EPHESIANS 3:5-7 FELLOW HEIRS

 

EPHESIANS 3:5-7 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

In Other Ages; Transferred from people to the time in which they lived, the word came to mean "an age," i.e., a period ordinarily occupied by each successive generation, say, of thirty or forty years. The Greek word for "Age" is γενεά genea. Strong's G1074, Vine's (def. A-2). Strongs specifically denotes a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons). 

NSB* - Notes People who lived in the "other ages" before Pentecost, had a great deal of knowledge about God and His grace. (1/2)

The Sons Of Men; Commentary found in JFBB**. men in their state by birth, as contrasted with those illuminated "by the Spirit"

Revealed; the mind of God to the prophets of Israel, 1 Peter 1:12, and of the Church. The Greek word is apokalupto ἀποκαλύπτω. Strong's G601. Vine's (def. 1e). 

By The Spirit; The Spirit here is "The Holy Spirit". Vine's notes - The "Holy Spirit" is spoken of under various titles in the NT ("Spirit" and "Ghost" are renderings of the same word, pneuma; the advantage of the rendering "Spirit" is that it can always be used, whereas "Ghost" always requires the word "Holy" prefixed.) 

My Notes: Revealed here is being used of the subject "The Mystery". It does not have the idea of "all things". 

Apostles and Prophets; Vine's notes - The twelve disciples chosen by the Lord for special training were called Apostles. Paul was commissioned directly, by the Lord Himself, after His Ascension, to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles. Prophets here has the idea of "prophets in the churches,". The Greek word for Prophet is προφήτης prophetes in this text. Stong's G4396, Vine's (def. 1e) 

Moving to Verse 6.

Fellow Heirs; NSB* - However that knowledge was not all as all-embracing as the revelation that we receive in Christ Jesus. The Old Testament predicted that God's grace would come to the Gentiles (Gen 12:3), but equality with the Jews in one body was a secret never before revealed. (2/2).

Cross References: Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s                       seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

Heir here has the idea of "a joint-heir, co-inheritor". Here it's used of Gentiles who believe, as participants in the Gospel with Jews who believe. The Greek word is συγκληρονόμος sunkleronomos. Strong's G4789, Vine's (def. A-2)

Gospel; Is used in the Middle Voice, especially of the message of salvation, with a personal object, either of the person preached, e.g. Denotes "the unsearchable riches of Christ. In the Greek it's εὐαγγελίζω euangelizo. Strong's G2097, Vine's (def B-1,c) 

Moving to Verse 7.

Minister According To The Gift Of Grace; The servants of Christ in the work of preaching and teaching. The word in Greek for Minister in this verse is actually διάκονος diakonos (which is "deacon"). Strong's G1249, Vine's (def. Prime). 

When Paul says "gift" here he is using it denotes "a free gift," stressing its gratuitous character; it is always used in the NT of a spiritual or supernatural gift. The Greek word is δωρεά dorea. Strong's G1431, Vine's (def. 2). 

Effective Working; The noun energeia, "working," is translated "effectual working,". (The Greek word is ἐνέργεια) Strong's G1753. 

Cross References: Romans 15:16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering [a]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

Romans 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—

His Power; God is never described with sexual characteristics in the Scriptures, but He does consistently describe Himself in the masculine gender.

Takeaways - 

In case it wasn't clear Paul spells out exactly what "the mystery" is, in stating that Gentiles will be fellow heirs with Christ as believers. This clarifies they will be in the same body (the church) as Jews who believe. 

Paul states here that he is a minister of God according to His grace. I put some notes in here on this, but the word minister also denotes "a servant". So when it comes to Christ, serving Him ought to be looked at with an acknowledgment of His mercy that allows that. This isn't a "well crap, now it's time to do the dishes" sort of thing. This has the idea that it is God's grace that even allows us to serve Him. We should wake up each morning with a sense of gratitude that we are able to serve God as believers according to His grace, i.e... "Thank you, God, for this day, what would you have me do? 

*= Nelson Study Bible
**= Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary