Ephesians 3:2-4

3:2 if indeed ¹  you have heard of the stewardship ²  of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3:3 that ³  by revelation the divine secret ⁴  was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. ⁵  3:4 When reading this, ⁶  you will be able to ⁷  understand my insight into this secret ⁸  of Christ.

[3:2]  ¹ 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.

[3:2]  ² tn Or “administration,” “dispensation,” “commission.”

[3:3]  ³ tn Or “namely, that is.”

[3:3]  ⁴ tn Or “mystery.”

[3:3]  ⁵ tn Or “as I wrote above briefly.”

[3:4]  ⁵ tn Grk “which, when reading.”

[3:4]  ⁶ tn Grk “you are able to.”

[3:4]  ⁷ tn Or “mystery.”