Ephesians 3:11 kjv

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Ephesians 3:11 nkjv

according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Ephesians 3:11 niv

according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:11 esv

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Ephesians 3:11 nlt

This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3 verses

Ephesians 3 11 Meaning

Ephesians 3:11 declares that the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant people of God, revealed as a profound mystery, is not an improvisation or an afterthought. Rather, it aligns perfectly with God’s unchanging, pre-determined plan established before the foundation of time. This divine blueprint was purposefully orchestrated and has its ultimate fulfillment and realization in the person and work of Christ Jesus our Lord. It signifies God's absolute sovereignty and the centrality of Jesus in His entire redemptive scheme for all humanity.

Ephesians 3 11 Context

Ephesians 3:11 is deeply embedded within Paul's discourse on the "mystery of Christ" (Eph 3:4). Chapters 1-3 of Ephesians lay out foundational theological truths, focusing on God's eternal plan of salvation centered on Christ and His work. Chapter 1 establishes God's sovereign choice and purpose for believers before creation. Chapter 2 describes how both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God and to each other through Christ's work on the cross, creating "one new man."

Chapter 3 specifically highlights Paul's role as the apostle to the Gentiles, to whom this "mystery" has been revealed. This mystery is that Gentiles, formerly alienated from God's covenants with Israel, are now "fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Eph 3:6). Verse 11 then powerfully asserts that this Gentile inclusion is not an accident or a new initiative, but an integral part of "the eternal purpose" of God. It underlines the divine intention and continuity of God's redemptive plan across all ages, reaching its climactic fulfillment in Christ Jesus, for the glory of God (Eph 3:10).

Ephesians 3 11 Word analysis

• according to (κατὰ, kata): This Greek preposition indicates alignment, standard, or principle. It means "in accordance with" or "in agreement with." Here, it signifies that the unveiling of the mystery and the resulting multi-faceted wisdom of God (mentioned in v.10) are not arbitrary but are precisely consistent with, and the unfolding of, God's eternal plan. It conveys precise alignment with a preceding divine standard.
• the eternal purpose (πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων, prothesin tōn aiōnōn):
  • πρόθεσιν (prothesin): "Purpose," "fore-setting," "pre-arrangement," "resolve," or "design." It speaks of an intentionality, a plan set out beforehand. It conveys a strong sense of divine resolve and initiative. This is not an impromptu decision but a deliberate, sovereign decree.
  • τῶν αἰώνων (tōn aiōnōn): Lit. "of the ages" or "of the eternities." This is a profound genitive. It can mean:
    1. Spanning all ages: God's purpose that extends throughout and governs all epochs of time, demonstrating its continuity and fulfillment through history.
    2. Existing before the ages: A plan that predates creation and the beginning of time itself, conceived in eternity past. This highlights its immutability and foundational nature. The combined phrase indicates a divine plan that originated in timeless eternity and is unfolded throughout the course of human history.
• which He purposed (ἐποίησεν, epoiesen): This Greek verb means "He made," "He did," "He accomplished," or "He carried out/executed." In this context, it emphasizes God's active role in bringing this purpose into effect. It's not merely a theoretical plan but one that God actively established and put into motion. Some translations convey "which He accomplished" or "carried out," emphasizing the divine agency and effectiveness of the plan.
• in Christ Jesus our Lord (ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, en Christō Iēsou tō Kyriō hēmōn): This phrase is central to Pauline theology and anchors the entire statement.
  • ἐν Χριστῷ (en Christō): "In Christ." This indicates the sphere, means, and agent through whom the eternal purpose is established and fulfilled. Christ is not just a part of the plan; He is the focal point, the instrument, and the ultimate realization of it. Every aspect of God's eternal purpose finds its being, execution, and revelation in Christ.
  • Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν (Iēsou tō Kyriō hēmōn): "Jesus our Lord." This specifies the divine identity and authority of Christ. It reiterates His lordship, implying that this grand, cosmic plan falls under His sovereign domain and direction. He is the pre-existent, historical, resurrected, and reigning Lord through whom God’s purposes are enacted.

Words-group analysis:

• "the eternal purpose which He purposed": This redundancy or emphatic restatement underscores God's absolute intentionality, immutability, and sovereignty. It emphasizes that God's plan is not haphazard but deliberate, originating from His divine will and being brought to fruition by His divine action. It roots all of redemption in God's settled, unchangeable mind.
• "according to the eternal purpose... in Christ Jesus our Lord": This phrase binds God's grand, eternal design inextricably to the person and work of Christ. It means that from the very beginning, Christ was the center and executor of God's ultimate plan to unite all things, saving His people, and bringing glory to His name. It establishes Christ's pre-eminence and integral role in all of divine history and salvation.

Ephesians 3 11 Bonus section

• Triune Involvement: While the verse directly states "He purposed" (referring to God the Father implicitly from the broader context of Ephesians), the "eternal purpose" is executed "in Christ Jesus our Lord." The Holy Spirit (mentioned often in Ephesians as the One who indwells and unites) is the agent through whom this plan is applied and experienced by believers. Thus, this verse implicitly points to the Triune God working in concert.
• Glory to God: The ultimate end of this eternal purpose, as implied by the preceding verse (Eph 3:10), is that the "manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places." God’s plan, revealed in the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles into one body, powerfully showcases His intricate wisdom and redounds to His glory, even to spiritual realms.
• Security for Believers: Understanding that one's salvation and place in God's plan are based on an "eternal purpose" offers immense spiritual security. It means salvation is not fragile or dependent on human effort alone, but is grounded in God's unchanging and effective will, conceived before time and secured in Christ.

Ephesians 3 11 Commentary

Ephesians 3:11 offers a profound glimpse into the mind and heart of God, emphasizing the unchangeable nature of His divine plan. It teaches us that the mystery now revealed—that Gentiles are co-heirs with Israel in the Body of Christ—was not an afterthought but a cornerstone of God's original, eternal intention. This plan was not formed in response to human failure but existed before the ages began, demonstrating God's supreme foreknowledge and unchanging sovereignty. The absolute centrality of Christ is underscored, for it is in Him that this purpose finds its design, its execution, and its ultimate completion. This understanding provides immense assurance and stability to believers; our salvation and inclusion in the Church are rooted in God's immutable character and an eternal decree, not human merit or transient circumstances. It reveals a purposeful God, working all things according to the counsel of His will, with Christ as the grand axis around which all of creation and redemption revolve, ultimately bringing manifold wisdom and glory to God through the church (Eph 3:10).