Ephesians 3:11-13 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13So I ask not to be discouraged over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Paul now connects his discussion in this passage with the opening ideas of the letter in 1:3-14 to show that the gospel has been God’s plan before time existed. God’s purpose for the redemption of the world was set for eternity (literally, “of the ages”) and was made known in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is a significant statement about the cosmic nature of the gospel. It is only when we put ourselves in Christ by accepting God’s offer of grace that we will understand and experience God’s highest purpose for us.
Our relationship with Christ and the new existence we live because of his lordship give us boldness, especially in the face of suffering and challenges. Boldness (parrēsian) can also be translated as “confidence” or “fearlessness.” This is driven by faith and hope and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). Paul needed boldness to face his imprisonment. Few Christians will face imprisonment, but it is possible and does happen. Being in relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit will help us endure whatever persecution we will face. Being in Christ Jesus also gives access. Paul does not say here to what believers have access, but most obviously, we have access to God’s grace and mercy. As a result, we also have access to the hope of salvation and all that is associated with salvation, beginning in this lifetime and then for eternity.
The prepositional phrase, with confidence or “trust,” could go with both boldness and access. We can have assurance that the gospel promises are true because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This is our hope. He is our solid rock and foundation upon which all our hope is based. This is confirmed with the last prepositional phrase of v. 12: through our faith in him. The genitive “of him” is likely showing that Jesus is the focus of our faith. This verse is a powerful reminder that would help the believers in Ephesus and surrounding area that there is more to faith in Jesus than simply an intellectual thought but their faith is of part of something eternal, cosmic, and that will help them live each day with victory over sin and any persecution they might face.
Paul ends this section in v. 13 by confirming the above conclusion and making it clear that one of his purposes in laying out the gospel is such grand ways so far in this letter is to remind the Ephesus to stand strong and not be discouraged because they see what is happening to Paul. If this letter was written from Rome, the Ephesians could have worried about Paul since his stopover there recorded in Acts 19. Paul gave a heart breaking farewell to the church before he headed to Jerusalem. There was a sense that this would be the last they saw of him. This letter attempts to put hope back in them by reminding them that there is something even greater happening. Both they and Paul are part of God’s eternal plan. Even Paul’s imprisonment will turn out to help the Ephesians experience this plan.
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