Why are the unsearchable riches of Christ called unsearchable?
The unsearchable riches of Christ are called unsearchable because they are beyond human comprehension. Scripture presents them as riches preached among the Gentiles, yet very few believers understand them. They belong to the mystery God kept hidden in His mind until He revealed it, and He expects mankind to believe it.
Les teaches that Paul was given grace to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, but very few believers understand them. He says he could stand and speak for an hour on just those riches, because they are beyond human comprehension. This fits the larger context of Ephesians 3: the mystery was not made known to the sons of men as it is now revealed. God kept the secret until He was ready to reveal it, and when He reveals it, He expects mankind to believe it. Verse 9 connects this to the fellowship of the mystery, the body of truth hidden from the beginning of the world in the mind of God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
More Questions
Are the unsearchable riches of Christ something a person can fully comprehend?
Les explains that Ephesians 3:8 speaks of preaching among the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ." He asks how many believers understand these riches and answers, "Very few." He says he could stand there for the next hour on just the unsearchable riches of Christ, because it is beyond human comprehension. This fits the larger context: these things were not made known to the sons of men as they are now revealed, and God keeps a secret until He is ready to reveal it. When He reveals it, He expects mankind to believe it. Verse 9 goes on to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery, this body of truth, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in the mind of God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. Les ties this to the same God in Ephesians 3 that we see in Genesis 1.
How many believers actually understand the unsearchable riches of Christ?
Very few believers understand the unsearchable riches of Christ because they are beyond human comprehension.
What does it mean that the riches of Christ are 'unsearchable'?
The word 'unsearchable' means you cannot find the beginning of it; it goes back so far that you cannot trace it.
What does the word 'unsearchable' mean in Ephesians 3:8?
The word 'unsearchable' in Ephesians 3:8 describes something whose beginning cannot be found and which goes back so far it cannot be traced, having begun before Christ created anything.