Ephesians 3:11 (DRB)

Passage

According to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Nearby Context

Ephesians 3:9 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God who created all things:

Ephesians 3:10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,

Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I pray you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "purpose", "eternal", "christ", "jesus", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "purpose" and "eternal", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "That the manifold wisdom of God may..." into verse 12's "In whom we have boldness and access...", so "purpose" and "eternal" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "purpose" and "eternal" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.