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praise: A verse from Francis Ridley Havergal comes to mind, which we can only quote
from memory.
"So onward, and yet onward
For the dim revealing show,
That system unto system
In grand succession grow.
That we deemed a volume
But one golden verse may be
One rhythmic cadence in the flow
Of God's great poetry."
In this most glorious purpose of the ages, the church of the Mystery has its place and
its privileges, among them the Apostle brings into prominence `access'. In Eph. 2: 18
`access' is placed at the climax of the blessed privileges that belong to this newly created
company. Here again access is brought forward as crystallizing in itself all that can be
said of this Christian privilege, and not only so, access is supplemented by boldness and
confidence in 3: 12, and is made to rest, not upon our faith in the Lord, but `through the
faith of Him or His faithfulness'. Having reached this happy vantage ground, the Apostle
turns back to the theme with which the chapter opens, saying:
"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory"
(Eph. 3: 13).
Why should Paul think that the Ephesians would be likely `to faint' when they heard
of his tribulations? The word means rather to become dispirited, to lose heart rather than
to faint. Paul says in effect `my tribulations' constitute me "The Prisoner of Christ
Jesus", they are `for you', just as my Prison ministry is `for you Gentiles'. This Prison
ministry with its dispensation of the grace of God, deals with the unsearchable riches of
Christ, and these tribulations which are for you, are `your glory'. So with these words
this most blessed parenthesis comes back to its starting point:
A | 3: 1. FOR THIS CAUSE.
B | 1. The Prisoner of Christ Jesus FOR YOU.
C | 2-12. The wonder of this dispensation thus entrusted.
B | 13. My tribulations are FOR YOU.
A | 14. FOR THIS CAUSE.
We are therefore ready to follow the prayer with which chapter 3: ends, and realize
its relationship with the closing verse of chapter 2:, rejoicing meanwhile that the
Apostle was compelled to make so illuminating a detour as that which has occupied our
worshiping attention for these eleven articles on Eph. 3: 1-13.