Ephesians 3:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This wisdom had once been appointed according to the purpose of the ancient ages, and now appears fulfilled in Christ. If the manifold wisdom of God, now revealed through the Church, was unknown to the Principalities and Powers in the heavens, by whom we must understand the holy ministers of God, then how much more was it unknown to the patriarchs and prophets.

Some, however, understand here the prince of the air and his angels. Of the patriarchs and prophets we have said above that they knew the mystery of Christ in a certain measure, but not as the Apostles knew it.

Therefore the wisdom of God, which is called by the Greek word polupoikilaj, and is, so to speak, manifold, has now been revealed through the Church of God to the Principalities and Powers. From of old God appointed it in His thought to be. Now, from what we see, we recognize that it has been perfected.

Thus the Cross of Christ was profitable not only for us, but also for the Angels and all the heavenly powers. It revealed the mystery which they did not know. Finally, they marvel at the Lord returning to heaven with His body and say, "Who is this who comes up from Edom, His garments red from Bozrah? Is this He who is majestic in shining apparel?" (Is 63:1). Elsewhere they say, "Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory" (Ps 23:10).

Therefore let us not think that in the Church there is only simple faith. The many-parted and manifold wisdom of God is marked not only by difference, but also by great variety. You look upon the cradle of Christ; look also upon heaven. You contemplate the Infant weeping in the manger; attend also to the Angels singing praises.

Herod raises persecution, but the Magi offer worship (Mt 2). The Pharisees remain ignorant, but the star reveals Him. He receives baptism from a servant, but the voice of God sounds from above (Mt 3). He is immersed in the waters, but the dove descends from heaven, the Spirit in the form of a dove (Mt 3:16).

He goes to His sufferings and fears the sufferings, wishing the cup to pass from Him. Yet He rebukes Peter because he fears the cup of sufferings. What is wiser than this seeming foolishness? What is clearer than this variety? What is more mysterious than this wisdom, which He wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord?

According to the thought of very many interpreters, on the basis of the sequence and connection of the discourse, this passage can be understood in relation to the creation of the Church and to the purpose, proqesij. In Latin we rendered this with the neuter word determination.

Yet the wisdom that was in Christ is indicated here chiefly before anything else, because "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (1 Cor 1:25). Therefore, if according to the mystical meaning wisdom was in Christ, the Arians boast in vain that this testimony favors them.

They claim that Wisdom was created at the beginning of God's ways, was begotten, and received a beginning. But according to their own thought, She was created and could not have been begotten. If She was begotten, how is it said that She was created and received a beginning?

One may ask where Saint Paul is leading this whole discourse, and why he speaks at length about the hiddenness of the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles, now only revealed. He does this to dispose the Ephesians more strongly to keep firm remembrance of this mystery, so precious for them. For this reason he said at the beginning of his discourse on it: "remember" (Eph 2:11). With the same aim, he also sets forth this special point: the preaching of this mystery has been entrusted chiefly to him, Paul, and for its sake he suffers and endures bonds (Eph 3:1). What followed from this? The Lord suffered in order to break down the dividing wall and bring you near. The one who called you to participation in this is in bonds. Will you remain inattentive to this, and will you not remember it? Such is the content and meaning of the first thirteen verses of chapter three (Bishop Theophan).

Then he exclaims: "If the angels did not know this and things like it, what is surprising if they did not know the wealth of Christ's love as it was revealed through the gospel?" To this Bishop Theophan adds: "The angels too are now brought into the restored union. It is the most exalted and sweetest object of contemplation for them, since they have for the first time shared in it and beheld it. In this lies the end of the redemptive actions of the God-man. In it the mystery of God's governance of the world is resolved, and the purpose of the creation of the world is attained." "See how great is what has been done for you, O Gentiles. Heaven and earth have been set in motion. Angelic minds are enlightened, delighted, and amazed by the contemplation of it. Therefore remember." Saint Chrysostom asks: "Why are Paul's tribulations the glory of the Ephesians?" He answers: "Because God so loved them that He gave His Only-begotten Son, and delivered the Apostles over to suffering. So great is God's love for them."

This makes no difference in meaning. In the divine predetermination of all that was accomplished by the Lord, the manifold wisdom was contained. When the Lord fulfilled this predetermination, what else did He manifest but the manifold wisdom? He testified about Himself that if He says anything, He says it as He has heard from the Father. If He does anything, He does it as He sees the Father doing (Jn 5:19). There, in the counsel before the ages, He also sat as God. What all the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity then determined by one concordant decision, the Only-begotten Son of God, God the Word, fulfilled in His Incarnation according to that determination. The thought of this text completes what was said above, indeed the whole discourse begun with verse eight. God, says the Apostle, has laid on me a special ministry. I am to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to disclose to all the ordering of this mystery. God hid it in Himself from eternity, in order now at last to reveal it, even to the angels, through the Church. All this is in accord with the eternal determination now fulfilled by Jesus Christ. See how great is what has been done for you, O Gentiles. Heaven and earth have been set in motion. Angelic minds are enlightened, delighted, and amazed by the contemplation of it. Therefore remember. Or "according to the purpose of the ages," the eternal determination, expresses a particular side of the matter as it is revealed to the angels. Having said that through the Church, through all that happens in her, is entrusted to her, and is attained by her, the manifold wisdom of God is shown to the angels, he now indicates the program of this declaration. He shows the plan by which this declaration proceeds and the subject it concerns. It is as though he said: through the Church, wisdom is shown to the angels according to, or in relation to, the subject of the eternal determination fulfilled by the Lord. The following words agree completely with this.