After stating the apostles and prophets were the foundation of the building Jesus would build, Paul begins to talk about being appointed as God’s steward to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-5). Before he was a Roman prisoner, Paul was given “the stewardship of God’s grace” for the sake of the Gentiles. What a contrast in positions! Paul begins to describe himself, his qualifications to speak to the Gentiles, how he received the message God wanted the Gentiles to hear, and how they would be able to understand this God-given message. Paul wants to make the point that God has appointed him to this position and given him this responsibility. Paul did not presumptuously take it upon himself. When writing this letter to the Ephesians, Paul was in a Roman government prison somewhere in Rome. However, he does not identify himself as a government prisoner, but rather, he labels himself as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.” He wants his readers to understand the real reason he is in prison. It is not for criminal activity but rather for being a steward of God’s message to the Gentiles. In describing himself, Paul is telling the Ephesians that God placed him in an official capacity with the responsibility of managing or overseeing the delivery of the message of God’s grace to the Gentiles. Paul says he was given this message by revelation from God. He calls this revelation “the mystery.” The readers would interpret this “mystery” not as something that could not be known but as something God had previously not revealed to mankind. Paul states in verse five that this “[mystery] has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.” Paul’s message to all Gentiles is that they could know about this “mystery” because he had written it down, they could read it, and they could understand what he wrote. By having his understanding, they would know what Paul understood about this mystery. Paul did not take lightly this stewardship, this enormous task and heavy responsibility, God placed upon him. The book of Acts records Paul’s efforts to be a superb manager of God’s message to the Gentiles. Paul’s writings, as a component of this stewardship of God’s message, can be read and understood. It is of vital importance that we understand what Paul wrote. It is imperative we do not place our own meaning upon the content of these various letters to congregations and individuals, but rather place the meaning Paul intended when he wrote them. By understanding what Paul received from God by revelation and applying it to our lives, we will be living God’s way! Carlton G. McPeak (carlton_mc@msn.com) is an evangelist working in the Florida Gateway region. Scriptural quotations from the NASB.
