Ephesians 3:9
New International Version
and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

New Living Translation
I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

English Standard Version
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

Berean Standard Bible
and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Berean Literal Bible
and to enlighten all what is the administration of the mystery having been hidden from the ages in God, the One having created all things,

King James Bible
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

New King James Version
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;

New American Standard Bible
and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;

NASB 1995
and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

NASB 1977
and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;

Legacy Standard Bible
and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

Amplified Bible
and to make plain [to everyone] the plan of the mystery [regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body] which [until now] was kept hidden through the ages in [the mind of] God who created all things.

Christian Standard Bible
and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

American Standard Version
and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And that I may enlighten every person by the administration of the mystery which was hidden from the world in God The Creator of all,

Contemporary English Version
God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:

English Revised Version
and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which from all ages hath been hid in God who created all things;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past.

Good News Translation
and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages,

International Standard Version
and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things.

Literal Standard Version
and to cause all to see what [is] the fellowship of the secret that has been hid from the ages in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ,

Majority Standard Bible
and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ.

New American Bible
and to bring to light [for all] what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things,

NET Bible
and to enlighten everyone about God's secret plan--a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.

New Revised Standard Version
and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;

New Heart English Bible
and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;

Webster's Bible Translation
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Weymouth New Testament
and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all the Ages lay concealed in the mind of God, the Creator of all things--

World English Bible
and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ,

Young's Literal Translation
and to cause all to see what is the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mystery of the Gospel
8Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,…

Cross References
Romans 11:25
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

Romans 16:25
Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past

Ephesians 3:2
Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:3
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

Ephesians 3:4
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Ephesians 6:19
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 1:26
the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.


Treasury of Scripture

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

to.

Matthew 10:27
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15,16
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature…

fellowship.

Ephesians 3:3-5
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, …

Ephesians 1:9,10
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: …

1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

beginning.

Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

hid.

Colossians 1:26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Colossians 3:3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

created.

Psalm 33:6
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…

Jump to Previous
Administration Ages Beginning Cause Christ Clear Concealed Created Creator Enlighten Fellowship First Hid Hidden Jesus Kept Light Mind Mystery Ordering Past Plain Plan Secret Show Stewardship Throughout Truth World
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Administration Ages Beginning Cause Christ Clear Concealed Created Creator Enlighten Fellowship First Hid Hidden Jesus Kept Light Mind Mystery Ordering Past Plain Plan Secret Show Stewardship Throughout Truth World
Ephesians 3
1. The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation;
8. and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it.
13. He desires them not to be discouraged over his tribulation;
14. and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them.














(9) To make all men see.--St. Paul speaks here first of manifestation to all men. The phrase used in the original is at once stronger and weaker than our version of it. It is stronger, for the word is, properly, to enlighten or illuminate--the same word used above (Ephesians 1:18), "the eyes of your heart being enlightened." Strictly, Christ alone is the Light of the world, "which enlightens every man" (John 1:4-5; John 1:9; John 8:2); but, as reflecting Him, He declared His servants to be the "light of the world." Yet it is weaker, for while we can enlighten, it is our daily sorrow that we cannot "make men see." Even He wept over Jerusalem because His light was, by wilful blindness, "hidden from their eyes" (Luke 19:41). To "open the eyes, and turn men from darkness to light," although (as in Acts 26:18) attributed in general terms to the servants of God, because naturally following on their ministry, is properly the work of the Holy Spirit, even in relation to the words of our Lord Himself (John 14:26). . . . Verse 9. - And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery. Another branch of his office, and another fruit of God's grace in conferring it. He was not only to benefit man, but also to vindicate God. For "fellowship of the mystery" (A.V.), the R.V. has "dispensation of the mystery," founded on the preference of the reading οἰκονομια, for which there is a great preponderance of authority over κοινωνία. It was the apostle's function to show how this mystery had been dispensed - concealed for a long time and at last revealed. Which from the beginning of the ages hath been hid in God. The counsel itself was πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων, before the foundation of the world; the concealment of it ἀπό τῶν αἰώνων, from the beginning of the ages, when there were intelligent beings capable of understanding it - whether angels or men. Whatever the angels may have known of the Divine plans, this feature of them was not known till revealed to the New Testament Church. Who created all things. The reason for adding this particular designation of God is not obvious; probably it is to indicate the relation of the matter in hand to the mightiest works of God. This is no trifling matter; it connects itself with God's grandest operations; it has supremely glorious bearings. It might be supposed to have relations only to one race and to one period of time; but it has relations to "all things;" it is an integral element in God's plan. The words, by Jesus Christ (A.V.), are not found in a great preponderance of textual authorities.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to illuminate
φωτίσαι (phōtisai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5461: From phos; to shed rays, i.e. To shine or to brighten up.

for everyone
πάντας (pantas)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

stewardship
οἰκονομία (oikonomia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3622: Management of household affairs, stewardship, administration. From oikonomos; administration; specially, a 'economy'.

of [this]
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

mystery,
μυστηρίου (mystēriou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3466: From a derivative of muo; a secret or 'mystery'.

which
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

for
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

ages past
αἰώνων (aiōnōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 165: From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period.

was hidden
ἀποκεκρυμμένου (apokekrymmenou)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 613: To hide away, conceal, keep secret. From apo and krupto; to conceal away; figuratively, to keep secret.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

God,
Θεῷ (Theō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

who
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

created
κτίσαντι (ktisanti)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2936: To create, form, shape, make, always of God. Probably akin to ktaomai; to fabricate, i.e. Found.

all things.
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 3:8
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