3:5 revealed. Note Ephesians 2:20. The foundation of the great house of God was laid by the apostles and prophets by means of divinely inspired revelation culminating in the New Testament Scriptures. Once that Scriptural foundation was laid, of course, it did not have to continue to be laid. Consequently, the gifts of apostleship and prophecy were ended with the completion of the New Testament, and John, the last apostle, warns against any such future claims (Revelation 22:18-19). The superstructure of the house is now being erected, with each new believer being added to the building by the Holy Spirit when he or she receives Christ by faith (Ephesians 2:19-22; I Peter 2:2-5).

3:6 his promise in Christ. Thus Gentile believers of the New Testament can now share in all the gracious promises of God in the Old Testament except those directly concerned with the specific future of Israel as a nation. See also Galatians 3:14. It is therefore perfectly proper for Christians to claim and apply the wonderful blessings promised in the Psalms and Proverbs and other such passages for themselves.

3:7 gift. “Gift” is essentially the same Greek word as “grace” and “given” in Ephesians 3:7-8. Paul stresses not only the free grace of God in salvation but in granting particular gifts of the Spirit and particular calls to service to individuals of His choosing. The word “minister” in this verse (Greek diakonos, from which we get “deacon”) refers to service, not office.

3:9 fellowship. Genuine spiritual fellowship thus should be enjoyed by all to whom has now been revealed the great truth of creation—that God has always had a wonderful creative purpose for all His people, whether Jew or Gentile.

3:9 created all things. Here, as in many other passages (e.g., John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-7; Hebrews 1:2), it is revealed that God the Creator is identical with Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate (John 1:14). Note that all things were both created by Jesus Christ and made by Jesus Christ (John 1:3)—that is, called into being out of nothing and then organized into complex, complete forms of being, each perfect for its particular purpose.

3:10 powers in heavenly places. This verse yields an amazing brief insight into God’s purposes with respect to His angelic creation, both the holy angels and the fallen angels who have followed Satan in his age-long rebellion against God. They are intently observing and learning about God, His nature and His purposes, through His work of creating and redeeming men and women, whom He had created in His image. Note also Job 1:3-2:10; I Peter 1:12; Hebrews 12:1. Thus “the church”—that is, the vast body of redeemed individuals, past and present—is serving as an instructor of angels, including the very angels who are currently assigned as our individual guardians and ministers. It is wonderful to contemplate being able to meet these angelic friends, person to person, in the age to come, when Christ returns with all His holy angels (II Thessalonians 1:7). We shall actually even judge the angels (I Corinthians 6:3).