Biblion Bible Commentary
Read the introduction to Ephesians · About this commentary
Made Known to the Principalities
Ephesians 3:10-13
10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, · WEB
The congregation is described as the means by which God's wisdom is shown to unseen powers, which makes an ordinary church an exhibit.
Verse 10 is the most unexpected sentence in the letter. The purpose of everything just described is that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places.
Three things in it are worth separating. The audience is not human. The venue is the heavenly places, the letter's own phrase for the fourth of five times Ephesians 1:3 Ephesians 2:6 Ephesians 6:12. And the medium is the assembly — the congregation itself is what the demonstration consists of.
What is demonstrated is manifold wisdom, a word for something many-colored or intricately patterned. And what makes a mixed congregation intricate is exactly what chapter 2 described: two peoples with a wall between them, now one body. Powers who had watched that hostility are shown its end, and the letter says the showing is happening now.
That gives the instructions of chapters 4 to 6 a weight they would not otherwise carry. A congregation quarrelling, lying to one another, or letting the sun go down on its anger Ephesians 4:25–26 is not merely failing at community life. It is spoiling the exhibit.
Verse 11 anchors it in the eternal purpose, and verse 12 gives the readers' own access — boldness and access in confidence, the frank speech of someone entitled to be in the room.
Verse 13 then turns back to his chains with a claim that should be read slowly: his troubles are your glory. Not a consolation for himself, but a benefit assigned to them.
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