Ephesians 1:9
making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The "mystery of his will" isn't something confusing or unknowable; it's God's gracious plan for salvation, which was hidden in ages past but is now clearly revealed through Christ. This revelation is entirely rooted in God's own loving choice, not in any merit or action from us.
Paul is detailing God's eternal plan of salvation, which was hidden but now revealed. This verse explains that this revelation is a "mystery of his will," meaning a truth previously concealed but now made known by God's gracious choice and purpose, all centered in Christ. This understanding flows directly from God's blessings to believers, chosen before the world's creation and predestined for adoption as sons.
What's so mysterious about God's will, and why is it revealed to us?
The verse highlights a 'mystery of His will' that God has made known. This isn't a puzzle to be solved or something inherently incomprehensible. Instead, a 'mystery' in biblical terms is a truth previously hidden or unknown, which God now reveals through His Word and Spirit.
What was this Mystery?
While the broader context of Ephesians speaks to God's eternal plan, a significant aspect of this revealed mystery, especially for the early church, was the inclusion of Gentiles into God's people alongside Jewish believers. This was a radical concept, not previously clear in the Old Testament. It encompassed the entire gracious plan of salvation through faith in Christ, showcasing God's sovereign choice in who, when, and how salvation would be offered. It's the unfolding of God's deep, loving plan to bring people into relationship with Him.
Why does God do what He does? It's not random, but deeply rooted in His own being.
The verse connects the revealed mystery to God's 'good pleasure' and His 'purpose, which he set forth in Christ.' This tells us that God's actions are not arbitrary or reactive. They originate from His own internal, unchangeable nature.
God's Inner Life
Understand the original words
mystērion · Greek Noun
In biblical context, this refers to a truth that was previously hidden by God but is now revealed to His people through the Holy Spirit and the Gospel. It is not an obscure puzzle but a divine disclosure of God's redemptive plan.
thelēma · Greek Noun
The overarching desire or sovereign intent of God. It refers to His predetermined plan for history and the ultimate accomplishment of His purposes through Christ.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians reveals that the 'mystery' of God's will isn't some abstract, unknowable secret, but the concrete, world-changing reality that God's plan for salvation, long hidden, is now openly revealed in Christ to include *all* people, Jew and Gentile alike, as one family. This truth wasn't a sudden whim but an eternal purpose unfolding through history.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, establishing a covenant with them at Mount Sinai and giving them the Law. This event marks a pivotal moment in God's dealings with His chosen people.
c. 950 BC
Temple in Jerusalem Completed
King Solomon completes the First Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship for Israel. This solidifies a unified national religious identity.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and exiles much of the Jewish population. This is a profound crisis, leading to questions about God's promises.
c. 539 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
The Persian king Cyrus the Great allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks a significant restoration, but the community grapples with its identity and God's plan.
This passage directly echoes Ephesians 1:9, stating that the 'mystery hidden for ages and generations' is now revealed to God's saints, highlighting the revelation aspect of God's plan.
Romans 16:25-26Here, Paul refers to the 'mystery that was kept secret for long ages' but is now disclosed through prophetic writings, emphasizing the unfolding revelation of God's eternal purpose.
1 Corinthians 2:7This verse speaks of the 'wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,' which God destined before the ages to our glory, paralleling the concept of a divinely purposed plan now made known.
Galatians 1:15-16Paul recounts how God set him apart and revealed His Son in him, demonstrating the personal revelation of God's will and purpose in Christ that is central to Ephesians 1:9.
vincentEphesians 1:9: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:"
Having made knownThe participle is explanatory of which He made to abound, etc.: in that He made known.The mystery of His willFor mystery, see on Romans 11:25; see on Colossians 1:26. Another key-word of this epistle. God's grace as manifested in redemption is a mystery in virtue of its riches and depth - as the expression of God's very nature. The mystery of the…
gillEphesians 1:9: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:"
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,.... The Gospel, which is a mystery, a hidden mystery, the mystery of God and of Christ, and the mystery of the Gospel; the several doctrines of it are called the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; such as are concerning the trinity of persons in the Godhead, the union of the two natures in Christ, his sonship an…
The "mystery of his will" isn't something confusing or unknowable; it's God's gracious plan for salvation, which was hidden in ages past but is now clearly revealed through Christ. This revelation is entirely rooted in God's own loving choice, not in any merit or action from us.
Paul is detailing God's eternal plan of salvation, which was hidden but now revealed. This verse explains that this revelation is a "mystery of his will," meaning a truth previously concealed but now made known by God's gracious choice and purpose, all centered in Christ. This understanding flows directly from God's blessings to believers, chosen before the world's creation and predestined for adoption as sons.
Paul is detailing God's eternal plan of salvation, which was hidden but now revealed. This verse explains that this revelation is a "mystery of his will," meaning a truth previously concealed but now made known by God's gracious choice and purpose, all centered in Christ. This understanding flows directly from God's blessings to believers, chosen before the world's creation and predestined for adoption as sons.
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c. 4 BC - AD 30/33— this verse
Life, Ministry, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lives, teaches, dies for the sins of humanity, and is resurrected. This is the central event of history, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and initiating a new covenant.
c. AD 40-60
Apostle Paul's Missionary Journeys
Paul travels extensively throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and spreading the gospel, including the message that Gentiles can be part of God's people without adhering to Jewish law.
c. AD 62
Paul Writes Ephesians
From a Roman prison, Paul writes his letter to the church in Ephesus, a Gentile-majority congregation. He explains the "mystery" of God's plan: the inclusion of Gentiles into one unified body in Christ.
"making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ" — The "mystery of his will" isn't something confusing or unknowable; it's God's gracious plan for salvation, which was hidden in ages past but is now clearly revealed through Christ. This revelation is…
