Ephesians 3:1-12

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Vision I.I, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • V.XII.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • I.4, I.17, I.28, V.10, V.13, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • V.18, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • VII.XIV, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
  • Commentary by St. John Chrysostom: Homily VII.
    • "They who go to the physician's have not merely to go there and nothing further; they have to learn how to treat themselves, and to apply remedies. And so with us then who come here, we must not do this and nothing else, we must learn our lesson, the surpassing lowliness of Paul."
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "God always had only one way to save men by: but it had various shapes and forms."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Those whom God advances to honourable employments, he makes low in their own eyes; and where God gives grace to be humble, there he gives all other needful grace."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Here are the noblest strains of eloquence to paint the exceeding low opinion the apostle had of himself, and the fulness of unfathomable blessings which are treasured up in Christ."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "God's creation of the world and all things therein is the foundation of the rest of the "economy," which is freely dispensed according to the universal power of God [BENGEL]."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "It was from the beginning God's purpose to save the Gentiles by the gospel, but it had been kept hidden."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Ephesians 3:1-12, Craig R. Koester, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "'Mystery' is the term that runs throughout this passage from Ephesians. It fits the day in the liturgical year because an 'epiphany' is a manifestation of something. And in this case what is revealed has been a mystery."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Epiphany," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Ultimately it is about human dignity: being able to stand on your own two feet with confidence. Our author sees this as the appropriate stance before God (1:12)."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Paul the Teacher to the Gentiles," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
    • "How is the church an instrument of eternal reconciliation?"
  • Progressive Bible Study, Ephesians 3:1-12, Pastor Dan, Street Prophets.
    • "No one is ever perfectly congruent with their ideals. But the church at large has gotten itself in a serious jam by promoting the idea that its pews contained the Saints, those citizens of Heaven well advanced in love and charity."
  • "Evangelization as a Vehicle for Grace," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
    • "How have your words and actions presented Christ to others this week? Explain."
  • "The Calling and Design of the Church: A Study in Ephesians," by Lehman Strauss at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "The household of God must be managed according to a particular plan; therefore it was a high honor bestowed upon Paul when God entrusted His plan to him."
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year C Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Epiphany," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Here is no cringing model of humility before a God who is looking for people on which to put his feet. Rather here is a theology which sees God wanting us to be bold, confident and forthcoming."
• Articles & Background:
  • "What the OT Prophets Did Not Know: The Mystery of the Church in Eph 3.2-13," Sigurd Grindheim, Biblica 2003.
    • "It is unwarranted, therefore, to find proof of a post-Pauline development in the use of the term 'mystery' in Ephesians."
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  • Berglund, Mary Catherine, "Between Text and Sermon: Ephesians 3:1-12," Interpretation, 2004.
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  • Easley, Kendell H., "The Pauline Usage of PNEUMATI as a Reference to the Spirit of God," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1984.
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  • Foster, Paul, "The First Contribution to the PISTIS XRISTOU Debate: A Study of Ephesians 3.12," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2002.
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  • Mare, W. Harold, "Paul's Mystery in Ephesians 3," Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1965.
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  • Okamoto, Joel P., "Homiletical Helps on the LSB Series C - Old Testament / A - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on page 400.)
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  • Ryrie, Charles C., "The Mystery in Ephesians 3," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1966.
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "The Power of God Living Within Us," from a series of sermons on the book of Ephesians by Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Washington.
• With Children:
  • "Put God First," Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Ephesians 3:5, Ephesians 3:6, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Hangin' Out, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page
• Hymns and Music:
  • "When God Envisioned Love's Birth," F. Richard Garland, LLANFYLLIN, United Methodist Chruch GBOD.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Ephesians 3:8. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Ephesians