Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Ephesians Chapter 3
Metaphysically Interpreting Ephesians 3:1-13
3:1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,-- 3:2if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; 3:3how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 3:4whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 3:5which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 3:6to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
3:7whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 3:8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 3:9and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; 3:10to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, 3:11according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 3:12in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. 3:13Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.
February 29, 1948: Ephesians 3:8-12
What inheres in the law that finds its fulfillment in the Christ? Wisdom and understanding.
Can the “things of God” be depleted or exhausted? No. No matter to what extent they are drawn upon, the riches of the Christ remain as infinite as before.
Can God be proved through our faith in substance? Whoever trusts spiritual substance become manifest in his life as he trusts the Christ (“in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him”) proves God and the existence of spiritual law.
Metaphysically Interpreting Ephesians 3:14-21
3:14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, 3:15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 3:16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 3:17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 3:19and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
3:20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 3:21unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
November 25, 1928: Ephesians 3:14-21
As the one great harmonizer, peace-giver, and health-giver, what does Jesus Christ teach? Jesus Christ teaches that love, in its universal application, will harmonize the world and will give it peace, health, and happiness.
Does God's protecting love, as taught by Jesus, include animals? God is love. God is the universal principle that unifies and harmonizes life and substance in all its forms. Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). It is written in Isaiah:
“And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6)
What is the keynote in the doctrine of Jesus Christ? Love is the keynote in the teaching of Jesus. He taught that we should first love God and then our neighbor, and that this love would fulfill the law.
What are the outstanding ideas in this lesson? The outstanding ideas are love, faith, and thanksgiving, for which the apostle Paul praised and gave thanks.
What is the most powerful prayer of thanksgiving? The most powerful prayer of thanksgiving is to thank the Spirit within for all things “according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man.”
What is the great objective of the spirit of thanksgiving? The great objective is “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.”
Do our blessings come from God direct or do they come through man? “God is Spirit.” When we dwell in “his Spirit in the inward man,” we receive our blessings direct from God. That reception may come in our own temporal life or it may come to us through others, but it has its initial source in God mind.
What measure of blessing should we ask? We should ask largely. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
June 4, 1944: Ephesians 3:14-19
How may we realize the divine nature within us? By developing faith and love in the Christ consciousness until we attain to “all the fulness of God.”
December 22, 1945: Ephesians 3:14-21
How does the son of man become the Son of God? By a transformation of the earth nature into the divine through aspiration and faithfully continued efforts to express the divine.
Does an unused gift benefit the recipient? No. It must be used and enjoyed to yield its full benefit.
What sort of expression is appropriate to us, when we are “strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man”? The expression that someone has made clear in these words:
“Power of any sort, whether of wealth or intellect or social position, or accident brings duty, the duty of truth, the duty of fairness, the duty of courtesy, the duty of sanity; a duty to the weak not to oppress them; a duty to the credulous, not to mislead them; a duty to one's friends, not to flatter or cajole them; a duty to one's enemies, not to malign them; a duty to the rich, not to be a sycophant; a duty to the poor, not to be a demagogue.” - The Life and Speeches of Charles Brantley Aycock
Metaphysically what is the “only begotten Son” to each one of us? It is our true spiritual self. As we recognize and acknowledge the Christ in our thoughts, words, and acts, we effect the transformation of flesh into spirit and make the outer as the inner.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-16-2014
