What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says that the Church proclaims the mystery of salvation to the heavenly ones (Eph. 3:9–11)?

The answer

St. Paul says, “and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:9–11). Until the great day of the Lord, the heavenlies remain in astonishment, as they behold the mysteries of God's hidden wisdom, as they see adulterers become saints, and humans become partakers with them in the heavenly life.

St. John Chrysostom says, “True, to man it was not revealed and are you enlightening Angels and Archangels and Principalities and Powers? I am, says he. For it was ‘hidden in God,’ even in ‘God who created all things.’ And do you venture to utter this? I do, says he. But whence has this been made manifest to the Angels? … The angels knew that the gentiles are called, but to be called to enjoy the same privileges of Israel and to sit on the throne of God (Rev. 3:21). Who has expected such a thing? Who would have believed it?”⁹⁶¹

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty