Footnotes

1. Ephesians 3:1 tc Several early and significant witnesses, chiefly of the Western group (א* D* F G 365), lack ᾿Ιησοῦ (Iēsou, “Jesus”) here, while most Alexandrian and Byzantine mss (P⁴⁶ א¹ A B C D¹ Ψ 33 1175 1505 1739 [1881] 2464 M lat sy bo) have the word. However, because of the Western text’s proclivities to add or delete to the text, seemingly at whim, serious doubts should be attached to the shorter reading. It is strengthened, however, by א’s support. Nevertheless, since both א and D were corrected with the addition of ᾿Ιησοῦ, their testimony might be questioned. Further, in majuscule script the nomina sacra here could have led to missing a word by way of homoioteleuton (cMuiMu). At the same time, in light of the rarity of scribal omissions of nomina sacra (see TCGNT 582, n. 1), a decision for inclusion of the word here must be tentative. NA²⁸ rightly places ᾿Ιησοῦ in brackets.
2. Ephesians 3:2 sn If indeed. The author is not doubting whether his audience has heard, but is rather using provocative language (if indeed) to engage his audience in thinking about the magnificence of God’s grace. However, in English translation, the apodosis (“then”-clause) does not come until v. 13, leaving the protasis (“if”-clause) dangling. Eph 3:2-7 constitute one sentence in Greek.
3. Ephesians 3:2 tn Or “administration,” “dispensation,” “commission.”
4. Ephesians 3:3 tn Or “namely, that is.”
5. Ephesians 3:3 tn Or “divine secret” (see Eph 1:9).
6. Ephesians 3:3 tn Or “as I wrote above briefly.”sn As I wrote briefly may refer to the author’s brief discussion of the divine secret in 1:9.
7. Ephesians 3:4 tn Grk “which, when reading.”
8. Ephesians 3:4 tn Grk “you are able to.”
9. Ephesians 3:4 tn Or “secret.”
10. Ephesians 3:5 tn Verse 5 is a relative clause, subordinate to the thought of v. 4, but it is also parenthetical, interrupting the thought of vv. 4-6. This has been indicated by the parentheses in the translation.
11. Ephesians 3:5 tn Grk “the sons of men” (a Semitic idiom referring to human beings, hence, “people”).
12. Ephesians 3:5 tn Grk “other.”
13. Ephesians 3:5 tn Or “in.”
14. Ephesians 3:6 sn The phrase through the gospel is placed last in the sentence in Greek for emphasis. It has been moved forward for clarity.
15. Ephesians 3:6 tn Grk “and fellow members.”
16. Ephesians 3:7 tn Grk “of which I was made a minister,” “of which I became a servant.”
17. Ephesians 3:7 tn Grk “according to.”
18. Ephesians 3:7 sn On the exercise of his power see 1:19-20.