and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:9-13)
Understanding the Fellowship of the Mystery
The concept of a “mystery” to the Greeks and Romans involved religions worshipping a single deity who revealed secret knowledge to mankind. To receive this revealed knowledge, one had to be initiated through a special ceremony. Only those initiated could receive this knowledge, as sharing it with an outsider was an offense punishable by death. Paul reveals that God operated in a similar way by foreordaining a plan to save all mankind through Jesus Christ. This plan was hidden down through the ages but has now been fully revealed in the dispensation of Christ through His prophets and apostles.
The Manifold Wisdom of God in the Church
What God revealed through the prophets and apostles He continues to reveal through the church, the body of Christ. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:20, God builds the church upon the foundation of the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ, the cornerstone. This is the “fellowship of the mystery,” where God unifies Jews and Gentiles into a single body. In the church, God breaks down all barriers, unifying all humanity into a single family and kingdom. God uses the church to reveal this eternal truth to both the human and angelic realms.
The Manifold Wisdom of God and Spiritual Realms
God also uses the church to reveal His purpose to the “principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” These are the angelic and demonic realms, including non-human spiritual beings aligned with God or Satan. In 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter informs us that even the angels did not fully understand this eternal plan. Though they are powerful, they must learn about God’s purpose by observing the church. Even Satan and the “rulers of this age,” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, were ignorant of God’s purpose when they crucified the Lord of glory.
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