What is the meaning of Ephesians 3:10? Don't the heavenly realms already know the manifold wisdom of God? They can see God, or rather they see the spiritual realms (and we can't), so don't they already know about God? What do you think the passage means? -- Tracie Lee & Marsha A. Ward (Atlanta)

Good question. For our readers who are not familiar with the "mystery," several times alluded to in the New Testament (as in the ending of Romans), it is that all along God had planned to bless the Gentiles along with the Jews. Although it is Bible (Genesis 12:3), it was heresy to those in the first century who came from a Jewish background.

The heavenly powers do not necessarily know everything about God, even though they know he is there (as do the demons of James 2:19). The angels themselves, like the prophets on earth in O.T. times, did not know what God was planning, according to 1 Peter 1:10-12. Nowhere does the Bible state that anyone or anything is omniscient (including Satan, Amen!) except God.

This article is copyrighted and is for private use and study only.