Ephesians 3:9

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

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul, writing to the Ephesian church from imprisonment, has just claimed the grace to preach to the Gentiles (v. 8); here he widens the purpose from one missionary task to a universal disclosure.

The words — oikonomia (οἰκονομία) literally means "household administration" or "stewardship"; it is not a vague secret but a managed, ordered plan now being made public.

The thread — The same "hidden for ages, now revealed" pattern appears in Colossians 1:26, Matthew 13:35, and 2 Timothy 1:9, each tying the disclosure to God's prior purpose rather than human discovery.

Why it lands — The verse removes any sense that the gospel is a private possession; "everyone" (pantas) is the object of the illumination, which means the reader's role is transmission, not retention.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Colossians 1:26 the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 3:3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.
Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Hebrews 1:2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.