Manifold

“... so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Ephesians 3:10-11

Paul has just written one of the most notable Biblical passages on reconciliation—outlining how two groups who called each other pejorative names, who were “alienated” from one another, now are not only on good terms, but are one body, united through Christ who has “broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” He then zooms out to how all of this is the very reason for his ministry (3:1). This message of unity is the very mystery that is now revealed through the gospel Paul seeks to preach. But then he zooms out even further: this is the message the church proclaims to those in the heavenly places. 

This message is, specifically, the “manifold wisdom of God.” The word “manifold” is Greek polypoikilos: poly means “many,” and poikilos means “rich colors woven side-by-side.” Altogether, the word means “marked with a great variety of colors, much variegated,” but you can see how it goes beyond that to suggest a woven work of art, a painting with colors intentionally and beautifully worked together. It’s hard to understand this word and not think about the preceding paragraphs on ethnic unity. The church is meant to proclaim through its diversity the many-colored unity and beauty of the very wisdom of God. I like how Dean said a recent sermon that wisdom is the embodiment of knowledge—we as the church have an opportunity to embody, to give form to, the wisdom of God. Not just God’s knowledge and truth, but how that knowledge is lived out in a wisdom that is manifold. And by doing so, we proclaim a message that goes not only to our community and our world, but to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Paul reminds us constantly that this is only possible through Jesus. Jesus is the one who joins us together as one body (2:21). Jesus is the one through whom God’s eternal purpose is realized (3:11). Jesus is the reason we do not lose heart even while we see our brothers and sisters suffer (3:13). May we all pray to be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit during this time (3:16).