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Ephesians 3:2-7  New English Translation

2 if indeed[a] you have heard of the stewardship[b] of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that[c] by revelation the mystery[d] was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.[e] 4 When reading this,[f] you will be able to[g] understand my insight into the mystery[h] of Christ 5 (which[i] was not disclosed to people[j] in former[k] generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by[l] the Spirit), 6 namely, that through the gospel[m] the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members[n] of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel[o] according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by[p] the exercise of his power.[q]

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:2 sn If indeed. The author is not doubting whether his audience has heard, but is rather using provocative language (if indeed) to engage his audience in thinking about the magnificence of God’s grace. However, in English translation, the apodosis (“then”-clause) does not come until v. 13, leaving the protasis (“if”-clause) dangling. Eph 3:2-7 constitute one sentence in Greek.
  2. Ephesians 3:2 tn Or “administration,” “dispensation,” “commission.”
  3. Ephesians 3:3 tn Or “namely, that is.”
  4. Ephesians 3:3 tn Or “divine secret” (see Eph 1:9).
  5. Ephesians 3:3 tn Or “as I wrote above briefly.”sn As I wrote briefly may refer to the author’s brief discussion of the divine secret in 1:9.
  6. Ephesians 3:4 tn Grk “which, when reading.”
  7. Ephesians 3:4 tn Grk “you are able to.”
  8. Ephesians 3:4 tn Or “secret.”
  9. Ephesians 3:5 tn Verse 5 is a relative clause, subordinate to the thought of v. 4, but it is also parenthetical, interrupting the thought of vv. 4-6. This has been indicated by the parentheses in the translation.
  10. Ephesians 3:5 tn Grk “the sons of men” (a Semitic idiom referring to human beings, hence, “people”).
  11. Ephesians 3:5 tn Grk “other.”
  12. Ephesians 3:5 tn Or “in.”
  13. Ephesians 3:6 sn The phrase through the gospel is placed last in the sentence in Greek for emphasis. It has been moved forward for clarity.
  14. Ephesians 3:6 tn Grk “and fellow members.”
  15. Ephesians 3:7 tn Grk “of which I was made a minister,” “of which I became a servant.”
  16. Ephesians 3:7 tn Grk “according to.”
  17. Ephesians 3:7 sn On the exercise of his power see 1:19-20.
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