Ephesians 3:5 kjv

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Ephesians 3:5 nkjv

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:

Ephesians 3:5 niv

which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

Ephesians 3:5 esv

which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:5 nlt

God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

Ephesians 3 verses

Ephesians 3 5 Meaning

Ephesians 3:5 articulates that the profound truth of God's unified plan—specifically, the full and equal inclusion of Gentiles into the commonwealth of Israel as co-heirs and fellow members of the body of Christ, receiving equally in His promises through the Gospel—was not understood or explicitly made known to previous generations of humanity. However, this divine secret has now, in the New Covenant era, been explicitly uncovered and illuminated by God's Spirit, primarily through the divinely appointed revelation given to His set-apart apostles and New Testament prophets.

Ephesians 3 5 Context

Ephesians chapter 3 continues Paul's profound exposition from chapter 2 regarding the astonishing reality of Gentile inclusion into God's saving plan. In chapter 2, Paul details how Jews and Gentiles, once profoundly separated by law and covenant, have been brought together and reconciled in "one new humanity" through Christ's sacrificial work, forming the very dwelling place of God by the Spirit. Chapter 3 begins with Paul, identifying himself as "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles" (v.1), explaining that he is a steward of this specific "mystery" of Christ (v.3). Verse 5 clarifies when and to whom this mystery was fully and definitively revealed, contrasting it with previous eras. This clarification emphasizes the unique nature of this New Covenant truth and prepares for Paul's ministry (v.7) and the church's grand cosmic purpose (v.10-11) as the visible manifestation of God's multifaceted wisdom.

Ephesians 3 5 Word analysis

• "which" (ὅ/ho): Refers directly to the "mystery of Christ" mentioned in verse 4. This grammatical connection signifies that the verse focuses on the specific content of what was once hidden but now revealed.
• "in other generations" (ἐν ἑτέραις γενεαῖς / en heterais geneais): Denotes past historical periods or eras preceding the Christian dispensation. This phrase underscores a divine timetable and progressive unveiling of God's truth, indicating a qualitative difference in understanding from pre-Christ times.
• "was not made known" (οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθη / ouk egnōristhē): Uses the passive voice in the Greek, signifying that this lack of knowledge was not due to human failure or inability to discern, but rather a deliberate divine non-disclosure. God sovereignly chose not to make this particular truth publicly accessible during those times.
• "to the sons of men" (τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων / tois huiois tōn anthrōpōn): A Hebraism (equivalent to "bene adam") referring to humanity in general, common people. It conveys that this specific aspect of God's redemptive plan was not understood by mankind universally, including those considered wise or spiritually perceptive in past ages.
• "as it has now been revealed" (ὡς νῦν ἀπεκαλύφθη / hōs nun apekalyphthē): "As" (ὡς) emphasizes the dramatic manner of disclosure, indicating a full and clear unveiling. "Now" (νῦν) sharply contrasts with "in other generations," highlighting the advent of Christ and the New Covenant era as the decisive moment for this revelation. "Revealed" (ἀπεκαλύφθη - apokalyphthē) is a strong verb, meaning to "uncover" or "disclose" something previously veiled or hidden, denoting a supernatural act of God.
• "to His holy apostles" (τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ / tois hagiois apostolois autou): "His holy" indicates those specially consecrated and set apart by God for a specific, authoritative purpose. "Apostles" (ἀποστόλοις) are specifically the commissioned eyewitnesses of Christ's resurrection, sent with divine authority to establish the Church and articulate its foundational doctrine, receiving direct and unparalleled revelation.
• "and prophets" (καὶ προφήταις / kai prophētais): These are understood primarily as New Testament prophets, who alongside the apostles received and ministered direct divine insights, often confirming, explaining, and building upon the apostolic foundation (Acts 13:1, 1 Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11).
• "in the Spirit" (ἐν πνεύματι / en pneumati): Designates the Holy Spirit as the active agent and divine source of this profound revelation. The Spirit enlightened the minds and hearts of the apostles and prophets, granting them direct access to spiritual truths previously unknown, enabling them to comprehend and authoritatively proclaim the mystery of God's plan.

Words-group analysis:

• "which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men": This clause emphasizes the uniqueness of the New Covenant age and the progression of divine revelation. It highlights that the complete nature of God's inclusive redemptive plan for humanity was a guarded divine secret, not comprehensible through human intellect, cultural tradition, or even through the entirety of the Old Testament system alone. This underscores God's sovereign control over the timing and method of His truth's disclosure.
• "as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit": This phrase underlines a critical turning point in redemptive history. The formerly veiled mystery is now unveiled dramatically and definitively. The means of revelation is exclusively divine ("in the Spirit"), confirming its supernatural origin and binding authority. The recipients are specifically God's specially chosen messengers for the New Covenant—the "holy apostles" receiving foundational, direct insights, and "prophets" offering complementary Spirit-inspired truths—together providing the authoritative testimony concerning the full and equal inclusion of Gentiles into the one unified body of Christ.

Ephesians 3 5 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "other generations" and "now" underscores God's wisdom in administering redemptive history in stages. It also confirms that Old Testament figures, though righteous and divinely inspired, did not possess this particular understanding of the unified body of Christ in the same complete, clear sense. The fact that the revelation came specifically "in the Spirit" implies both its supernatural origin and its profound, life-transforming power, as it required spiritual discernment to receive and proclaim. This passage highlights the foundational role of apostolic and prophetic revelation in the New Testament Church, distinct from ongoing spiritual gifts; these initial revelations established the very doctrines that define Christianity and the Church itself.

Ephesians 3 5 Commentary

Ephesians 3:5 is a cornerstone verse, revealing the theological uniqueness of the Christian Church and the dramatic nature of God's revelation. The "mystery" it refers to is not something inexplicable, but rather a truth previously hidden by God and now clearly unveiled: the reality that believing Gentiles are co-heirs with believing Jews, equal members of the body of Christ, and full participants in the promises of God through the Gospel, without needing to become Jewish proselytes. This radical truth was not gleaned through human discovery or tradition, but divinely unveiled "now"—a pivotal contrast to all "other generations." This unveiling occurred "in the Spirit," highlighting the Holy Spirit's essential role in supernaturally illuminating the "holy apostles and prophets," making them the authoritative channels through whom this profound understanding of the Church's multi-ethnic unity was given to the world. It provides the divine foundation for the Church's global mission. For instance, the unity of different nations and cultures within local congregations worldwide, worshipping and serving side-by-side as equals, is a living testament to the truth unveiled in this verse.