EPHESIANS 3:1-4 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
In this chapter, Paul takes time out from the main point of his letter to talk about his ministry and remind the readers of his past. From our perspective, we need to understand that this was a letter from Paul to the church at Ephesus and not a seminar on systematic theology.
Prisoner of Christ; In the Greek prisoner is δέσμιος desmios. Strong's G1198 Vine's (def. Prime), an adjective, primarily denotes binding, bound," then, as a noun, "the person bound, a captive, prisoner" (akin to deo, "to bind").
Here Paul is essentially saying he is held captive by Christ for the sake of the Gentiles.
Moving to verse 2.
Dispensation Of The Grace; Paul is speaking of the grace of God given him as a stewardship ("dispensation") in regard to the same "mystery;". Dispensation in Greek is οἰκονομία oikonomia. Strong's G3622, Vine's (def. b)
Vine's - Note: A "dispensation" is not a period or epoch (a common, but erroneous, use of the word), but a mode of dealing, an arrangement, or administration of affairs. Cp. oikonomos, "a steward," and oikonomeo, "to be a steward."
My Notes - So Paul saying he is a prisoner of Christ is not meant in a negative sense. He is actually being blessed as a messenger of the mystery. Paul is a steward of the grace of God towards the Gentiles. Paul doesn't pull any punches, but this is the gospel is grace. The mystery itself is that Jews and Gentiles were to have equal footing in the body of Christ. God would look at Jews and Gentiles the same.
In Verse 3.
Mystery; The Greek word is μυστήριον musterion. Vine's denotes - In the NT it denotes, not the mysterious (as with the Eng. word), but that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by Divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit. In the ordinary sense a "mystery" implies knowledge withheld; its Scriptural significance is truth revealed. Hence the terms especially associated with the subject are "made known," "manifested," "revealed," "preached," "understand," "dispensation."
Verse 4.
Understand; This means to perceive with the mind," as distinct from perception by feeling. The Greek word is νοιέω noeo. Strong's G3539, Vine's (def. A2 Verb).
My Notes: Paul qualifies this by saying that he briefly wrote about the mystery so that they would have a "chance" or "may" understand. In other words, he knows that even though he wrote it some may not have understood so in this chapter he goes more in-depth about those things.
Takeway - Here Paul is just introducing the ideas he's presented. He will get more in-depth getting into the purpose and appreciation of the mystery later in the chapter. This "mystery" here again isn't a Scooby-Doo! situation. It has the idea that this is something that can only be revealed via divine revelation.
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