What is the context?
Paul describes his service to the gospel as a gift of grace working through God’s power. He calls himself less than the least of all the saints, placing his opportunity to serve in the setting of God’s generosity.
His task is to preach Christ’s unsearchable riches to the Gentiles and bring the previously hidden purpose to light. The Creator is the One who has held and now disclosed this purpose.
Paul then names a heavenly audience: through the church, God’s manifold wisdom is being made known to rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. The word manifold comes from πολυποίκιλος, polypoikilos (poh-loo-POY-kih-loss). Thayer’s lexicon explains this use as richly varied, shown in many forms. The life of this shared people displays the richness of God’s wisdom.
This belongs to the eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus. In Him, through faith, believers have confident access to God.
Paul therefore asks them not to become discouraged over his sufferings for them. His hardships belong to a service through which the Gentiles have received the blessings he has been describing.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Christians commonly read this as joining Paul’s grace-given mission with God’s purpose displayed through the church. Wesley’s notes on verses 7–13 emphasize the gift of service and the church as the setting where divine wisdom is shown. The USCCB notes on verses 1–13 likewise connect Paul’s mission, the inclusion of Gentiles and the making known of God’s purpose to heavenly beings.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
1 Peter 1:10–12 describes prophets searching into the salvation and grace now announced through the gospel by the Holy Spirit. It adds that even angels long to look into these things.
This gives another explicit picture of God’s saving work having significance beyond its human hearers. The welcome of His people through Christ displays His wisdom, and the heavenly realm attends to the salvation He has brought about.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.