The Wisdom of God Revealed to Angels
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory
Ephesians 3:10-13 (NIV)
The first stage of Paul’s privileged ministry was making known Christ’s riches to the Gentiles. The second stage was making known the mystery to all humanity. The third stage is making known God’s wisdom to the cosmic powers: ’His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms’ (3:10). Though the gospel is primarily addressed to humans, it brings a message to ‘to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms’ (3:10). What does this mean?
The first result from the preaching of Christ’s ‘unsearchable riches’ and the ‘mystery’ was the birth and growth of the church. Gentiles and Jews embraced the gospel, were converted, and found themselves joint members of the family of God and the body of Christ. This new multi-racial humanity displayed the wisdom of God. The fact of the coming into existence of the church as a community of saved and reconciled people was at one and the same time a public demonstration of God’s power, grace and wisdom: first of God’s mighty resurrection power (1:19-2:6), next of His immeasurable grace and kindness (2:7) and now here of His ‘manifold wisdom’ (3:10). The word for ‘manifold’ means ‘many coloured’ and was used to describe embroidered cloths or woven carpets. The church as a multi-racial, multi-cultural community is a tapestry, a human community with unique diversity and harmony. The church, God’s many coloured society, is a reflection of the many coloured wisdom of God.
As the gospel spreads throughout the world, this new and variegated Christian community develops. Among those watching this happen are ‘rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms’ (3:10). Paul doesn’t clarify if he has in mind godly powers, hostile powers, or both. Those he does have in mind will see and understand His master plan as it is played out through the church. God reveals His glory to humans through the old creation, the universe, but He reveals His wisdom to angels through the new creation, the church. These ‘rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms’ learn from the church not only ‘the manifold wisdom of God’ but also ‘his eternal purpose’ (3:11). He has ‘accomplished’ this purpose ‘in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (3:11) in history through His death and resurrection, the gift of the Spirit, the preaching of the gospel and the creation of the church. For ‘in him,’ in Christ, ‘and through faith in him,’ all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles ‘approach God with freedom and confidence’ (3:12). This priesthood of all believers is a foundational privilege of all who are in Christ.
Because of the freedom of approach to the eternal God, and because of the greatness of His purpose within the scope and glory to which every Christian has been brought, Paul urges ‘I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory’ (3:13). Paul was well aware that his readers might lose heart because he, as the apostle and champion of the Gentiles was in prison. But he saw his imprisonment was for their ‘glory.’ Their apostle was continuing to live out the sufferings of Christ (Colossians 1:24) and this was all in the loving wisdom and purpose of God. Christ was being magnified by Paul’s weakness and confinement. With God nothing is wasted.
And why did he do this? So that every throne and rank of angelic orders in the heavenly realm would have unveiled before their eyes God’s full and diverse wisdom revealed through his loving plan for the church. This perfectly wise plan was destined from eternal ages and fulfilled completely in our Lord Jesus Christ, so that now we have boldness through him, and free access as kings before the Father because of our complete confidence in Christ’s faithfulness.
My dear friends, I pray that you will remain strong and not be discouraged or ashamed by all that I suffer on your behalf, for it is for your glory Ephesians 3:10-13 (The Passion Translation)