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Chapter 3

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Eph 3:3-6

How that by revelation the Mystery has been made known to me as I wrote to you in few words, whereby, etc.; that is to say, doubtless you have heard of the dispensation of grace which is given me to you-ward, that by revelation a I received the knowledge of this mystery, about which I wrote unto you, as much as was possible in few words, that ye might also know what knowledge I had received shout this mystery which was made known to me by Christ.  What then was the Mystery which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has been now revealed, that is to say, that the Gentiles should be heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise of the Christ (Verse 6); this is, he says, that which was not known beforehand, but is now revealed to the Apostles and Prophets (Verse 5). He calls Prophets those who came after the Christ, like Barnaba and Niger, etc., that by means of  the Church might be made known His wisdom, etc. He calls the manifold wisdom of God, the distinction of Three Persons in unity of nature, which was hid from before the worlds, etc.

 

Eph 3:15

From Whom all the Paternity in Heaven and in Earth is named; this appellation, in the Greek, is one which applies to both Fatherhood and assemblage; as also a rule applies to the public and to the profaned and to association; thus also; applies to the boundary and to the mountain and to the portion. Also γενητον applies to the begotten and to the created thing and to the nativity, and also there is another word that applies to physicians and to strong men; therefore he who translated ιατρος it into Syriac explained thus: and that strong men shall arise, etc.; but in the Greek it is that physicians shall arise, etc.; thus instead of fatherhood in Heaven; the Greek says assembly. Therefore the Interpreter says, that some have interpreted this word as fatherhood and have not understood that one ought to read, assembly; because Fatherhood indicates the family and the race; but in Heaven there is no family nor race; but there are many assemblies. The Syrian Doctors interpret thus, saying. Because here in the time of our mortality and of our nativity, we call God Father, who has made us worthy to call ourselves sons, and there in the Kingdom of Heaven we call Him Our Father, as becomes those who are perfected and completed, the Apostle says this, just as here like infants we call God Ab-ba, and there establishing Him as Father; therefore these two names belong to Him, Ab-ba here, and Our Father in Heaven. But Hannana says, He from whom all Fatherhood in Heaven and Earth is derived and kept and named, that is to say, the Fatherhood and Sonhood of mortal flesh, and the Fatherhood and Sonhood of heavenly spirit, all natural Fatherhood on the Earth is from Him; and all Fatherhood of Grace in Heaven is from Him.

 

Eph 3:18

That you may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the height and depth and length and width. I pray, he says, that in the happiness of Grace ye may with all the saints partake in the gift of God; thus also this, that you may know the greatness, etc., it is that ye may enjoy it, like Show me Thy path of life; that is to say, that Thou should give me the happiness of life. He makes known about the greatness of the gift, in height and depth and length and width. Jesus bar Nun says that  height is a parable of Godhead; depth, of His dispensation in the body; and length is a parable of incorporeal nature; and breadth of bodily natures. Others say that everything that is apart from God is all your possession, and came into being on your account; saying that by these names of height and depth, etc., he includes the end and limit of everything. Others say of the five Theories, that is to say, ye are worthy to comprehend with all the Theophori what is the height, that is to say, the Theory of the Trinity; and the depth, that is to say, Theories of embodied and disembodied beings; that is to say, of every created thing; and the length, that is to say, the Theory of judgment; and the breadth, that is to say, the Theory of the care and providence of God. Others say, that Paul calls height and depth the incomprehensibility of the good things of God; like this, O the depth of the riches! etc., but by means of length and breadth, he indicates the abundance and perfection of these good things. Again, height and depth are the Mystery of the adorable Trinity; and length and breadth are the Mystery of the Incarnation. Again, he calls height God the Word; and depth, the Man from amongst us; and length, the dispensation which has been administered in this world by His mediation; but breadth the judgment which He will accomplish in the world beyond. Again, Paul calls height and depth and length and breadth the Mystery of the Theory of the Cross which in its four ends and stems sanctifies the worlds and the creatures. Now Chrysostom says about the great Mystery which was provided for our sake by God the Word, and its cause is by means of a man from amongst us; that is to say, that ye may be able with all exactitude to know the love of God towards you which holds above and below and all things that are round about. Again the benefits and helps which have been given to us are given by the mediation of the Christ, the height and depth, etc., of their knowledge being incomprehensible.

 

Eph 3:19

And that you may be filled with all the fullness of God; as also you may be seen to be a part of the common body, in which God dwells more than in anything else, which is the Body of the Christ, with which the whole world is chained and girded; which is the fullness of the works of God, hidden and visible. Others say that he calls the fullness of God, the measure and completion to which all is destined to come at the last; or, he says, they are filled by God in the voluntary indwelling which He will have there with every man. Hannana says that, you may come to the completion of all knowledge which is made to be done by means of the Christ, like the man who fills up whatever is wanting in his nature.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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