SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:10
Para que la multiforme sabiduría de Dios sea ahora notificada por la Iglesia a los principados y potestades en los cielos,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:10
Verse 10. That now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places] Who are these principalities and powers? Some think evil angels are intended, because they are thus denominated, chap. vi. 12. Others think good angels are meant; for as these heavenly beings are curious to investigate the wondrous economy of the Gospel, though they are not its immediate objects, see 1 Pet. i. 12, it is quite consistent with the goodness of God to give them that satisfaction which they require. And in this discovery of the Gospel plan of salvation, which reconciles things in heaven and things on earth - both men and angels, these pure spirits are greatly interested, and their praises to the Divine Being rendered much more abundant. Others imagine the Jewish rulers and rabbins are intended, particularly those of them who were converted to Christianity, and who had now learned from the preaching of the Gospel what, as Jews, they could never have known. I have had several opportunities of showing that this sort of phraseology is frequent among the Jews, and indeed not seldom used in the New Testament. Dr. Macknight, whose mode of arguing against this opinion is not well chosen, supposes that "the different orders of angels in heaven are intended, whose knowledge of God's dispensations must be as gradual as the dispensations themselves; consequently their knowledge of the manifold wisdom of God must have been greatly increased by the constitution of the Christian Church." Of this there can be no doubt, whether the terms in the text refer to them or not. By the Church] That is, by the Christians and by the wonderful things done in the Church; and by the apostles, who were its pastors.
The manifold wisdom of God] h polupoikilov sofia? That multifarious and greatly diversified wisdom of God; laying great and infinite plans, and accomplishing them by endless means, through the whole lapse of ages; making every occurrence subservient to the purposes of his infinite mercy and goodness. God's gracious design to save a lost world by Jesus Christ, could not be defeated by any cunning skill or malice of man or devils: whatever hinderances are thrown in the way, his wisdom and power can remove; and his infinite wisdom can never want ways or means to effect its gracious designs.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places , &c.] By whom are meant, not civil magistrates, much less evil angels, but the good angels, the angels in heaven; (See Gill on Ephesians 1:21). might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God ; not the perfection of wisdom, nor Jesus Christ the wisdom of God, nor the holy Scriptures; but the Gospel, which is the pure produce of the wisdom of God; which is gloriously displayed in the several doctrines of it; as in election, in choosing men in Christ for the security of their persons, in founding it not upon their works, but his own grace, for the security of his purpose, and in pitching on such persons as he has, for the magnifying of his grace: and in redemption, which is seen in the person of the Redeemer, who is both God and man; and in the manner in which it is effected, being both for the glory of God's grace and mercy, and for the honour of his justice and holiness; and wherein Satan is mortified, sin is condemned, and the sinner saved: and in justification, whereby sinful men become just with God: God is just, and yet the justifier of him that believes; the ungodly is justified, and yet not justified in his ungodliness, but from it: and in the pardon of sin, in which iniquity is forgiven, and yet vengeance is taken on men's inventions; it is an act of mercy, and yet of justice; it is by price, and yet of free grace; and the like may be observed of all other doctrines of the Gospel. And it may be called manifold, because of its various doctrines and promises and because of the various instances of wisdom in them, and the various persons to whom it is made known, and the various times in which it is displayed: and now under the Gospel this is more clearly known, or made known to the angels by the church of God, through the ministry of the word in it, on which angels attend, being desirous to look more diligently into the mysteries of it; and by the displays of the wisdom and grace of God unto his church and people.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-12 - Those whom God advances to honourable employments, he makes low in their own eyes; and where God gives grace to be humble, there he give all other needful grace. How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ; the unsearchable riches of Christ! Though many are not enriched with thes riches; yet how great a favour to have them preached among us, and to have an offer of them! And if we are not enriched with them it is ou own fault. The first creation, when God made all things out of nothing and the new creation, whereby sinners are made new creatures by converting grace, are of God by Jesus Christ. His riches are a unsearchable and as sure as ever, yet while angels adore the wisdom of God in the redemption of his church, the ignorance of self-wise an carnal men deems the whole to be foolishness.
Greek Textus Receptus
ινα 2443 γνωρισθη 1107 5686 νυν 3568 ταις 3588 αρχαις 746 και 2532 ταις 3588 εξουσιαις 1849 εν 1722 τοις 3588 επουρανιοις 2032 δια 1223 της 3588 εκκλησιας 1577 η 3588 πολυποικιλος 4182 σοφια 4678 του 3588 θεου 2316
Vincent's NT Word Studies
10. To the intent that. Connect with the matter of the two preceding verses. Grace was given me to preach Christ and to enlighten men as to the long-hidden mystery of the admission of the Gentiles, in order that now, etc.
Now. In contrast with all ages.
Principalities and powers. Good angels. See on ch. i. 21.
By the Church (dia). Better, through, as Rev. By means of the Church. This agrees with what was said of the Church as the fullness of God, ch. i. 23.
Manifold wisdom (polupoikilov sofia). A very striking phrase. The adjective occurs only here, and means variegated. It is applied to pictures, flowers, garments. Poikilon is used in the Septuagint of Joseph's coat, Gen. xxxvii. 3. Through the Church God's wisdom in its infinite variety is to be displayed - the many-tinted wisdom of God - in different modes of power, different characters, methods of training, providences, forms of organization, etc.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:10 {To the intent that} (hina). Final clause. {Might be made known} (gnwrisqei). First aorist passive subjunctive of gnwrizw with hina. The mystery was made known to Paul (#3:3) and now he wants it blazoned forth to all powers (Gnostic aeons or what not). {Through the church} (dia tes ekklesias). The wonderful body of Christ described in chapter #Eph 2. {The manifold wisdom of God} (he polupoikilos sofia tou qeou). Old and rare word, much-variegated, with many colors. Only here in N.T. poikilos (variegated) is more common (#Mt 4:24).
