Chapter 3

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Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, am a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua for the sake of you the (GENTILES/ NATIONS.) 

(Nations/Gentiles) eth’-nos #G1484; (from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe. 

 All the #G1480 words find their common root from ‘ektithemi’ #G1620 ‘a people who were placed out in the elements, exposed and abandoned, cast out!’). That’s a tribe, or the tribes!

Why not use the Gk word al-lof’-oo-los #G246>#G243 which means: foreign, that is, (specifically) ‘Gentile’: – one of another nation?)

What we have to understand is translators have often interchanged all these different Greek words, even  #G5443 ‘phyle’ is used for ‘nations’/‘gentiles’; but it means more specifically: a tribe, or people-nation.

H5971 ‘am’ > H6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: – folk, men, nation, people.

Torot of first mention: Exodus 1:9: you can see how its often used interchangeably:

   Exodus 1:9 LXX And he (a new Pharaoh) said to his nation, Behold, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude, and is stronger than we. 

Ephesians 3:2  Surely you have heard about the (dispensation of grace) plan of Elohim’s grace given to me for you.

‘Dispensation of grace’ = ‘oikonomia ho-he-to charis’  ‘administering a religious economy’.

   Isaiah 22:19  And thou shalt be removed from thy stewardship (מצּב matstsâb, oikonomia, dispensation), and from thy place. Shebna, an official of king Hezekiah  is judged by יהוה and demoted to scribe because he abused his high position for self glory and יהוה gave it to Eliakim.

   Isaiah 22:21 and I will put on him thy robe, and I will grant him thy crown with power, and I will give thystewardship (ממשׁלה memshâlâh, oikonomia, dispensation) into his hands: and he shall be as a father to them that dwell in Jerusalem, and to them that dwell in Juda.

In context a dispensation is when a chosen people or person abuse their high position, and it’s removed from them and given to another!

Examples are found with Judas Escariot, the nation of Israel at the Golden Calf,  the Jew’s that were presently corrupt and abusing their high position in Paul’s day and the corrupt priestly service.

The point is;  a high position of calling has been placed upon the scattered remnant in Ephesus – a chosen nation, a royal priesthood, because that position of priesthood has been removed from Levi and placed upon them. Isaiah determines the context and it’s got nothing to do with; “we’re not under law, we’re under the dispensation of grace.”

It’s got everything to do with the Levitical Priesthood and the Jewish nation abusing their high position, and it’s been removed from them and given to another – the cast out tribes of v.1: Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, am a prisoner of Messiah Yeshua for the sake of you; the cast-out tribes! 

Ephesians 3:3-8;  3 that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote before briefly 4 When you read this, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Messiah. 5  which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations, as it has now been revealed by the Ruach to His holy emissaries and prophets. 6  This mystery is that the “cast off tribes in the nations” (v.1) (Gentiles) are joint heirs and fellow members of the same body and co-sharers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the Good News. 7  I became a servant of this Good News by the gift of Elohim’s favor given to me through the exercise of His power 8 This favor was given to me, the very least of His kedoshim, to proclaim to the tribes (Gentiles) the unsearchable riches of the Messiah.

‘Unsearchable riches of Messiah’: ‘anexichniastos’;  context is Job 5:9.

Ephesians 3:9  and to bring to light the plan of the mystery—which for ages was hidden in Elohim, who created all things.

‘Unsearchable riches of Messiah’ V. 8  ‘anexichniastos; ’

Psalms 78:1 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings which have been from the beginning. 3  All which we have heard and known, and our fathers have declared to us. 4  They were not hid from their children to a second generations; the fathers declaring the praises of יהוה , and his mighty acts, and his wonders which he wrought. 5  And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children: 6  that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare them to their children. 7  That they might set their hope on יהוה , and not forget the works of Elohim but diligently seek his commandments. 8  That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which set not its heart aright, and its spirit was not steadfast with Elohim. 9  The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting with the bow, turned back in the day of battle. 10  They kept not the covenant of Elohim, and would not walk in his Torah. 11  And they forgot his benefits, and his miracles which he had shewed them; 12  the miracles which he wrought before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanes. 13  He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as in a bottle.

14  And he guided them with a cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.15  he clave a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.

16  And he brought water out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down as rivers.17  And they sinned yet more against him; they provoked the Most High in the wilderness.18  And they tempted Elohim in their hearts, in asking meat for the desire of their souls.19  They spoke also against יהוה , and said, Will יהוה  be able to prepare a table in the wilderness? 20  Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people? 21  Therefore יהוה heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.22  Because they believed not in Elohim, and trusted not in his salvation.23  Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24  and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven. 25  Man ate angels’ bread; he sent them provision to the full. 26  He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the south-west wind. 27  And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas. 28  And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents. 29  So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.30  They were not disappointed of their desire: but when their food was yet in their mouth, 31  then the indignation of יהוה rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel. 32  In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles. 33  And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years with anxiety. 34  When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon Elohim. 35  And they remembered that יהוה was their helper, and the most high Elohim was their redeemer. :36  Yet they loved him only with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue. 37  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. 38  But he is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy them: yea, he will frequently turn away his wrath, and will not kindle all his anger. 39  And he remembered that they are flesh; a wind that passes away, and returns not. 40  How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, and anger him in a dry land! 41  Yea, they turned back, and tested יהוה , and provoked the Holy One of Israel.42  They remembered not his hand, the day in which he delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. 43  How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanes: 44  and had changed their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they should not drink. 45  He sent against them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; and the frog, and it spoiled them. 46  And he gave their fruit to the canker worm, and their labours to the locust. 47  He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost. :48  And he gave up their cattle to hail, and their substance to the fire. 49  He sent out against them the fury of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels. 50  He made a way for his wrath; he spared not their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death; 51  and smote every first-born in the land of Egypt; the first-fruits of their labours in the tents of Cham. 52  And he removed his people like sheep; he led them as a flock in the wilderness. 53  And he guided them with hope, and they feared not: but the sea covered their enemies. 54  And he brought them in to the mountain of his sanctuary, this mountain which his right hand had purchased.55  And he cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56  Yet they tested and provoked the most high Elohim, and kept not his testimonies.57  And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow. 58  And they provoked him with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 59 יהוה heard and lightly regarded them, and greatly despised Israel. 60  And he rejected the tabernacle of Selom, his tent where he dwelt among men. 61  And he gave their strength into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy’s hand. 62  And he gave his people to the sword; and disdained his inheritance. 63  Fire devoured their young men; and their virgins mourned not. 64  Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for. :65  So יהוה  awaked as one out of sleep, and as a mighty man who has been heated with wine. 66  And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he brought on them a perpetual reproach. 67  And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim; 68  but chose the tribe of Juda, the mount Sion which he loved. 69  And he built his sanctuary as on high; he founded it for ever on the earth. 70  He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep. 71  He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance. 72  So he tended them in the innocency of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

Ephesians 3:10  That the manifold wisdom of Elohim may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the Quahal/ecclesiah of Jacob,

Ephesians 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he made in Messiah Yahusha our Lord.

Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the ‘faith of him’/‘autos pistis’. 

Ephesians 3:13  So I ask you not to be faint by my tribulations on your behalf—they are your glory.

9 by-products in the believer that tribulations produce, and the 10th is a sign of the times!

1. Peace
2. Confidence
3. Entrance into the Kingdom
4. Patience
5. Hope
6. Joy
7. Comfort
8. Instant Prayer
9. Tried
10. It will come upon the last generation

Ephesians 3:14-21; 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our master Yahusha the Messiah 15  from Him every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16  I pray that from His glorious riches He would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Ruach, 17  so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love. 18  may have strength to grasp with all the kedoshim what is the width and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of Elohim. 20  Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, 21  to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.