Ephesians 3 · Verse 2

Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Ephesians 3:2, King James Version

Ephesians 3:2 in other translations

BSB	Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
WEB	if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you,
ASV	if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
YLT	if, indeed, ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me in regard to you,
DARBY	(if indeed ye have heard of the administration of the grace of God which has been given to me towards you,
BBE	If that ordering of the grace of God has come to your knowledge, which was given to me for you,
Webster	If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me on your account.

What does Ephesians 3:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. If--The Greek does not imply doubt: "Assuming (what I know to be the fact, namely) that ye have heard," &c. "If, as I presume," The indicative in the Greek shows that no doubt is implied: "Seeing that doubtless," &c. He by this phrase delicately reminds them of their having heard from himself, and probably from others subsequently, the fact. See Introduction, showing that these words do not disprove the address of this Epistle to the Ephesians. Compare Ac 20:17-24. the dispensation--"The office of dispensing, as a steward, the grace of God which was (not 'is') given me to you-ward," namely, to dispense to you.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 2. If ye have heard. ειγε. "If at least, if indeed, if so be, spoken of what is taken for granted." Robinson. Comp. 2Cor 5:3, Gal 3:4, Eph 4:21, Col 1:23, for the use of the particle. The particle here is not designed to express a doubt whether they had heard of it or not, for he takes it for granted that they had. Doddridge renders it, "Since I well know you have heard," etc. He had informed them of his being called to be the minister to the Gentiles, Eph 3:3, but still there was a possibility that they had not received the letter containing the information, and he goes, therefore, into another statement on the subject, that they might fully comprehend it. Hence this long parenthetical sentence--one of the longest that occurs in the writings of Paul, and expressed under the impulse of a mind full of the subject; so full, as we would say, that he did not know what to say first. Hence it is exceedingly difficult to understand the exact state of mind in which he was. It seems to me that the whole of this long statement grew out of the incidental mention Eph 3:1 of the fact that he was a prisoner for the Gentiles. Instantly he seems to have reflected that they would be grieved at the intelligence that he was suffering on their account. He goes, therefore, into this long account, to show them how it happened; that it was by the appointment of God; that it was in the evolving of a great and glorious mystery; that it was in a cause adapted to promote, in an eminent degree, the glory of God; that it was according to an eternal purpose; and he, therefore, Eph 3:13, says, that he desires that they would not "faint" or be unduly distressed on account of his sufferings for them, since his sufferings were designed to promote their "glory." He was comforted in the belief that he was making known the glorious and eternal plan of God, and in the belief that was for the welfare of mankind; and he, therefore, entreated then also not to be troubled inordinately at his sufferings.

The dispensation, Gr. economy; rendered stewardship Lk 16:2-4; and dispensation, Eph 1:10, 3:2, Col 1:25. Eph 1:10. It means here, that this arrangement was made that he should be the apostle to the Gentiles. In the assignment of the different parts of the work of preaching the gospel, the office had been committed to him of making it known to the heathen.

Of the grace of God. In the arrangements of his grace.

Which is given me to you-ward. Toward you who are Gentiles. Not to the Ephesians particularly, but to the nations at large. Gall 2:7.

(*) "ye have heard" "since" (a) "dispensation of the grace" Col 1:25 (b) "of God" Rom 12:3.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation - The compound particle ειγε, which is commonly translated if indeed, in several places means since indeed, seeing that, and should be translated so in this verse, and in several other places of the New Testament. Seeing ye have heard of the dispensation of God, which is given me to you-ward: this they had amply learned from the apostle during his stay at Ephesus, for he had not shunned to declare unto them the whole counsel of God, Act 20:27, and kept nothing back that was profitable to them, Act 20:20. And this was certainly among those things that were most profitable, and most necessary to be known. By the dispensation of the grace of God we may understand, either the apostolic office and gifts granted to St. Paul, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles, see Rom 1:5; or the knowledge which God gave him of that gracious and Divine plan which he had formed for the conversion of the Gentiles. For the meaning of the word economy see the note on Eph 1:10.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 3:1-7

For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 3:1-7 →

Ephesians 3:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἴeiIfG1487

γεgeindeedG1065

ἠκούσατεēkousateyou have heard ofG191

τὴνtēntheG3588

οἰκονομίανoikonomianadministrationG3622

τῆςtēsof theG3588

χάριτοςcharitosgraceG5485

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

τῆςtēswhichG3588

δοθείσηςdotheisēshaving been givenG1325

μοιmoito meG3165

εἰςeistowardG1519

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 3:2

1 Timothy 1:11
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Colossians 1:25-27
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Galatians 1:15-16
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Romans 1:5
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
2 Timothy 1:11
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Ephesians 4:7
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Romans 15:15-16
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Galatians 1:13
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
1 Corinthians 9:17-22
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; …
Ephesians 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

ye.
4:21; Ga 1:13; Col 1:4,6; 2Ti 1:11
the dispensation.
8; 4:7; Ac 9:15; 13:2,46; 22:21; 26:17,18; Ro 1:5; 11:13; 12:3
Ro 15:15,16; 1Co 4:1; 9:17-22; Ga 1:15,16; 2:8,9; Col 1:25-27
1Ti 1:11; 2:7; 2Ti 1:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ephesians 3:1
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Ephesians 3:2
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Ephesians 3:3
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Read all of Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:2 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Si es que habéis oído la dispensación de la gracia de Dios que me ha sido dada para con vosotros,
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	– (si du moins vous avez entendu parler de l’administration de la grâce de Dieu qui m’a été donnée envers vous:
German Elberfelder 1871	wenn ihr anders gehört habt von der Verwaltung der Gnade Gottes, die mir in Bezug auf euch gegeben ist,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	si tamen audistis dispensationem gratiæ Dei, quæ data est mihi in vobis: