Fellow partakers (4830) (summetochos from sún = with, together, implying a closer relationship, intimacy or union + metochos = a partaker or sharer as one who participates with and shares common blessings with another) means literally partaking together with one, a joint partaker of something, a sharing with (a co-sharer, co-participant). It means to share in the possession of something, in this case "the promise in Christ Jesus". Summetochos was used in the papyri of those who were joint possessors of a house. Thus Gentile believers who have entered the New Covenant by faith now share in all the gracious promises of God, except those specifically concerned with the future of Israel as a nation. In the present context the promise refers to the gift of salvation in Christ Jesus as proclaimed in the Gospel. Paul also spoke of the promise of the Spirit associated with salvation writing to the Galatians Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--in order that (here is one purpose for which Christ set us free from the curse) in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13,14) Ray Stedman applies this truth about fellow partakers in the promise of Christ Jesus writing that... in the mystery of the gospel, Jews and Gentiles alike are made joint partakers of the promise of the Spirit of God. The power of God is given to us to do what we otherwise could never do. Those who have learned to reckon upon this power find they are able to love and forgive when they never could have otherwise. So this gospel touches the heart of humanity's problems. (Ephesians 3:7-13: Secret Riches) As fellow partakers or fellow sharers, it is perfectly proper for Gentile believers to claim and apply the wonderful blessings first given to the Jews in the promises found in the Psalms and Proverbs and the rest of the Old Testament (again excepting those promise made specifically to the nation of Israel, such as the land of Palestine.) William Barclay puts these great privileges made available to Gentiles in their historical/cultural perspective writing that... This was a completely new discovery. The basic sin of the ancient world was contempt. The Jews despised the Gentiles as worthless in the sight of God. At worst they existed only to be annihilated, “The nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste” (Isaiah 60:12). At best they existed to be the slaves of Israel; “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over and they shall fall down unto thee” (Isaiah 45:14). To minds which could think like that it was incredible that the grace and the glory of God were for the Gentiles... in the ancient world the barriers were complete. No one had ever dreamed that God’s privileges were for all people. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press) The promise (1860) (epaggelia from epà = upon or intensifier of meaning + aggéllo = tell, declare = to announce with certainty as to what one will do) is a declaration to do something with implication of obligation to carry out what is stated. Epaggelia was a legal term denoting promise to do or give something. It was a legally binding declaration giving one to whom it is made right to expect or claim performance of the specific act. Most often epaggelia is used to describe the promises of God. and provides firm assurance of His future action. Epaggelia - 52x in NT - Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4; 2:33, 39; 7:17; 13:23, 32; 23:21; 26:6; Rom. 4:13f, 16, 20; 9:4, 8f; 15:8; 2 Co. 1:20; 7:1; Gal. 3:14, 16ff, 21f, 29; 4:23, 28; Eph. 1:13; 2:12; 3:6; 6:2; 1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:1; Heb. 4:1; 6:12, 15, 17; 7:6; 8:6; 9:15; 10:36; 11:9, 13, 17, 33, 39; 2 Pet. 3:4, 9; 1 Jn. 2:25 Wayne Barber explains that "fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" speaks of... is the promise of redemption, that if a man comes by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he can enter into the family of God. In Galatians chapter 3 there are several verses that discuss now we have been allowed to partake. Look at Galatians 3:13-14... "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." We have been allowed in. We have redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at Galatians 3:19... "Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made." The Seed was promised to Abraham, and now we are a part of all of this. Remember, He told Abraham, "through you all nations will be blessed." How can all nations be blessed through the Jewish race? Through the seed that came to them, which was the Lord Jesus Christ. We’ve been allowed in by faith in Him. Look at Galatians 3:22: "But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." There is no distinction whether they are Jew or Gentile. Now we can enter in to the promise. If we believe, we are a part of the redeemed. Look at Galatians 3:29 "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise." He is talking about spiritual Israel here. He is talking about the Israel that has come, by faith in Jesus Christ, into the family, into the kingdom, into the very holy Temple of God Himself. He is saying to those Gentiles in Ephesus, "Don’t take this thing for granted. It was revealed to me and then explained to me very specifically that you are allowed in. God stopped me on the Damascus Road. He commissioned me and made me an apostle out of due season. I am preaching something to you that God revealed to me. Don’t you dare take it for granted. Gentiles, you have been allowed in. You are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus." Do you realize what you have, what I have? We are talking about what you have in Jesus Christ. You are rich beyond measure.... Don’t ever take salvation for granted. Remember whose you are. Remember who you are. We are about to get into Ephesians 4-6. That’s not the riches...not the reasons...not the revelation. That’s the responsibilities of our salvation, and they are based on everything Paul has said in the first three chapters. If you don’t get this down pat, you’ll never understand why there is so much responsibility for Christians to live as God wants them to live. (Ephesians 3:1-9 God's Divine Mystery - 2) In Christ Jesus - (See also in Christ, in Christ Jesus ) The inclusion of Gentiles in God's purposes remained mysteriously unclear under the old covenant. It became clear in Christ through the preaching of the Gospel, the good news of redemption and reconciliation of God and man and of Jew and Gentile. William MacDonald explains that... In the coming kingdom of our Lord, Israel will be the head of the nations (Isa. 60:12); Gentiles will be blessed, but it will be through Israel (Isa. 60:3; 61:6; Zec 8:23). The calling of Israel was primarily, though not exclusively, to temporal blessings in earthly places (Deut. 28; Amos 9:13, 14, 15). The calling of the church is primarily to spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3-note). Israel was called to be God’s chosen earthly people. The church is called to be the heavenly Bride of Christ (Rev 21:2-note, Rev 21:9-note). Israel will be blessed under the rule of Christ in the Millennium (Hos. 3:5); the church will reign with Him over the entire universe, sharing His glory (Eph. 1:22, 23-note). Therefore it should be clear that the church is not the same as Israel or the kingdom. It is a new society, a unique fellowship, and the most privileged body of believers we read about in the Bible. The church came into being after Christ ascended and the Holy Spirit was given (Acts 2). It was formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 12:13). And it will be completed at the Rapture, when all who belong to Christ will be taken home to heaven (1Th 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18-note; 1Cor. 15:23, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)