Haiti and Ephesians Chapter 3

We have been studying Ephesians 3:1-13 in our house church and I have been thinking about how the passage applies to the Haiti mission trip I'll be leaving on shortly. Here's the passage from the ESV bible.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:8-13, ESV)

R. C. Sproul commented on the word "manifold" in his blog.

The Greek word translated “manifold” here was often used in the first century to describe the intricately embroidered patterns found on cloaks worn by the wealthy. Divine wisdom is incredibly rich, even colorful, similar to the patterns found on these cloaks. Yet God’s glory is even richer, and evidencing it to other creatures displays His magnificence more fully.

Charles Hodge, the great Princeton Theologian, has insightful comments on the passage.

The expression, ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία, "manifold wisdom," refers to the various aspects under which the wisdom of God is displayed in redemption; in reconciling justice and mercy; in exalting the unworthy while it effectually humbles them; in the person of the Redeemer, in his work; in the operations of the Holy Spirit; in the varied dispensations of the old and new economy, and in the whole conduct of the work of mercy and in its glorious consummation. It is by the church redeemed by the blood of Christ and sanctified by his Spirit, that to all orders of intelligent beings is to be made, through all coming ages, the brightest display of the divine perfections. It is ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις that this exhibition of the manifold wisdom of God is to be made διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας. This gives us our highest conception of the dignity of the church. The works of God manifest his glory by being what they are. It is because the universe is so vast, the heavens so glorious, the earth so beautiful and teeming, that they reveal the boundless affluence of their maker. If then it is through the church God designs specially to manifest to the highest order of intelligence, his infinite power, grace and wisdom, the church in her consummation must be the most glorious of his works. Hence preaching the Gospel, the appointed means to this consummate end, was regarded by Paul as so great a favour. To me, less than the least, was this grace given. (Charles Hodge's Commentary on Ephesians 3)

Wayne Grudem uses the Ephesians passage to explain how God is displaying his wisdom not only to our fellow man, but to the angels in the heavenly places in the universe at large.

When Paul preaches the gospel both to Jews and to Gentiles, and they become unified in the one body of Christ (Eph. 3:6), the incredible “mystery” that was “hidden for ages in God who created all things” (Eph. 3:9) is plain for all to see, namely, that in Christ such totally diverse people become united. When groups so different racially and culturally become members of the one body of Christ, then God’s purpose is fulfilled, “that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10).

Today this means that God’s wisdom is shown even to angels and demons (“principalities and powers”) when people from different racial and cultural backgrounds are united in Christ in the church. If the Christian church is faithful to God's wise plan, it will be always in the forefront in breaking down racial and social barriers in societies in the world, and will thus be a visible manifestation of God's amazingly wise plan to bring great unity out of great diversity and thereby to cause all creation to honor him. (p.193, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Grudem).

Think about this for a moment. God displays complexity, beauty and symmetry in his design of the universe even to the most basic subatomic particles. Physicists use the principle of symmetry to predict the properties of subatomic particles they expect to find in particle accelerators. Another example, God has made millions of galaxies. Each galaxy has millions of stars which have planets orbiting around them. All these planets have the same unique and breathtaking complexity that the earth has.

Here is my final example, the psalmist exclaims in Psalm 139 that "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." God designed man using complex and intricate structures in the brain, muscles, blood vessels, and cellular structures. There is an infinite number of examples of God's wisdom and complexity in the design of the universe. However, even with all this complexity and intricacy in the physical world, God has chosen how He uses the Church to unify mankind into the body of Christ as the method to display His manifold wisdom to the angels in the heavenly realms. To put it in another way, God has chosen how the Church does cross-cultural missions to exhibit His love and wisdom throughout the infinite universe. Please ponder, praise and pray about that idea while I'm in Haiti.