Ephesians Part 10
Paul emphasizes that the truth he preached was not passed down to him by any man, nor was it derived from human study, tradition or intellect. It was given directly by revelation—God Himself revealed it to Paul through His Spirit.
In Ephesians 3:3, Paul writes,
“how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).”
Paul emphasizes that the truth he preached was not passed down to him by any man, nor was it derived from human study, tradition or intellect. It was given directly by revelation—God Himself revealed it to Paul through His Spirit. This divine revelation was necessary because the truths of the New Covenant were mysteries—truths hidden from previous generations until Christ made them known.
Paul was uniquely taught by God. In Galatians 1:11–12, he wrote,
“I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Paul didn’t learn this message in Jerusalem from the other apostles. In fact, after his dramatic conversion, he was taken to Arabia (Galatians 1:17–18), where Christ personally instructed him in the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.
In 1 Corinthians 2:7–16, Paul further explains this divine revelation, writing,
“We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.”
This “wisdom” was not something that could be understood through the natural mind or worldly philosophy. Paul explains that the rulers of this age, blinded to God’s plan, crucified the Lord of glory because they did not understand it. He quotes,
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
But Paul immediately continues, “God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10). It is the Holy Spirit who searches all things, even “the deep things of God,” and imparts spiritual understanding to those whom God calls. The natural mind cannot comprehend spiritual truth—it seems foolishness to the world—but those who are spiritual, led by the Spirit of God, discern the things of God. As Paul concludes, “We have the mind of Christ.”
The question, “Who taught Paul?” is answered simply: Christ Himself. Paul’s understanding came through revelation by the Holy Spirit, not through human teachers.
Paul describes this same truth in Romans 16:25–26, writing,
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest . . .”
The mystery was kept hidden through the ages, though the prophets had spoken glimpses of it. But now, through the coming of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, the full meaning of God’s plan has been unveiled to His servants.
Paul continues in Ephesians 3:5:
“which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”
This statement shows that God’s plan of salvation for all humanity—Jew and Gentile alike—was not fully understood in previous generations. While the prophets foretold that Gentiles would one day come to know God (as in Isaiah 56:6–8, where foreigners who love the Lord are welcomed into His house of prayer), the full revelation of this inclusion was hidden until Christ.
Even Jesus’ disciples, though they heard His teaching firsthand, didn’t initially grasp the totality of this mystery. For example, when Peter was sent by God to preach to the Gentile centurion Cornelius (Acts 10), he was astonished that the Holy Spirit fell upon Gentiles just as it had upon Jewish believers. This was the beginning of the Church’s awakening to the truth that salvation through Christ was not limited to Israel, but extended to all peoples.
Later, in Acts 15, the apostles and elders met in Jerusalem to discuss this very issue—the inclusion of Gentiles into the faith. The council, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, came to understand that God’s plan was far larger than they had previously realized. The covenant promises to Abraham were now being fulfilled in a spiritual sense through Christ, in whom both Jew and Gentile are one body.
This realization directly counters the thinking of the world—past and present—which often dismisses spiritual truth as foolishness or mythology. Paul warned that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Secular philosophies—whether humanism, nihilism or postmodernism—see the Scriptures as mere ancient literature or cultural relics. Yet God’s Word declares that true understanding comes not through human reason or power but by His Spirit: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6).
It is through this revelation of the Spirit that the apostles came to see God’s expansive plan—to call all nations, languages and peoples to be reconciled through Christ.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
