3:10a

His purpose was that now: In the Greek text, 3:10 begins with a conjunction often translated as “so that” or “in order that.” This conjunction shows that 3:10 is the purpose of 3:8–9. For example:

3:8b this grace was given me: 3:8c to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 3:9a and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery…

3:10
in order that…the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities…

English versions frequently translate this conjunction as “in order that” or “so that.” For example:

in order that at the present time (Good News Translation)

The Berean Standard Bible and other versions have tried to make the connection clearer by translating this conjunction with a clause. Some other ways that English versions translate this conjunction are:

God’s purpose in all this was… (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He did this so that now… (God’s Word)

through the church: The phrase through the church refers to the church as the means by which the rulers and authorities would come to know God’s wisdom. For example:

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (New Living Translation (2004))

church: The word church refers to all believers in Christ throughout the world. In the New Testament, the word church never refers to a building. See how you translated church in 1:22b. See church in the Glossary for more information.

3:10b

the manifold wisdom of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as manifold literally means “many-sided,” or “very varied.” So the phrase manifold wisdom means that God is “wise in all ways.” He is not just wise in one area.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

his infinite wisdom (God’s Word)
-or-
he has many different kinds of wisdom (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
God’s wisdom, which has so many forms (New Century Version)
-or-
God is very wise in everything ⌊he does⌋

should be made known: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as should be made known is a passive. If it would be more natural in your language to make this active, you can:

• supply God as the agent. For example:

God/he should make known

• supply God as the agent and translate the verb as “show.” For example:

God’s purpose was to show his wisdom (New Living Translation (1996))

• make rulers and authorities the subject. For example:

the rulers and powers in the heavenly world will now know God’s wisdom (New Century Version)

to the rulers and authorities: The words rulers and authorities can refer to either:

(a) human beings who rule on earth or

(b) spirit beings who rule in the heavens

In this context with the phrase “in the heavenly realms” that follows, these words refer to spirit beings. These beings are good angels and evil spirits. These are probably the same spiritual powers Paul talked about in 1:21a.

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

angelic rulers and powers (Good News Translation)
-or-
unseen rulers and authorities (New Living Translation (2004))

in the heavenly realms: The phrase the heavenly realms refers to the area above the earth where the spirits were thought to live. This does not refer to heaven where God is.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the heavenly world (Good News Translation)
-or-
in the heavenly places (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
in the spiritual world (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 3:10a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to put the phrase “through the church” in 3:10a at the end of 3:10b. See the second meaning line for these verses for an example.

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