhaustible wealth of His divine glory, the Father may fortify the Ephesians with inner fortitude through the Holy Spirit. He prays that Christ may dwell within their hearts through living faith, so that they, firmly planted and anchored in divine charity, may possess the capacity alongside all the saints to comprehend the vast dimensions—the breadth, length, height, and depth—named in the prayer, and intimately experience the sacrificial love of Christ which transcends mere intellectual comprehension, thereby being filled to the overflowing measure of divine fullness.

The chapter culminates in an exalted apostolic doxology honoring the Lord who is capable of accomplishing more abundantly than they desire or understand, through the supernatural potency actively working within believers. To this sovereign Lord belongs perpetual praise within the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout every succeeding generation, unto ages of ages without end.

The story inside

Paul describes his revelation and ministry of the gospel, naming Gentiles fellow heirs, members of the same body and copartners of Christ’s promise. He asks them not to faint at his tribulations. Kneeling before the Father, he prays for strength in the inward man, Christ’s dwelling by faith and comprehension while rooted in charity. The concluding praise names God’s ability beyond their desire or understanding; the chapter reports no later result of the prayer.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The revealed mystery explicitly includes Gentiles as fellow heirs and members of the same body.
2
The edition offers whole family for all paternity and explains other fathers’ subordination to God.
3
Strength, faith and charity appear as requests in Paul’s prayer, rather than narrated outcomes.

Test your recall

According to Ephesians 3, how is the multifaceted wisdom of God made known to the celestial principalities and powers?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 132516–132520
3:5. Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit: 3:6. That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body: and copartners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel
Lines 132525–132533
3:8. To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: 3:9. And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things: 3:10. That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,
Lines 132556–132563
3:17. That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that, being rooted and founded in charity, 3:18. You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 3:19. To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge: that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.