Ephesians 3:7
in Ephesians 3I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
KJV
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
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This verse in Ephesians 3
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Whereof--"of which" Gospel. according to--in consequence of, and in accordance with, "the gift of the grace of God." given--"which (gift of grace) was given to me by (Greek, 'according to,' as in Eph 3:20; 1:19: as the result of, and in proportion to) the effectual working (Greek, 'energy,' or 'in-working') of His power."
This site's exposition
a servant of this gospel
on Ephesians 3:7-8
Less than the least of all the saints translates elachistoteros, a word Paul appears to have coined. It is a comparative built on a superlative, reaching for a humility Greek could not express.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Everywhere Paul reminds us that we receive God's gifts not by our own merit but by grace. Grace belongs to the giver, not to the recipient. And by adding "according to the working of his power," he also ascribes this to God, so that "if …
He had said, "I am a prisoner;" but now again he says, that all is of God, as he says, "according to the gift of His grace;" for according to the power of the gift is the dignity of this privilege. But the gift would not have been enough, had it not also implanted in him power. For a work indeed it was of power, of mighty power, and such as no human diligence was equal to. For he brought three qualifications to the preaching of the word, a zeal fervent and venturous, a soul ready to undergo any possible hardship, and knowledge and wisdom combined. For his love of enterprise, his blamelessness of life, had availed nothing, had he not also received the power of the Spirit.
The Medieval Church2 voices
I became a minister of this gospel and find myself in bonds for its sake; but this is not my own doing, but a gift of divine grace, which was given to me not simply or sparingly, but abundantly and generously, as befits the almighty …
After the Apostle has discussed the grace given him relative to the knowledge of divine mysteries (3:3), he indicates the same with respect to carrying these mysteries themselves into effect. Concerning this he makes two points: First, he acknowledges the assistance of grace granted him …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
As God appointed him to the office, so he eminently qualified him for it, by a special revelation that he made unto him. He makes mention both of the mystery that was revealed and of the revelation of it. (1.) The mystery revealed is that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ, by the gospel (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
According to the gift of the grace of God - That is, the apostle- ship which he hath graciously given me, and which he hath qualified me for. By the effectual working of his power - In me and by me.
Whereof I was made a minister,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Whereof I was made a minister - Διακονος· A deacon, a servant acting under and by the direction of the great Master, Jesus Christ; from whom, by an especial call and revelation, I received the apostolic gifts and office, and by την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου, the energy, the in-working of his power, this Gospel which I preached was made effectual to the salvation of vast multitudes of Jews and Gentiles.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Whereof I was made a minister - see the notes at Eph 3:2. According to the gift of the grace of God - It was not by my own seeking or merit; it was a free gift. Of the grace of God - The sentiment is, that throughout it was a mere matter of grace that he was called into the ministry, and that so important an office was entrusted to him as that of bearing the gospel to the Gentiles.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὗ | hou | of which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐγενήθην | egenethen | I would be | G1096 → | 667 times |
| διάκονος | diakonos | servant | G1249 → | |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δωρεὰν | dorean | gift | G1431 → | |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριτος | charitos | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τῆς | tes | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δοθείσης | dotheises | having been given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐνέργειαν | energeian | working | G1753 → | 8 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δυνάμεως | dunameos | power | G1411 → | 119 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
οὗof which
houG3739 →1405 times
ἐγενήθηνI would be
egenethenG1096 →667 times
διάκονοςservant
diakonosG1249 →
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
δωρεὰνgift
doreanG1431 →
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
χάριτοςgrace
charitosG5485 →153 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
τῆςwhich
tesG3588 →19766 times
δοθείσηςhaving been given
dotheisesG1325 →412 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἐνέργειανworking
energeianG1753 →8 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
δυνάμεωςpower
dunameosG1411 →119 times
αὐτοῦ.of Him.
autouG846 →5565 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 3:20Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
- Romans 4:21
being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
- Jeremiah 32:27
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
- Jude 1:24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
Through
Ephesians 1:19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
it leads to
- Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 2:13
Through
2 Corinthians 3:6And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
it leads to
- John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Romans 7:6
But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the…
- John 6:63
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
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About Ephesians
This page draws on 11 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 1.3.7-8; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 6; 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.