Ephesians 3:5 – The secret revealed

…in the secret of the Christ which, in other generations, is not made known to the sons of humanity as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets…

The privileges that the nations now receive are in stark contrast to the past. After all, they were without GOD and outsiders of his service and of the promises (2:12). The privileges they now enjoyed, however, were not only new, they were unknown beforehand. It was concealed (3:9) and hushed from the eons (Rom. 16:25).

What Paul was allowed to reveal was unknown in earlier generations. Also the other apostels and prophets did not know about it. They had previously been entrusted with “the gospel of the circumcision”, and they were therefore entirely focused on the restoration of Israel in their days. Through that way, the blessing would reach the nations.

But the revelation Paul received, revealed that GOD is doing a work among the nations today, precisely because of Israel’s unbelief. Paul’s imprisonment was the emblem of that. The apostles hoped for the fulfillment of what the prophets had revealed. And now Paul came to tell a secret, they had no idea about. What a change in thinking to understand that!

Delen: