How does Ephesians 3:4 connect with other scriptures about divine revelation? Ephesians 3:4—Text and Immediate Insight “In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ”. • Paul assumes that Scripture can be read and understood, because God has revealed the “mystery of Christ.” • “Mystery” (mystērion) does not mean something forever hidden; it is a truth once concealed, now disclosed. How the Verse Echoes Paul’s Larger Teaching on Revelation • Ephesians 1:9 — “He made known to us the mystery of His will … according to His good pleasure.” • Colossians 1:26-27 — “the mystery that was hidden for ages … now revealed to His saints.” • Romans 16:25-26 — “according to the revelation of the mystery … now made known through the prophetic writings.” • 1 Corinthians 2:7-10 — “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery … God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.” These passages show a pattern: God discloses His plan through apostolic writing, and that disclosure is meant to be read and grasped by believers. Old-Testament Roots of God Revealing Mysteries • Daniel 2:28 — “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” • Amos 3:7 — “The Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” • Deuteronomy 29:29 — “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us … that we may follow all the words of this law.” These texts prepare the way for the New-Testament unveiling noted in Ephesians 3:4. The Prophets and the Apostles: One Unified Revelation • Ephesians 3:5 — “revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” • 2 Peter 1:20-21 — “No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation … men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • Hebrews 1:1-2 — “God, after He spoke long ago … in these last days has spoken to us by His Son.” The same Spirit who inspired OT prophets now illuminates apostolic writings, linking both Testaments. Reading Leads to Understanding: The Role of the Written Word • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — “All Scripture is God-breathed … so that the man of God may be complete.” • Revelation 1:3 — “Blessed is the one who reads aloud … and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written.” God’s method: write the revelation, preserve it, invite His people to read it, and promise understanding through His Spirit. Practical Takeaways for Today • Approach Scripture expecting clarity, because God intends His mysteries to be understood. • Read both Testaments together; the Old promises, the New unveils. • Depend on the Holy Spirit for illumination, just as the writers depended on Him for inspiration. |
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