COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS
LESSON NUMBER 34
Eph 3:10 "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph 3:10-11)
THE DIVINE INTENTION
INTRODUCTION
Most of man's approach to salvation, or man's identity with God, deals with purported obligations - what men are to do to be saved, live, etc. While these things are necessary to know, they are largely for the unconverted or novice, neither condition being intended to continue. At some point, the individual who has been experientially reconciled to God must come to know what God intends in salvation, and what He is actually doing in the process of that salvation. Man has been created so he wants to know things in which he has interest. There is a kind of inner compulsion that demands this kind of knowledge. Thus, it is extremely difficult to find a person who has a driving interest in something, yet knows nothing about it. The propensity to inquire into a matter regarding personal interest, is brought to its pinnacle in Christ Jesus. Jesus Himself was driven by what He knew concerning His mission. He knew why He came into the world. He stated this to the Father (He came to die - John 12:27), and to Pilate as well (He came to bear witness to the truth - John 18:37). Paul knew why he was an apostle (Acts 26:18), and he desired that those to whom he ministered would know why they were saved by grace through faith. This is what he is opening up in our text. He knows it is necessary for believers to know this, else their lives will be turned aside to objectives other than the one God has established. It is a purpose that cannot be known intuitively, and it is not inherent in the knowledge of God. The ultimate objective of God must be taught to men by someone to whom it has been revealed. For us Gentiles, Paul is the one to whom it was made known, and his writings are the appointed means through which we come to an understanding of Divine purpose. Even then, we must be given an understanding of what Paul has written, which requirement was expressed to Timothy: "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" (2 Tim 2:7). The perspective of Divine attentions that is stated in this text is rarely communicated in our time. For that reason, it may appear strange at the first. But it will not remain strange.
TO THE INTENT
Eph3:10a "To the intent that now . . ." Other versions read, "in order that," NASB "His intent was that," NIV "so that," NRSV "This is so that," CSB "the purpose of this enlightenment," NET "the purpose of this," NJB "God's purpose in all of this," NLT "And His reason? To," LIVING and "The purpose is." AMPLIFIED
Paul will now give a reason why he is making "all men se what is the fellowship of the mystery" - why men, fallen men, are caused to consciously participate in the mystery hidden from the beginning of the world. That "fellowship" is seen in the blending of two bodies of people - one preciously informed, one previously uninformed; one a formerly chosen people, one not formerly a chosen; one cultured, one uncultured. The harmonious blending of these people will not be accomplished by them both following the same set of rules. It will not be the mere result of them all doing the same thing. Wonder of wonders, it will be accomplished by them having the same nature - not only as one another, nut as the Lord Jesus Himself. This will be accomplished by the grace of God, through faith - which has its genesis with God Himself. This body of people will not merely be acted upon. God will work IN them, both to will and do to of His own good pleasure (Phil 2:13). They will be willing people, made willing in the day of His power (Psa 110:3). They will not be driven to God, but brought to Him (1 Pet 3:18).
The words "to the intent" mean "for this reason, "in order that," or "for this purpose." God has revealed there is a reason behind everything He does. As it is written, "ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezek 14:23). The actions of God are not mere reactions - although He does have reactions, both to godliness and godliness, to belief, and to unbelief. Behind them all there is something greater than what is going on in the earth. There is a grand objective that is being worked out - an objective that was established without any input from men or angels. That is why it could be kept secret.
This aspect (purpose), of "only the true God" (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20) cannot be found in any of the gods of man's making, or demonic origin. All false gods, regardless irrespective of their origin, are not represented as doing all things according to a purpose. This includes false gods, a false Jesus and spirits that have been accepted by professing churches (2 Cor 11:4).
IS THERE A SUPREME REASON FOR THIS WORK? Our text is declaring there is an lofty purpose that is driving the entirety of salvation. It is a Divine objective, intention, aim, design, or plan. This speaks of something intended to be accomplished, achieved, or brought to completion. God's intentions, or purposes, are driven by His will, not the need of another. Therefore we read of God working "all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph 1:11). This even applies to the matter of the new birth. As it is written, "Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (James 1:18). In keeping with this concept, God is depicted as a Builder: "He that BUILT all things is God" (Heb 3:4). He is also depicted as One who finishes what He does: "For He will FINISH the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (Rom 9:28). Both of these words - "built" and "finish" - speak an objective that is being accomplished. The objective itself was established before the work started. Further, because of the nature of God, there is no possibility that the plan will go awry, or not be finalized. Although this is rather rudimentary, it is not the manner in which religious men normally consider God.
The existence of an objective is why we read of something being "fulfilled" -i.e. "the Scripture must be FULFILLED" (Mk 14:49). It is why we read of something taking place "until" - i.e. "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom 11:25). It is why the qualifier "lest" is used - a word that is used to set forth a situation that contradicts God's purpose: -i.e."But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; LEST any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin"(Heb 3:13).
When something is said to be according to the will of God, it means infinitely more than something that God desires for you - i.e. He wants the best for you. Rather, the expression "will of God" relates to His purpose, and doing the will of God means you are doing what God intended to be done (Mk 3:35). When it is said that David "served his own generation by the will of God" (Acts 13:36), it means his life was lived as God intended it to be lived. When men are admonished not to be conformed to this world, but rather to be "transformed by the renewing" of their mind, it is in order that they might "be able to test and approve what God's will is" (Rom 12:2, NIV). That is, they might know what God is doing, as opposed to knowing what God wants them to do.
Jesus referred to this kind of knowledge when He told His disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). The fact of the matter is that Jesus is still making known what the Father is doing to those who are in Him (1 John 5:20). Paul is clarifying this matter in our text - showing what God is doing.
MAKING KNOWN GOD'S MANIFOLD WISDOM
3:10b " . . . unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. . ."
Here we will see that God's stated objective pertains to something that is accomplished in "heavenly places" - not on the earth. What God is doing on earth is in order to something that is being carried out in heaven. For the earthly-minded (Phil 3:19), this will make no sense, for they are focused on the world, as though that is the focus of God Himself. However, this text confirms such a view is erroneous. God is, indeed, working in the earth, for it is filled with His glory (Isa 6:3). However, that work has more to do with heaven than with earth!
PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS. Now the focus shifts to the heavenly realms, and to some tutelage that is taking place there. The particular personalities involved are referred to as "principalities and powers." Other versions read, "rulers and authorities," NASB "principalities and ruling forces," NJB "all the rulers in heaven," LIVING "sovereignties and to the authorities," ABP "angelic rulers and powers," GNB "this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels," MESSAGE and "the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers)." AMPLIFIED
Lexical definitions. Lexically, "principalities" means "leader," or the one in "first place." STRONG'S "Powers" means "the leading, more powerful among created beings . . . having jurisdiction, with the power to make judicial decisions." STRONG'S
In Divine government there is a hierarchy of authority, whether among men, or among the hosts of heaven. This is even true of the domain over which Satan presides. All personalities are not on the same level - this is true of both heaven and earth.
These "principalities and powers" are not the personalities against which saints "wrestle" (Eph 6:12), as some allege. Rather than teaching such fallen spirits, God has consign ed them to "the chains of darkness" (2 Pet 2:4). Jude reads, "everlasting chains under darkness" (Jude 1:6). This refers to a state in which the light of understanding cannot possibly penetrate. In other words, Satan and his angels cannot learn, or advance in knowledge. They cannot be taught, or in any way profit from either their own experience or that of others. When God frustrates their efforts, they do not learn a thing. When they are thrown down, they do not become more wise. These are not the personalities that God is enabling to know.
While these principalities and powers may be of the angelic order, there is another sense in which they are distinguished from angels. Angels are principally messengers - heavenly beings sent forth with a message (Mk 16:6-7). But this is not the distinguishing nature of "principalities and powers." We have no record of such lofty rulers delivering a message to men. Take, for example, "Michael, the archangel" (Jude 1:9). He is over a number of angels, and thus we read of "Michael and his angels" (Rev 12:7). But we never read of Michael delivering a message to men. I take it that this is indicative of the principalities and powers of our text. They are not messengers, but rulers, leaders, and authorities over other celestial spirits.
MIGHT BE KNOWN. There is something about God Himself that is to be known by these exalted personalities. It is not something God will personally teach them, nor will the exalted Christ do so as He sits enthroned among them.
This means that what God is doing in Christ Jesus is so marvelous that superior heavenly personalities must be taught about it - an activity being worked out upon the earth.
BY THE CHURCH. The vehicle for this learning is a body of people on the earth. One might think the ones through whom the teaching is accomplished would be in heaven. But it is not The vehicle is a single entity, but not a single person. It is "the church" - the ones Christ is bringing to glory (Heb 2:10). Although a larger part of this body has left the earth, the part remaining on the earth are the appointed means of principalities and powers learning. The reason should be obvious. It is because the earth is the place where they are being "changed" (2 Cor 3:18). It is here they are "washed, sanctified, and justified" (1 Cor 1:30). It is where they are "born again" (1 Pet 1:23), and where they become "partakers of Christ" (Heb 3:14). It is where they are taught by the grace of God "that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12-13). The earth is where they are located as Jesus intercedes for them in heaven (Heb 7:25), and the Spirit intercedes for them from within (Rom 8:26-37). But the reason for all of this is the instruction of heavenly beings.
MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD. And what is it that these exalted beings are coming to know, or comprehend? "The manifold wisdom of God!" -i.e. "The wisdom of God in its rich variety." NRSV and "many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects." AMPLIFIED In spite of the fact that fallen men are powerless of themselves, and their foe has worked as though he was invincible, God is conforming His children to the image of His Son - and He is doing it though wisdom. This is a wisdom that is superior to every conflicting influence. Through wisdom God can make a way of escape, and cause a person to stand. This is, and other things, are what God is making known now.
IT IS AN ETERNAL PURPOSE
3:11 " . . . According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
ACCORDING TO. This expression ("according to") is mentioned one hundred and two times from Acts through Revelation. It is a clause that explains WHY something is being done, or the principle upon which something is founded. Thus, we read phrases like "according to the flesh" (Acts 2:30), "according to his ability" (Acts 11:29), "according to the Spirit of holiness" (Rom 1:4), "according to truth" (Rom 2:2), "according to the will of God" (Rom 8:28), "according to election" (Rom 9:11), "according to the grace of God" (1 Cor 3:10), and "according to the promise" (Gal 3:29). This phrase is found in the book of Ephesians fifteen times (1:5,7,9,11,19; 2:2; 3:7,11,16,20; 4:7,16,22; 6:5). It teaches us there is something more to a matter that what appears to the eye, or even the reasoning faculties of men. The entirety of salvation, including all of its objectives and workings, is driven by an objective, aim, purpose, or intention. Paul is here opening up that objective. The particular facet upon which he has fastened his attention is making known the multifaceted wisdom of God to heavenly principalities and powers "through the church." That is, the church is the circumference within which God's wisdom is being specifically displayed. Some of the areas include, the justification of sinners, the reconciliation of the alienated, the sanctifying of those who were unclean, and the changing of that which was unacceptable. The individuals through which this wisdom is being made known are not men like Pharaoh, or Nebuchadnezzar, or Darius, or Cyrus. Such men were used by God, but not for the stated purpose. They were exhibits of His power.
Paul knows that the display of the wisdom of God to transcendent principalities and powers will not take place through a people who are fundamentally ignorant of God and His ways. Those who remain nescient, or unenlightened concerning Divine objectives are not a suitable means of instructing others in the "manifold wisdom of God" - and Paul knows it.
THE ETERNAL PURPOSE. Although this purpose involves men, it is higher than men. It is an "eternal purpose" - like God is "the eternal God" (Deut 33:27). At this point, we are being exposed to something that faith alone can grasp. An "eternal purpose" can only conceived by an eternal Being. Someone who is in any sense temporal, cannot conceive of something eternal.
But there is more to the matter than this rather cursory observation. There has never been a period in which God did not have this purpose. It did not have its genesis within the framework of time. Further, one cannot have a proper perception of God that excludes the purpose of God, for it is part of His very being. Also, being an "eternal purpose," it is not subject to alteration or obsolescence. It cannot in any way be changed.
God's "eternal purpose" in inherent to His nature. He cannot be properly understood independently of this purpose. This is precisely why Jesus, in teaching His disciples, made known to them "all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). In order for them to carry out their role in the Kingdom, they would have to know what God was actually doing in salvation. The same was true of Paul, as well as those who were taught by Paul.
If this assessment is correct, then we have a most serious situation within the professed church. It appears as though there is hardly a grain of knowledge extant in the average church concerning what God has purposed in Christ. If this knowledge is essential to the working out of our salvation, then a staggering hindrance is in place, making it virtually impossible for people to live in a pleasing or an acceptable manner before the Lord. Much of the deficiencies that continue to surface in the modern church is directly traceable to this ignorance. Add to this the arresting statement that those who "know not God" will be destroyed by flaming fire as God takes vengeance upon them, and you see the seriousness of the situation (2 Thess 1:8).
PURPOSED IN CHRIST JESUS. Here is what guarantees the completion of the purpose. It is not placed into the hands of men, but is in the hands of Jesus. As Jesus Himself said, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand" (John 3:35). It is said of Jesus alone, "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God" (John 13:3). 86 times the expressions "in Christ, "by Christ," and "through Christ" are found in Scripture. "In," "by," and "through Jesus" are found 31 times. That is 117 times we are reminded of what is attainable only through Jesus Christ. He is the appointed Administrator of salvation (Heb 2:10, the Dispenser of grace (Acts 15:11; Rev 22:21), and the Author and Finisher of the faith, which is the means of appropriating salvation (Heb 12:2). He is the appointed Expositor of God (Matt 11:27; John 5:20). He is the One who is bringing us to God (1 Pet 3:18), and to glory as well (Heb 2:10).
It is no wonder that God purposed His "eternal purpose" in Christ. So far as the purpose is concerned, Jesus is more important than the people He is saving. He is the key Person in the purpose, the one who established its foundations, and the One who is carrying it to its intended completion. Now, "principalities and powers in heavenly places" can learn about "the manifold wisdom of God" under an administration like that - and, consequently, that is taking place!