Limitless Word
His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Ephesians 3:10 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
  • KJV To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
  • NKJV to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
  • NASB so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
  • NLT God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Through the church, God's manifold wisdom is now displayed to spiritual powers. It reveals the church as the showcase of God's wisdom to the heavenly realms.

Overview

God's purpose is that 'now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places.' The very existence of a reconciled people of Jew and Gentile displays God's wisdom to angelic and spiritual beings. The church thus has cosmic significance in God's plan.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 20

  • 1 Pet 1:12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
  • Eph 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
  • 1 Cor 2:7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
  • Rom 11:33O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
  • Eph 1:21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
  • Eph 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
  • 1 Cor 1:24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
  • 1 Pet 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
  • Matt 11:25–27At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
  • Col 1:16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
  • Rom 8:38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
  • 1 Tim 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
  • Ps 104:24How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.
  • Rev 5:9–14And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
  • Eph 1:8that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
  • Exod 25:17–22And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
  • Ps 103:20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
  • Ezek 3:12Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me: ‘Blessed be the glory of the LORD in His dwelling place!’
  • Ps 148:1–2Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places.
  • Isa 6:2–4Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ephesians videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ephesians 3:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EphesiansMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.

How Ephesians 3:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.