Ephesians 3:8
in Ephesians 3Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
KJV
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
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This verse in Ephesians 3
Commentary
3 notes on this verseAlthough it is a token of humility to call oneself "the least of all the saints," one is guilty of deceit if one conceals the truth in the heart and says something else with the tongue. We must therefore look for an argument showing how Paul truly was "the least of all the saints" and yet did not fall from the rank of an apostle. The Lord says in the Gospel.
This site's exposition
I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God
on Ephesians 3:7-8
Made a minister according to the gift names Paul's whole office as something given rather than earned, by the effectual working of his power rather than by Paul's own energy. Less than the least of all saints translates a word Paul appears to have coined, elachistoteros, a comparative built onto an already-superlative form, grammatically impossible Greek reaching for a humility ordinary language could not express. The unsearchable riches of Christ, anexichniastos, names wealth that cannot be tracked to its bottom, which is exactly what Paul is commissioned to preach among the Gentiles.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
(2.) How highly he speaks of Jesus Christ: The unsearchable riches of Christ. There is a mighty treasury of mercy, grace, and love, laid up in Christ Jesus, and that both for Jews and Gentiles. Or, the riches of the gospel are here spoken of as the riches of Christ: the riches which Christ purchased for, and bestows upon, all believers.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐμοὶ | emoi | To me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ | elachistotero | very least | G1646 → | |
| πάντων | panton | of all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἁγίων | hagion | saints | G40 → | 220 times |
| ἐδόθη | edothe | was given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάρις | charis | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| αὕτη, | haute | this, | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔθνεσιν | ethnesin | Gentiles | G1484 → | 161 times |
| εὐαγγελίσασθαι | euangelisasthai | to evangelise | G2097 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνεξιχνίαστον | anexichniaston | unsearchable | G421 → | |
| πλοῦτος | ploutos | riches | G4149 → | 22 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | of Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
ἐμοὶTo me myself
emoiG1473 →839 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἐλαχιστοτέρῳvery least
elachistoteroG1646 →
πάντωνof all
pantonG3956 →1235 times
ἁγίωνsaints
hagionG40 →220 times
ἐδόθηwas given
edotheG1325 →412 times
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
χάριςgrace
charisG5485 →153 times
αὕτη,this,
hauteG3778 →1381 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἔθνεσινGentiles
ethnesinG1484 →161 times
εὐαγγελίσασθαιto evangelise
euangelisasthaiG2097 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἀνεξιχνίαστονunsearchable
anexichniastonG421 →
πλοῦτοςriches
ploutosG4149 →22 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦof Christ
christouG5547 →523 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 3:16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
it leads to
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Isaiah 40:29–31
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- Colossians 1:11
Through
Colossians 1:27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
it leads to
- John 14:20
On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
- Romans 8:10
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
- Ephesians 3:16–17
I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
- 1 John 4:4
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
- John 14:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Ephesians
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 3:8-9 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.