The Manifold Wisdom of God

This past weekend my husband and I attended a Biblical counseling conference. Fifteen sessions were packed into two and a half days. It is a deluge of information, often weighty information, in a short span of time. There is also a wealth of wisdom in the many speakers who faithfully teach. It’s convicting. It’s encouraging. It’s challenging. It reveals places I still struggle with sin as well as how much wisdom and knowledge I lack.

Two weeks ago, we covered Paul’s continued amazement that God in grace entrusted him to preach the Gospel, the unsearchable riches of Christ, to the Gentiles. This week we learn the reason Paul preached the unsearchable riches of Christ: the manifold wisdom of God might be made known.

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. ^[1]

Ephesians 3:1-13 (emphasis added)

“So that” – I have a box around these words in my Bible. They are words that serve as an alert. In Chapters 2 and 3, we see several similar instances: But God, But now, So then, For this reason, and So that. These phrases alert us to read what comes next in light of what has come before. Sometimes these phrases alert us to a contrast, and other times, they alert us to the reason for what has just been said. In verse 10, “So that” alerts us to the reason Paul preached to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (vs 8-9).

“through the church” – Sinners coming to saving faith is one reason for preaching the Gospel. This privilege and responsibility to preach the Gospel does not fall only on Paul, the Apostles, or today’s church leaders. Paul writes that it is through the church. The church is the instrument God uses. Paul has already defined who the church is in Chapter 2: “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (vs 18-22). Believing Jews and Gentiles, in Christ are united together as one body, the church.

The church is now making known the manifold wisdom of God. Manifold (polypoikilos in the Greek) is used only in this verse. “The word here translated manifold was sometimes used in secular Greek to mean ‘multi-colored’. It expresses the rich diversity and variety of forms in which God’s wisdom comes to expression in the community that belongs to Christ”^[2] (Sinclair Ferguson).

Benjamin Merkle also has a helpful definition: “To be varied beyond measure and in a way which surpasses all previous knowledge thereof.”^[3] Some instances of God’s manifold wisdom evidenced through the church include the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, the broken barriers, and the one body being built together with Jesus as the cornerstone.

God’s manifold wisdom is now being made known. Now is in contrast to “hidden for ages” (vs 9). Now indicates a new era – the era of the church.

God’s manifold wisdom is now being made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This should probably be understood as both holy angels and fallen angels to some extent, although they have no desire to praise God (vs 6:12; 1:21). In Peter’s letter, he explained: “in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12, emphasis added). Angels long to look into the mystery of the Gospel.

Scripture includes other references that the angels observe and are impacted by certain events among believers. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, regarding authority of a husband over the wife, he wrote that it was “because of angels” (1 Corinthians 11:9-10), meaning this Holy Spirit inspired instruction was so that the angels who were present at creation when God established the authoritative order of husbands and wives would not be offended. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, we read Paul’s charge to Timothy was “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect [holy] angels” (1 Timothy 5:21).

In verse 11 we see the primary purpose of the church: “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s manifold wisdom being made known through the church to holy and fallen angels was His purpose from all eternity, and it was accomplished (a finished work – “has realized) in Christ.  What this means is that the primary purpose of the church is to glorify God. All things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). Even the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). Whatever we do, it is to be for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

As the church makes known the manifold wisdom of God to the angels, the holy angels then praise God still more (Psalm 148:2; Hebrews 1:6). Fallen angels might not seem to fit into giving God glory, but they do from the point of view that God is glorified in frustrating their rebellion and attempts to destroy the church, and in His Holy wrath and judgment on them. We also look forward to the time when all those in Christ join the praise of the angels, glorifying God for all eternity in perfect worship (Revelation 4:8-11; 5:8-14; 7:9-12; 14:1-3; 19:1-8).

John MacArthur summarized verses 10-11: “In the classroom of God’s universe, He is the Teacher, the angels are the students, the church is the illustration, and the subject is the manifold wisdom of God.^[4] God chooses to make His manifold wisdom known through the church, through us, for the purpose of His glory.

Reflection

1.    You are part of the church, so it is through you as a member of the church that God’s manifold wisdom is made known. In what ways are you or can you make God’s manifold wisdom known (the Gospel or other truths from Scripture)?

2.    What are specific ways you could bring glory to God in the things you do each day (1 Corinthians 10:31)? We are to do all to the glory of God, but if you are like me, you probably need to work on one thing at a time. Pick one area to start with. Partner with someone to pray for you, hold you accountable, and encourage you. Memorize verses that remind you of who God is and what He has done in saving, sanctifying, and keeping you to encourage you in glorifying Him with your thoughts, motives, words, and actions.

3.    We do not have to wait and should not wait until heaven to glorify God. Our worship may be imperfect this side of heaven, but we can still praise God. Spend time today praising God.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 3:1–13.

^[2] Ferguson, Sinclair. Let’s Study Ephesians. Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust, 2015.

^[3] Merkle, Benjamin L. Expository Commentary, Vol. XI: Ephesians – Philemon. Wheaton, Crossway, 2018.

^[4] John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 97.