耶稣基督的奥秘 - 以弗所书读经随笔 第3章

以弗所书第三章第1-10节，保罗说他为了传福音给外邦人（即以色列以外的人），被捕作了囚徒。他说神将管理基督恩典的职责托付给了他，将福音的奥秘启示给了他。这奥秘在耶稣钉十字架之前没有叫人知道，如今借着圣灵启示给了他的使徒和先知。这奥秘是什么呢？保罗说这奥秘就是耶稣基督的福音不仅是拯救以色列人，也一起拯救外邦人，使外邦人和以色列人同蒙神的应许。保罗说他为此作了这福音的仆人，传福音给外邦人，揭示出这个奥秘。

弗3:1 因此，我保罗为你们外邦人作了基督耶稣被囚的，替你们祈祷（此句乃照对十四节所加）
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 
弗3:2 谅必你们曾听见神赐恩给我，将关切你们的职分托付我，
Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 
弗3:3 用启示使我知道福音的奥秘，正如我以前略略写过的。
that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 
弗3:4 你们念了，就能晓得我深知基督的奥秘。
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
弗3:5 这奥秘在以前的世代，没有叫人知道，像如今借着圣灵启示他的圣使徒和先知一样。
which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 
弗3:6 这奥秘就是外邦人在基督耶稣里，借着福音，得以同为后嗣，同为一体，同蒙应许。
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 
弗3:7 我作了这福音的执事，是照神的恩赐。这恩赐是照他运行的大能赐给我的。
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 
弗3:8 我本来比众圣徒中最小的还小。然而他还赐我这恩典，叫我把基督那测不透的丰富，传给外邦人。
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 
弗3:9 又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之神里的奥秘，是如何安排的。
and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 
弗3:10 为要借着教会使天上执政的，掌权的，现在得知神百般的智慧。
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms