Ephesians 3:2 kjv

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Ephesians 3:2 nkjv

if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:2 niv

Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:2 esv

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:2 nlt

assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.

Ephesians 3 verses

Ephesians 3 2 Meaning

Ephesians 3:2 states that the recipients of Paul's letter have surely heard about the specific task entrusted to him by God. This task, or "dispensation," concerns the administration of God's unmerited favor, which was uniquely given to Paul for the benefit of the Gentiles. It implies that Paul received a divine commission to make known God's grace, particularly as it relates to their inclusion in the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3 2 Context

Ephesians chapter 3 follows Paul's profound theological expositions in chapters 1 and 2, which detail God's eternal plan, the spiritual blessings in Christ, and the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles into one new humanity within the Church. Chapter 3 begins with Paul referring to himself as "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles" (Eph 3:1). Verse 2 then serves as a connective phrase, assuming the Ephesians' prior knowledge of Paul's apostolic commission. He is about to delve into the specific content of the "mystery" (Eph 3:3) – namely, the co-equality and co-inheritance of Gentiles with Jews in Christ – a truth he was specially entrusted to reveal. The historical context includes Paul's apostleship to the Gentiles, a challenging mission given the strong Jewish-Gentile divide in the ancient world, which often led to persecution for Paul and polemic against the exclusivity of Jewish traditions apart from Christ.

Ephesians 3 2 Word analysis

• if indeed you have heard (εἴ γε ἠκούσατε, ei ge ēkousate):
  • if indeed: The Greek particle ei ge expresses an assumption that is presented as highly likely, almost certainly true. It's not a condition implying doubt but rather a rhetorical affirmation: "assuming, as you surely have..." or "since, as of course you have..."
  • you have heard: This refers to the Ephesians' prior knowledge and understanding of Paul's apostolic ministry and the divine commission he bore. Paul's message was consistent, and the Ephesian believers would have been well aware of his specific role as an apostle to the Gentiles, whether through his direct teaching or others influenced by him.
• of the dispensation (τῆς οἰκονομίας, tēs oikonomias):
  • dispensation: From Greek oikonomia, a crucial term meaning "administration," "management," "stewardship," "arrangement," or "household management." It implies a structured plan or divinely appointed responsibility. It refers to God's arrangement for saving humanity and revealing His truth, with Paul serving as the administrator of a particular phase or aspect of this plan concerning the Gentiles. It is not an "age" or "era" in this context but rather an entrusted charge.
• of the grace (τῆς χάριτος, tēs charitos):
  • grace: Greek charis, meaning unmerited favor, divine enablement, or spiritual gift. Here, it refers to God's benevolent act in bestowing salvation upon humanity, specifically through the inclusion of Gentiles. This grace is the substance Paul is charged with managing and making known.
• of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou):
  • God: Identifies the ultimate source of both the "dispensation" and the "grace." Paul's commission and the message he carries are of divine origin, not human.
• which was given (τῆς δοθείσης, tēs dotheisēs):
  • given: A passive participle, emphasizing that this commission was an active bestowal by God, not something Paul achieved or sought for himself. It underscores the divine authority and legitimacy of his apostleship.
• to me (μοι, moi):
  • me: Refers explicitly to Paul, highlighting his unique and personal entrustment with this particular aspect of God's plan.
• for you (εἰς ὑμᾶς, eis hymas):
  • for you: Signifies the beneficiaries of this specific "dispensation of grace." It clarifies that Paul's commission was precisely directed towards the Gentiles, represented by the Ephesian believers. This underscores the profound shift in God's plan, bringing Gentiles into full covenant blessings.

Words-group analysis:

• the dispensation of the grace of God: This phrase encapsulates the core idea of Paul's commission. It's not merely God's grace in general, but the specific administrative arrangement (oikonomia) by which that grace is channeled and revealed. This "dispensation" pertains to the inclusion of Gentiles as equal heirs with Israel in Christ, which was previously a "mystery" (Eph 3:3-6). It speaks to a divine plan of salvation being faithfully administered through a human agent.
• which was given to me for you: This confirms Paul's divinely appointed role as the Apostle to the Gentiles. It underlines that his ministry was not self-appointed or humanly orchestrated, but a direct bestowal from God for the express purpose of extending salvation and understanding to the Gentile believers, a truth of profound significance to the Ephesian Gentile congregation.

Ephesians 3 2 Bonus section

The concept of oikonomia is deeper than "dispensation" in the modern sense of a specific time period. It truly conveys "household management" or a specific "arrangement" and plan. Paul, as a manager in God's household, was entrusted with the execution of this particular aspect of God's redemptive strategy. This highlights God's purposeful and orderly unfolding of salvation history. Furthermore, the almost casual "if indeed you have heard" functions as an indirect reinforcement of Paul's authority. He doesn't need to argue his commission; he assumes they already know of this central truth about his calling and how it relates directly to their status as Gentile believers.

Ephesians 3 2 Commentary

Ephesians 3:2 serves as a pivotal point, connecting Paul's theological foundations in previous chapters with his unfolding revelation of the "mystery of Christ" concerning Gentile inclusion. Paul confirms that his apostolic calling and the specific "dispensation" (oikonomia) entrusted to him were entirely by God's grace. This isn't just "grace" as salvation, but grace as a stewardship or a divinely ordered arrangement for communicating salvation. His task was to manage and reveal the "economy" of God's grace concerning the equal standing of Gentiles with Jews in Christ's body. The phrase "given to me for you" powerfully authenticates Paul's unique mission to the Gentiles, framing his imprisonment (from Eph 3:1) not as a failure but as a consequence of his faithfulness to this divine trust. This sets the stage for the groundbreaking revelation of the mystery in the subsequent verses, emphasizing that Gentile believers are not second-class citizens but co-heirs.

Example: Just as a trusted manager is given stewardship of a complex estate with specific instructions on how to handle its assets for designated beneficiaries, Paul was given the divine responsibility (stewardship) of dispensing the truth of God's grace to the Gentiles, managing its revelation for their spiritual benefit.