The Meaning of Ephesians 3:4 Explained

Ephesians 3:4

KJV: Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

YLT: in regard to which ye are able, reading it, to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ,

Darby: by which, in reading it, ye can understand my intelligence in the mystery of the Christ,)

ASV: whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;

Discover Ephesians 3:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Ephesians 3:4?

MEANING: What does Ephesians 3:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Ephesians 3:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Ephesians 3:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whereby,  when ye read,  ye may  understand  my  knowledge  in  the mystery  of Christ  ) 

What does Ephesians 3:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

What Paul had already written about this mystery revealed his understanding of it.

Context Summary

Ephesians 3:1-13 - Gentiles Share The "unspeakable Riches"
Dispensation should be rendered, "stewardship." We are God's trustees for men. To each of us is given some special phase of truth which we must pass on to others by the force of our character or by the teaching of our lips. It was given to Paul to make known the great truth that Gentiles might enter the Church of God on equal terms with Jews. During the earlier stages of human education this secret had been withheld; but with the advent of the Son of man, the doors into the Church had been thrown open to all. Paul's insistence on this truth was the main cause of the hatred and opposition which checkered his life. Fellow-heirs, fellow-members, and fellow-partakers! This truth was not the result of logical argument, but had been communicated by direct revelation, as was so much else in Paul's teaching. See Galatians 1:11, etc.
The history of the Church-its genesis, growth, and development-is the subject of angelic study, Ephesians 3:10. In the story of redemption there are presented and illustrated aspects of the divine nature which are to be learned nowhere else, and therefore heavenly intelligences bend with eager interest over human history from the viewpoint of the Church of Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: Ephesians 3

1  The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation;
8  and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it
13  He desires them not to be discouraged over his tribulation;
14  and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them

Greek Commentary for Ephesians 3:4

Whereby [προς ο]
“Looking to which,” “according to which.” [source]
When ye read [αναγινωσκοντες]
This Epistle will be read in public. My understanding in the mystery of Christ (την συνεσιν μου εν τωι μυστηριωι του Χριστου — tēn sunesin mou en tōi mustēriōi tou Christou). My “comprehension” (συνεσιν — sunesin Colossians 1:9; Colossians 2:2). Every sermon reveals the preacher‘s grasp of “the mystery of Christ.” If he has no insight into Christ, he has no call to preach. [source]
My understanding in the mystery of Christ [την συνεσιν μου εν τωι μυστηριωι του Χριστου]
My “comprehension” Every sermon reveals the preacher‘s grasp of “the mystery of Christ.” If he has no insight into Christ, he has no call to preach. [source]
Whereby [πρὸς ὃ]
Lit., agreeably to which, namely, what he had written. [source]
Mystery of Christ []
The mystery which is Christ. See on Colossians 1:26; see on Romans 11:25. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 3:4

2 Thessalonians 2:7 Mystery of iniquity [μυστήριον τῆς ἀνομίας]
Better, of lawlessness. The phrase is unique in N.T. and olxx. Mystery is found in various combinations, as mystery of the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 13:11: of God, 1 Corinthians 2:1: of his will, Ephesians 1:9: of Christ, Ephesians 3:4: of the gospel, Ephesians 6:19: of faith, 1 Timothy 3:9: of godliness, 1 Timothy 3:16: of the seven stars Revelation 1:20: of the woman, Revelation 17:7. A mystery does not lie in the obscurity of a thing, but in its secrecy. It is not in the thing, but envelops it. Applied to a truth, it signifies a truth once hidden but now revealed or to be revealed; a truth which without special revelation would be unknown. It is almost universally found in connection with words signifying publication or revelation. See on Matthew 13:11. The mystery of lawlessness is the mass of lawlessness yet hidden, but which is to reveal itself in the person and power of Antichrist. The position of the word is emphatic, emphasizing the concealed character of the evil power. [source]
1 Timothy 1:7 Though they understand [νοουντες]
Concessive participle of νοεω — noeō old verb (Ephesians 3:4, Ephesians 3:20). Neither what (μητε α — mēte ha). Relative α — ha (which things). Nor whereof Here the interrogative τινων — tinōn used in sense of relative ων — hōn It may be regarded as the use of an indirect question for variety (Parry). They confidently affirm (διαβεβαιουνται — diabebaiountai). Present middle indicative of the common Koiné{[28928]}š compound, in N.T. only here and Titus 3:8. [source]
2 Timothy 2:7 Consider [νοει]
Present active imperative of νοεω — noeō old verb, to put your mind (νους — nous) on. See Ephesians 3:4 and like command in 1 Corinthians 10:15. [source]

What do the individual words in Ephesians 3:4 mean?

by which you are able reading [it] to understand the insight of me into the mystery - of Christ
πρὸς ὃ δύνασθε ἀναγινώσκοντες νοῆσαι τὴν σύνεσίν μου ἐν τῷ μυστηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ

δύνασθε  you  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
ἀναγινώσκοντες  reading  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀναγινώσκω  
Sense: to distinguish between, to recognise, to know accurately, to acknowledge.
νοῆσαι  to  understand 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: νοέω  
Sense: to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding.
σύνεσίν  insight 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: σύνεσις  
Sense: a running together, a flowing together with.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐν  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.
μυστηρίῳ  mystery 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: μυστήριον  
Sense: hidden thing, secret, mystery.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὁ  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Χριστοῦ  of  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.

What are the major concepts related to Ephesians 3:4?

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