Ephesians 3:6 kjv

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 3:6 nkjv

that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Ephesians 3:6 niv

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:6 esv

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Ephesians 3:6 nlt

And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3 verses

Ephesians 3 6 Meaning

Ephesians 3:6 reveals the core of the "mystery" previously mentioned by Paul: that non-Jewish people (Gentiles) are brought into the family of God on an absolutely equal footing with Jewish believers. They become joint inheritors of God’s blessings, integral parts of the one spiritual body of Christ, and full sharers in God's promises. This inclusion is achieved solely through faith in Christ and is realized by means of the gospel.

Ephesians 3 6 Context

Ephesians 3:6 summarizes the content of the "mystery of Christ" that Paul had been referring to in the preceding verses (3:3-5). This mystery was a divinely revealed truth previously hidden from prior generations, specifically the full and equal inclusion of Gentiles into God's saving plan. The historical context of the first century was marked by a deep and often bitter divide between Jews and Gentiles. Jews, with their unique covenant relationship with God, laws, and traditions, often viewed Gentiles as unclean and outside God's favor. This verse directly challenges that Jewish exclusivism by declaring the full and equitable status of Gentile believers within the New Covenant. It sets the stage for Paul's exposition of Christian unity and the nature of the church in later chapters.

Ephesians 3 6 Word analysis

• that the Gentiles (Greek: ta ethnē)
  • Ethnē literally means "nations" or "peoples" and in a biblical context, particularly in the New Testament when contrasted with "Jews," refers to all non-Israelite peoples. This highlights the radical shift from a largely ethnically-defined people of God (Israel) to a trans-ethnic one (the Church). It is not an invitation for Gentiles to become Jewish converts but to be directly reconciled to God.
• should be fellow heirs (Greek: sygklēronomous)
  • Derived from syn (together with) and klēronomos (heir). This strong compound word signifies a full and shared inheritance. Gentiles are not receiving a secondary share or crumbs; they are co-inheritors of the promises and spiritual blessings that previously seemed exclusive to Israel, particularly salvation and eternal life. It speaks to absolute equality of status before God.
• of the same body (Greek: syssōmous)
  • From syn (together with) and sōma (body). This term is used here and likely coined by Paul to describe a completely integrated body. It refers to the church as the singular spiritual body of Christ, where there are no "Jewish" members and "Gentile" members operating independently or with different privileges. All are seamlessly integrated into the one organism, receiving nourishment and life from Christ, the head (Eph 1:22-23). This emphasizes deep organic unity.
• and partakers (Greek: symmetochous)
  • Another syn-prefixed compound, from syn (together with) and metochos (a sharer, partner, participant). This emphasizes that Gentiles have full and equal participation in everything God offers through Christ. It's not just a status (heir) or an organic relationship (body), but an active participation and enjoyment of the benefits.
• of His promise (Greek: tēs epangelias autou)
  • "His promise" refers to God's ultimate salvific promises, which culminate in Christ. This includes the blessing of Abraham, the New Covenant promises, and the spiritual blessings (e.g., Holy Spirit, righteousness, eternal life). These are now universally accessible, rather than exclusively for Israel.
• in Christ (Greek: en Christō)
  • This phrase is central to Paul's theology. "In Christ" indicates the sphere or ground of their identity and participation. All these incredible privileges and the profound unity are made possible and exist only through union with Christ. It's not through human merit, adherence to law, or ethnic lineage.
• through the gospel (Greek: dia tou euangeliou)
  • This denotes the means or instrument through which this reality is realized. The good news of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, proclaimed to all people, is the channel through which faith is produced, the mystery is revealed, and the radical unity between Jew and Gentile becomes a living reality.
• Words-Group: The three syn-prefixed words (sygklēronomous, syssōmous, symmetochous) are incredibly significant. Paul deliberately uses this triple compound construction to emphatically underscore the absolute, total, and profound equality and unity of Jew and Gentile believers. They are not merely "included" but made "co-inheritors," "co-bodied," and "co-partakers," signifying identical standing, privilege, and participation in the benefits of Christ.

Ephesians 3 6 Bonus section

The "mystery" (Greek: mystērion) referred to in Ephesians 3:3-6 is not an unsolvable riddle, but rather a truth previously hidden from human understanding, now divinely revealed through revelation. This particular mystery is the union of Jews and Gentiles into one body through Christ. Paul received special revelation concerning this, emphasizing his unique apostolic calling to the Gentiles. This emphasis on unity and accessibility of the gospel to all humanity forms a central theme not only in Ephesians but also across Paul's other letters (e.g., Rom 9-11; Gal 3-4). The church, therefore, stands as a living demonstration of this unified body, displaying God's manifold wisdom to cosmic powers (Eph 3:10), a profound truth realized solely by Christ's redemptive work.

Ephesians 3 6 Commentary

Ephesians 3:6 stands as a monumental declaration of God's redemptive plan, revealing that the radical inclusion of Gentiles as full equals in Christ's body was a pre-ordained but previously concealed truth. This verse dismantles the socio-religious barriers of the first century, asserting that ethnicity or adherence to Jewish law no longer defines one's access to God's salvation. The three "co-" prefixes Paul uses emphasize a profound, undivided unity and equality that goes beyond mere acceptance to full participation and shared inheritance. This mystery, unfolded through the gospel, highlights the vastness of God's grace and His desire for a unified people from every tribe and nation, demonstrating divine wisdom and love. Practically, it calls believers to dismantle all forms of division—racial, social, economic—within the church, embracing radical unity and shared purpose in Christ. It means that Christ's church must be a place where all people, regardless of background, are welcomed, belong, and contribute equally.