Ephesians 3:9

...and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things

paul's ministry is to make God's plan clear to all people.

Paul is very clear that all people, Jews and Gentiles, are now included in God's plan of salvation. It is given to “all men” to be a part of God's kingdom.

this salvation, the mystery that was hidden for ages, is now revealed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In his death on the cross, he made payment for the sins of the whole world.

now Paul's ministry is to reveal to the whole world that which was hidden. The thing that was previously a hidden thing must now be revealed to all people .

the coming of Jesus into the world is a seismic shift in the affairs of people. It is impossible to exaggerate what's this means for humanity. Jesus brought salvation (see John 3:16), but he also brought judgement on those who refused his salvation (John 3:18). A huge chasm has opened up - but not between Jews and Gentiles. The chasm is between those who believe in Jesus and those who do not.

Jesus is the light of the world. He makes plain this mystery about salvation and judgement. If we believe in the sacrifice that he provides for us, then we are saved. If we hold on to our own ways, then we are condemned.

Paul, then, wants to make this mystery known to all people .

the phrase, “the plan of the mystery,” is itself a mystery. The New International Version translates it as “ the administration of this mystery,” while the New Living Translation renders the phrase as “ the mysterious plan.”

The word for plan is “oikonomia” from which we get the English word economy. It means to administer a household on behalf of another person. Sometimes it is translated as stewardship.

Paul is drawing our attention to the fact that God's way of salvation was not hidden for no purpose. There was a plan in the hiddenness off the way to salvation. This may be difficult for us to understand, but it is true that Christ came into the world at the right time, the appointed time, the kairos time.

The plan of salvation, the master plan for humanity, is being administered by God to demonstrate His wisdom to the spiritual rulers and authorities (Ephesians 3 10). The way in which Christ died for the church is part of God's plan to defeat the satanic forces seeking to overthrow him.

the mystery was hidden “in God.” Does this mean that God had a plan but He didn't want to share it with anybody else until he was ready to activate it?

this is partly true. To say that the plan was “ hidden in God” suggests that it was hidden in the very nature of God. It was always in the heart of God that He wanted to save the people who had been alienated from Him. It is God's love that drives Him to find a solution to sin that demonstrates to all people the depth and height of His love.

the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God became a human being just like us. He became the ransom, the sacrifice, and took away all of our sins.

Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrated in a very public way the dimensions of God's love and His justice. At that moment the mystery hidden in God was revealed to all people. Everyone who witnessed the crucifixion, and those who heard it from others, can see God's love for them and His grace in forgiving their sins.

this God who saves is the same God who created all things. There is nothing in the whole of creation, whether seen or unseen, physical or spiritual, that was not created by God.

the angels who worship God and the demons who hate God were created by Him. The people who embrace salvation and those who oppose it are likewise created by God.

because all things are created by God, they are all accountable to Him, and all will be judged on the basis of their relationship to Jesus .

key points in this verse:

• The plan of salvation was a mystery hidden in God

• Paul's ministry is to reveal this plan to all people

• Jesus’ coming into the world changed everything in the world and changed God's dealing with people

• the God who says is the same God who created all things