If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God. Here begins the digression. The words, "if ye have heard," etc., do not denote an uncertainty, but are a delicate reminder. Doubtless they had heard of the matter when he was at Ephesus, and, as he remarks in Ephesians 3:3, he had already written briefly on it.
Grace is here used in a more restricted sense than in Ephesians 1:2—in the sense of Divine favor, honor, privilege—the same as in Ephesians 1:8, "To me... is this favor given." Which is given me to you-ward.
The grace or favor meant is that whereby Paul was constituted the apostle of the Gentiles. Deeply though he felt his being sent away from preaching to his countrymen (Acts 22:18), he took kindly to the new sphere allotted to him, and magnified his office (Romans 11:13).