Ephesians 6:19
in Ephesians 6Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
KJV
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
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This verse in Ephesians 6
Commentary
16 notes on this verseThis is to be understood as if he said, "Let the treasuries be opened. Let the promises hidden from ages be revealed. Let the Spirit enter to bring forth those things that have been concealed." That this is indeed the meaning of this passage … is clarified by what follows: "in confidence," he says, "to make known the mystery of the gospel."
This site's exposition
Pray in the Spirit at all times
on Ephesians 6:18-20
Prayer follows the armor unnumbered. Teachers divide over whether it is a seventh piece or the air in which all six are worn.
This site's exposition
words may be given me
Clarke reports evidence that the phrase for words being given meant leave to speak in one's own defense in court. That suits a prisoner awaiting a hearing. Origen ties boldness to a heart that does not condemn itself, and he judges such boldness rare.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
He exhorts them to pray for him in two ways: first that his thoughts may be filled by the Spirit for the full declaration of the mystery, and second that he may be given a faculty of bold utterance in proclaiming it.
Boldness of speech is a possibility only and always for those who have a heart that does not condemn them … and therefore the one who boldly makes known the mysteries is rare, because those who have boldness before God are rare.
But how happened it that (the apostle) resorted to ambiguous descriptions, and I know not what obscure enigmas, for the purpose of disparaging the Creator, when he displayed to the Church such constancy and plainness of speech in "making known the mystery of the gospel for which he was an ambassador in bonds," owing to his liberty in preaching-and actually requested (the Ephesians) to pray to God that this "open-mouthed utterance" might be continued to him?
A commentator
Gaius Marius VictorinusEPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.6.18-19 · Written before 370.
proposed
Isn't this wonderful? From those whom he himself has just now admonished, those whom he has instructed, to whom he has preached the gospel, he now asks for help. He is asking them for their prayers. He goes on to explain what he is asking …
As the word of God has power to do all things, so also has he who has the spiritual gift. "For the word of God," saith he, "is living, and active and sharper than any two-edged sword." (Heb. iv. 12.) Now mark the wisdom of this blessed Apostle. He hath armed them with all security. What then is necessary after that? To call upon the King, that He may stretch forth His hand. "With all prayer, and supplication, praying at all seasons in the Spirit"; for it is possible "to pray" not "in the Spirit," when one "uses vain repetitions" (Matt. vi. 7); "and watching thereunto," he adds, that is, keeping sober; for such ought the armed warrior, he that stands at the King's side, to be; wakeful and temperate:-"in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and on my behalf that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth." What sayest thou, blessed Paul? Hast thou, then, need of thy disciples? And well does he say, "in opening my mouth." He did not then study what he used to say, but according to what Christ said, "When they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak" (Matt. x. 19): so truly did he do everything by faith, everything by grace. "With boldness," he proceeds, "to make known the mystery of the Gospel"; that is, that I may answer for myself in its defense, as I ought. And art thou bound in thy chain, and still needest the aid of others? Yea, saith he, for so was Peter also bound in his chain, and yet nevertheless "was prayer made earnestly for him." (Acts xii. 5.)
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
So, one must pray not only for oneself. But notice the humility: for he places himself last, and asks the disciples to pray, and this is the one who was in chains for Christ. And Peter too was in chains, and earnest prayer was offered …
Lastly, he asks prayers for himself: and for me. He asks three things for himself which are necessary for any preacher: that his mouth would be opened, that he might prepare himself as much as he can for preaching, and that grace be given him. …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
But the whole gospel was a mystery, till made known by divine revelation; and it is the work of Christ's ministers to publish it. Observe, Paul had a great command of language; they called him Mercury, because he was the chief speaker ( Acts xiv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And for me,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And for me - Paul was then a prisoner at Rome. He specially needed the prayers of Christians: (1) That he might be sustained in his afflictions; and, (2) That he might be able to manifest the spirit which he ought, and to do good as he had opportunity. Learn hence that we should pray for the prisoner, the captive, the man in chains, the slave. There are in this land (the United States) about ten thousand prisoners - husbands, fathers, sons, brothers; or wives, mothers, daughters.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Da 10:16), so as with boldness to make known," &c. Bold plainness of speech was the more needed, as the Gospel is a "mystery" undiscoverable by mere reason, and only known by revelation.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me - Ἱνα μοι δοθειη λογος. Kypke has proved by many examples that λογον διδοναι signifies permission and power to defend one’s self in a court of justice; and this sense of the phrase is perfectly applicable to the case of St. Paul, who was an ambassador in bonds, (Eph 6:20), and expected to be called to a public hearing, in which he was not only to defend himself, but to prove the truth and excellency of the Christian religion. And we learn, from Php 1:12-14, that he had his desire in this respect; for the things which happened to him fell out to the furtherance of the Gospel, so that his bonds in Christ were manifest in all the palace, and in all other places. Thus God had enabled him to make a most noble defense, by which the Gospel acquired great credit. The mystery of the Gospel - The whole doctrine of Christ, not fully revealed previously to that time.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | for | G5228 → | 155 times |
| ἐμοῦ, | emou | me, | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δοθῇ | dothea | may be given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| λόγος | logos | divine utterance | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀνοίξει | anoixei | [the] opening | G457 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στόματός | stomatos | mouth | G4750 → | |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| παρρησίᾳ | parresia | boldness | G3954 → | |
| γνωρίσαι | gnorisai | to make known | G1107 → | 24 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μυστήριον | musterion | mystery | G3466 → | 27 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίου, | euangeliou | gospel, | G2098 → | 73 times |
καὶand also
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑπὲρfor
huperG5228 →155 times
ἐμοῦ,me,
emouG1473 →839 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
δοθῇmay be given
dotheaG1325 →412 times
λόγοςdivine utterance
logosG3056 →329 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀνοίξει[the] opening
anoixeiG457 →
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
στόματόςmouth
stomatosG4750 →
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
παρρησίᾳboldness
parresiaG3954 →
γνωρίσαιto make known
gnorisaiG1107 →24 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
μυστήριονmystery
musterionG3466 →27 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίου,gospel,
euangeliouG2098 →73 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 4:3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Brothers, pray for us as well.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
- Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
- Colossians 4:3
Through
Acts 4:29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
it leads to
- Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- Acts 4:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
On this verse
About Ephesians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 6.20.2; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.6.18-19; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 6:20; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 24; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.