Ephesians 3:5

“Which in other ages was not made known unto, the sons of men, &c.] That is, which mystery of Christ, and of the Gospel, was not made known to men in general, nor so clearly as under the Gospel dispensation. Some hints were given of it to Adam, immediately after his fall; and the Gospel was before preached to Abraham, Moses, and David, and others knew something of it; and it was still more fully dispensed in the times of the prophet Isaiah, and other following prophets: but then the knowledge of it was not so extensive, nor so clear as now; it lay hid in types and shadows, in obscure prophecies and short hints. Moreover, this may have respect particularly to the calling of the Gentiles, as…”

“in other ages--Greek, "generations." not made known--He does not say, "has not been revealed." Making known by revelation is the source of making known by preaching [BENGEL]. The former was vouchsafed only to the prophets, in order that they might make known the truth so revealed to men in general. unto the sons of men--men in their state by birth, as contrasted with those illuminated "by the Spirit" (Greek, "IN the Spirit," compare Rev 1:10), Mat 16:17. as--The mystery of the call of the Gentiles (of which Paul speaks here) was not unknown to the Old Testament prophets (Isa 56:6-7; Isa 49:6). But they did not know it with the same explicit distinctness "As" it has been now known (Act…”

“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…”

“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. Ephesians 3:6”

“3:5 his holy apostles: See 1:1. • The order of the terms apostles and prophets (see 2:20) suggests that Paul is speaking of New Testament, not Old Testament, prophets. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is concerned less with predicting the future than with speaking a special word from God (see 1 Cor 12:10).”

“in other: Eph 3:9; Mat 13:17; Luk 10:24; Act 10:28; Rom 16:25; Ti2 1:10, Ti2 1:11; Tit 1:1-3; Heb 11:39, Heb 11:40; Pe1 1:10-12 as it: Eph 2:20, Eph 4:11, Eph 4:12; Mat 23:34; Luk 11:49; Co1 12:28, Co1 12:29; Pe2 3:2; Jde 1:17 by: Luk 2:26, Luk 2:27; Joh 14:26, Joh 16:13; Act 10:19, Act 10:20, Act 10:28; Co1 12:8-10 Ephesians 3:6”