Ephesians 3:3-4 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

I am focusing in on the word “may” here which in the Greek is dynamai which is by definition of uncertain infinity, able but not with any certainty, capable but without an guarantee.

Paul is addressing the gentiles about one mystery which was withheld from the Jews. How the Jewish believers might take this verse will be different than the Gentiles perspective. Since we are all in Christ now, we should all come to one conclusion about mysteries and the dynamite.

Imagine if you would that we are all standing before a wall of our personal understanding. We each have our own understanding and God is about to blow up this wall to reveal the truth.

What will be your reaction to your understanding being destroyed?

As I look at the wall of my understanding, I see a wide gap. The cornerstone is still in place, good. Other areas seem to be sound and fit. Some of the blocks that are dislodged are still solid, but rested upon blocks that were destroyed. I can rebuild the wall. Let me see what pieces I still have, find order for them and replace those which are destroyed.

I stand before the wall of my understanding and weep bitterly over my loss. How could I have been so foolish, what is wrong with me? I am undone.

There is a wide gap in my wall, I must go and stand in the gap and defend my position.

I stand before the wall of my understanding that has been destroyed. What is it that I can see now that my errors have been removed?

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God only destroys that which He has not made.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

If you read your bible on line with applications such as biblegateway, you might not see the italics associated with the word trusted. Most of us who have studied the Word with any kind of detail understand the use of italics indicates words added which were not in the original manuscripts.

The use of italic words was meant to bring clarity to a subject which is difficult to translate from one language to another. Here the translators felt it was necessary to interject trust as an import element of this verse. So why isn’t “after that ye” also italicized?

Two times these three words were used to translate from akouo and piteuo, hearing and believing respectively.

The first “after that” used involves a complex issue upon which generations upon generations have struggled with a proper understanding. That is the issue of being given ears to hear. The primary definition of akouo is “endowed with the ability to hear”. After that indicates the order, that you must first trust in the Lord in order to be given ears to hear logos, His spoken Word.

The same can be said of piteuo. Only after you believe are you saved by the gospel and then and only then are we “sealed” by the Holy Spirit.

Do you need to know all this to be saved? Probably not, but I think that it is important that we understand the order in which God presents Himself. The use of “after that” is just as important as the italicized “trusted”. God is a God of order and if we get the order right, we will receive the blessing which comes along with not skipping steps or leaving important issues undone.