Ephesians 3:1
in Ephesians 3For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—
KJV
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
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This verse in Ephesians 3
Commentary
15 notes on this verseWe often read that the body is called the prison of the soul. The soul is confined as if in a cage. Paul, for example, was constrained by the ties of the body and did not return to be with Christ so that the preaching to the Gentiles might be perfectly accomplished through him. But I grant that there are some who introduce another meaning here: Paul before his birth was predestined and sanctified from his mother's womb for the purpose of preaching to the Gentiles. For this vocation he took on the bonds of flesh.
This site's exposition
the prisoner of Christ Jesus
The sentence begun with For this reason breaks off and resumes at verse fourteen. Verses two through thirteen form a digression on the mystery.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
It remains, after he has stated the truth that all their hope is in Christ and thus they are all being built up together in the Spirit to be the dwelling place of God—it remains, I say, that he should teach them who he himself …
After a diligent search I have found nothing that answers to his prior clause.… For he does not say, "For this reason I, Paul, have done this or that or have taught this or that." Instead, leaving the thought in suspense, he goes on to other matters. Perhaps we ought to pardon him for what he himself has admitted when he said, "if unschooled in speech, at least not in knowledge," and look for order in his meaning rather than in his words. This can be rendered as follows: "I, Paul, in the chains of Jesus Christ and in chains for you Gentiles, have learned the mystery so that I may hand it on to you."
He has mentioned Christ's great and affectionate care; he now passes on to his own, insignificant indeed as it is, and a very nothing in comparison with that, and yet this is enough to engage them to himself. For this cause, saith he, am I also bound. For if my Lord was crucified for your sakes, much more am I bound. He not only was bound Himself, but allows His servants to be bound also,-"for you Gentiles." It is full of emphasis; not only do we no longer loathe you, but we are even bound, saith he, for your sakes and of this exceeding grace am I partaker.
For what could be better than those bonds which always in his Epistles he prefers to all things else, saying, "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ:" and again, "On this account I am bound with this chain, but the word of God is not bound;" and, "Even unto bonds, as an evil-doer." The punishment was twofold. For if indeed he had been so bound, as with a view to his good, the thing would have carried with it some consolation: but now he is bound both "as an evil-doer," and as with a view to very ill consequences; yet for none of these things cared he.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Having pointed out Christ's care for us, he then speaks also of his own care. Since, he says, my Lord has shown such deeds toward us, it is necessary for me as well to contribute as much as possible. Therefore I am a prisoner for …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
The Apostle has previously recounted the many blessings of God granted to the human race and the Apostles themselves; here he turns to God's special blessings bestowed on himself. First he sets forth his thought in a general way. Secondly, he explains each part of …
The Reformation1 voice
In the presence of the world and of wicked men, this might have appeared to be foolish boasting; but, in addressing godly persons, it was a dignified and faithful manner. The glory of Christ not only overcomes the ignominy of the chains, but converts what was in itself a reproach into the highest honor.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For this cause - That ye may be so "built together," I am a prisoner for you gentiles - For your advantage, and for asserting your right to these blessings. This it was which so enraged the Jews against him.
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ,....
Paul adhered to Christ, and Christ owned him, when he was in prison.-- For you, Gentiles; the Jews persecuted and imprisoned him because he was the apostle of the Gentiles, and preached the gospel to them. We may learn hence that the faithful ministers of Christ are to dispense his sacred truths, however disagreeable they may be to some, and whatever they themselves may suffer for doing so.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For this cause - On account of preaching this doctrine; that is, the doctrine that the gospel was to be proclaimed to the Gentiles. I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ - A prisoner in the service of the Lord Jesus; or made a prisoner in his cause. Not a prisoner for crime or debt, or as a captive in war, but a captive in the service of the Redeemer. This proves that at the time of writing this, Paul was in bonds, and there can he no question that he was in Rome.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
of Jesus Christ--Greek, "Christ Jesus." The office is the prominent thought in the latter arrangement; the person, in the former. He here marks the Messiahship of "Christ," maintained by him as the origin of his being a "prisoner," owing to the jealousy of the Jews being roused at his preaching it to the Gentiles.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
For this cause - Because he maintained that the Gentiles were admitted to all the privileges of the Jews, and all the blessings of the new covenant, without being obliged to submit to circumcision, the Jews persecuted him, and caused him to be imprisoned, first at Caesarea, where he was obliged to appeal to the Roman emperor, in consequence of which he was sent prisoner to Rome. See Act 21:21-28, etc. The prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles - For preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, and showing that they were not bound by the law of Moses, and yet were called to be fellow citizens with the saints; for this very cause the Jews persecuted him unto bonds, and conspired his death.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τούτου | toutou | Of this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| χάριν | charin | Because | G5484 → | |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| Παῦλος | paulos | Paul | G3972 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δέσμιος | desmios | prisoner | G1198 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | of Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | for | G5228 → | 155 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐθνῶν· | ethnon | Gentiles..; | G1484 → | 161 times |
ΤούτουOf this
toutouG3778 →1381 times
χάρινBecause
charinG5484 →
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
ΠαῦλοςPaul
paulosG3972 →
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
δέσμιοςprisoner
desmiosG1198 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦof Christ
christouG5547 →523 times
ἸησοῦJesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
ὑπὲρfor
huperG5228 →155 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐθνῶν·Gentiles..;
ethnonG1484 →161 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
Ephesians 4:1As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
it leads to
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live,…
- 2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
- Colossians 1:10
Through
2 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
it leads to
- Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- Romans 1:16
Through
Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
it leads to
- Romans 5:3
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- Romans 5:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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 on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.3.1-2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 3:1; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 6; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 52; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.