First Impressions on Ephesians 3:1-12

Ephesians 3:1–12 (ESV)

¹ For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

First Impressions:

What main ideas remain in your mind after hearing the text out loud?

The language of “mystery” is what lingers most strongly for me. I find myself asking: in what way was this a mystery, and in what way does it still remain difficult to grasp, even after it has been revealed in Christ?

The mystery here is not simply that God works in surprising ways, but the specific content of what God has done is mysterious. The fact that salvation is for everyone. God is not the god of a particular nation or people but the creator of all things and the redeemer of all people.

There is also a smaller, secondary mystery at work: that Paul himself is the one entrusted with this task. A zealous Jew and former persecutor of the church becomes the apostle to the Gentiles. Even the way God carries out this work embodies the surprise of the gospel.

The whole passage leaves me with a sense of wonder. It is mysterious, it is unexpected, it is God at work!

What are the main images?

The most concrete image I see is Paul in prison, a detail he explicitly draws attention to. From confinement, he reflects on the grace given to him and the mission entrusted to him on behalf of the Gentiles.

Alongside this are relational images: Gentiles as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers in a shared promise. These images emphasize the uniqueness of unity in Christ rather than hierarchy or distance.

Paul also uses the imagery of light, which at first seems to stand in tension with the language of mystery but the two are not opposites. The light does not eliminate the mystery so much as reveal it in its fullness. The surprise and wonder of God’s plan are made visible.

My imagination picks up on this "light" and I think about the light moving outward as Paul’s mission itself: bringing people into the light of the gospel, announcing that they are included in Christ Jesus, and proclaiming that the God who created all things has redeemed them as well.

What life experiences does the text evoke for you?

This text immediately makes me reflect on my own call as a preacher. Who am I called to proclaim to? I’m convinced that the first answer must be those who are actually in my hearing, those present on a Sunday morning.

That conviction shapes how I think about preaching. A sermon is for the congregation, which means speaking to people who believe in God and desire to be part of his will and kingdom—not addressing them as hostile outsiders or moral failures.

At the same time, the text pushes me to think more personally about Gentile inclusion. As I look through my own genealogy and consider when the gospel came to my family, I’m reminded that I am a Gentile who has been grafted in. My place in the church is not natural or assumed; it is a gift given by grace (and mystery).

I’m also reminded of something a pastor friend said to me: that the family of God is always a little bigger than I’d like it to be. That insight is both beautiful and convicting. I want more people to come to faith, and yet I still find myself wishing that some people weren’t part of the body. This text refuses to let me ignore that tension.

What other scriptural passages come to mind?

Genesis 12:3; 22:18 – “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed… in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (ESV).

God’s promise to Abraham already contains the seeds of Gentile inclusion, even if that promise was not yet fully perceived or understood.

Isaiah 60:1–6 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come…” (ESV).

This Epiphany text uses the same imagery of light and nations being drawn in, connecting directly to Paul’s language of mystery now revealed.

Luke 10:25–37 (The Good Samaritan).

This is often reduced to a moralistic lesson, but it is also a story about an outsider being shown to be more aligned with the kingdom of God than expected insiders like the priest and Levite.

Numbers 11:24–30.

Moses refuses to shut down the Spirit’s work when Eldad and Medad prophesy outside the camp, pushing against the instinct to contain God’s activity within expected boundaries.

What in this text connects directly to the people God has entrusted to your care

I think we like certainty, and a “mystery” feels wrong. But, thankfully, it’s a mystery that’s been revealed! My congregation is largely Gentile. How would things be different if we started from the place of "this is God's church and he has grafted me in by grace"?

Questions about the Text:

What ideas or images are hard to understand?

In what way is this a mystery? Why didn’t God reveal it earlier? A God who hides himself feels wrong, but it’s also accurate (according to Isaiah 45:15, “Truly, you are a God who hides himself”).

To me, this difficulty is emotional. It’s an important and understandable theological point and it’s helpful in pastoral situations, but there’s still something that feels wrong about the fact that God “shows us his backside.” This is theology of Gerhard Forde.

What ideas are hard to put into practice?

It’s hard—or even impossible—to be everything to everyone! How great the task feels that we’re called to EVERYONE. It feels like an impossible task for humans to do. It feels draining. It feels like we can’t have “our own thing” and we always have to be about those who aren’t a part of our community. And yet, isn't this the call? Didn't Paul make himself all things to all people? This is a tension that needs resolution or acceptance of some sort: how do the internal, community-building efforts of a church relate to the call to evangelize to the world? How does church fellowship relate to the mission of Christ?

What cultural beliefs, habits, and values does the text contradict or challenge?

Scarcity mindset – I tend to undervalue things that are for everyone or are everywhere. I want to have the thing no one else has, to get in early at the ground floor. It's how the world works! But, the inclusion of the Gentiles instead works like the Sower who sows seed even where he knows it won’t flourish.

Familiarity bias – I like to be with people like me. This text pushes against that instinct. Kinism and racism can be understood as an extreme form of this bias.

What do you want to know about the text, its author, its setting? Why?

Is Ephesians mainly written to Jews or Gentiles? Or a mix? What is Paul’s aim in shining light on this mystery? Is he trying to save the Ephesians, or recruit them to join the mission? Probably the second.

Questions I have for the Reader (you!)

Answer in Leaflet comments or replies, or in the comment section on my social media post(s).

What is sticking out or sticking with you from this text?

What do you make of the word “mystery” in these verses? Does it intrigue you, frustrate you, comfort you, unsettle you, or something else?

Does this text feel more comforting or more demanding to you? Why?

Thanks for reading! Find the rest of my work on this sermon here:

Sermon 2026-01-11 (by Joel Werner) — Semble

Epiphany Observed 2026

Keep up with all of my sermon prep and ongoing projects on Leaflet . And visit my homepage at www.joelwerner.me .