Ephesians 3:8-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

Here we have the account which Paul gives the Ephesians concerning himself, as he was appointed by God the apostle of the Gentiles. I. We may observe that he acquaints them with the tribulations and sufferings which he endured in the discharge of that office, Eph. 3:1. The first clause refers to the preceding chapter, and may be understood either of these two ways:?1. ?For this cause,?for having preached the doctrine contained in the foregoing chapter, and for asserting that the great... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 3:1-13

To understand the connection of thought in this passage it has to be noted that Ephesians 3:2-13 are one long parenthesis. The for this cause of Ephesians 3:14 takes up again and resumes the for this cause of Ephesians 3:1 . Someone has spoken of Paul's habit of "going off at a word." A single word or idea can send his thoughts off at a tangent. When he speaks of himself as "the prisoner of Christ," it makes him think of the universal love of God and of his part in bringing that love to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:8

Unto me who am less than the least of all saints ,.... This is an instance of the great humility of the apostle, and indeed the greatest saints are generally speaking, the most humble souls, as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and others; these have the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; they rejoice in the grace of God manifested to others; they are willing to receive instruction, nay admonition, from the meanest believer; they have the least opinion of their own works,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery ,.... Or "the dispensation of the mystery" as the Complutensian, and several copies, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, read. The mystery is the Gospel; the fellowship of it is the communication of grace by it, a participation of the truths and doctrines of it, communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, which the Gospel calls and leads unto, and that equal concern and interest which both Jews and Gentiles have in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:10

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places ,.... By whom are meant, not civil magistrates, much less evil angels, but the good angels, the angels in heaven; See Gill on Ephesians 1:21 . might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God ; not the perfection of wisdom, nor Jesus Christ the wisdom of God, nor the holy Scriptures; but the Gospel, which is the pure produce of the wisdom of God; which is gloriously displayed in the several doctrines of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:8

Less than the least of all saints - Ελαχιστοτερῳ παντων ἁγιων . As the design of the apostle was to magnify the grace of Christ in the salvation of the world, he uses every precaution to prevent the eyes of the people from being turned to any thing but Christ crucified; and although he was obliged to speak of himself as the particular instrument which God had chosen to bring the Gentile world to the knowledge of the truth, yet he does it in such a manner as to show that the excellency of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see - Και φωτισαι παντας· And to illuminate all; to give information both to Jews and Gentiles; to afford them a sufficiency of light, so that they might be able distinctly to discern the great objects exhibited in this Gospel. What is the fellowship of the mystery - The word κοινωνια , which we properly translate fellowship, was used among the Greeks to signify their religious communities; here it may intimate the association of Jews and Gentiles in one Church or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

That now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places - Who are these principalities and powers? Some think evil angels are intended, because they are thus denominated, Ephesians 6:12 . Others think good angels are meant; for as these heavenly beings are curious to investigate the wondrous economy of the Gospel, though they are not its immediate objects, see 1 Peter 1:12 , it is quite consistent with the goodness of God to give them that satisfaction which they require. And in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:8

Verse 8 8.To me, who am the least. He labors to exhibit himself, and everything that belongs to him, in as humiliating a light as possible, in order that the grace of God may be the more highly exalted. But this acknowledgment had the additional effect of anticipating the objections which his adversaries might bring against him. “Who is this man that God should have raised him above all his brethren? What superior excellence did he possess that he should be chosen in preference to all the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

Verse 9 9.What is the fellowship of the mystery. The publication of the gospel is called a fellowship, because it is the will of God that his purpose, which had formerly been hidden, shall now be shared by men. There is an appropriate metaphor in the words φωτίσαι πάντας, to enlighten all men, — conveying the thought, that, in his apostleship, the grace of God shines with the brightness of noon-day. Which hath been hid in God. This is intended, as before, to obviate the prejudice of novelty,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 3:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:9

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