Ephesians 3:5
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
American King James Version (AKJV)
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
American Standard Version (ASV)
which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Which in other generations was not given to the sons of men, but the revelation of it has now been made to his holy Apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
Webster's Revision
Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
World English Bible
which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
English Revised Version (ERV)
which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
Clarke's Ephesians 3:5 Bible Commentary
Which in other ages was not made known - That the calling of the Gentiles was made known by the prophets in different ages of the Jewish Church is exceedingly clear; but it certainly was not made known in that clear and precise manner in which it was now revealed by the Spirit unto the ministers of the New Testament: nor was it made known unto them at all, that the Gentiles should find salvation without coming under the yoke of the Mosaic law, and that the Jews themselves should be freed from that yoke of bondage; these were discoveries totally new, and now revealed for the first time by the Spirit of God.
Barnes's Ephesians 3:5 Bible Commentary
Which in other ages - The great purposes of God in regard to the salvation of mankind were not revealed; see the notes at Romans 16:25.
And prophets - Those who exercised the office of a prophet or inspired teacher in the Christian church; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 12:1.
By the Spirit - This proves that those who exercised the office of prophet in the Christian church were inspired. They were persons endowed in this manner for the purpose of imparting to the newly formed churches the doctrines of the Christian system. There is no evidence that this was designed to be a permanent order of people in the church. They were necessary for settling the church on a permanent basis, in the absence of a full written revelation, and when the apostles were away. When the volume of revelation was finished, and the doctrines of the gospel were fully understood, the functions of the office ceased.
Wesley's Ephesians 3:5 Bible Commentary
3:5 Which in other - In former, ages was not so clearly or fully made known to the sons of men - To any man, no, not to Ezekiel, so often styled, "son of man;" nor to any of the ancient prophets. Those here spoken of are New Testament prophets.