Ephesians 3:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

The death of the tribal spirit. The apostle, having stated the unity between Jews and Gentiles in the one spiritual temple, proceeds in this parenthesis to state the aspect of the gospel which is thus presented. It amounts, in fact, to the death of the tribal feeling, and to the encouragement of that broad cosmopolitanism which has been fostered by the Christian system. Paul, of course, rejoiced in his Jewish origin and in all the privileges which he had thus inherited. But since his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

Paul's apostleship to the Gentiles: introduction. The apostle has it in his mind to pray for the Ephesian Christians. There is a twofold ground upon which he proceeds. 1. What has been said about them . "For this cause." He has described them in three ways as incorporated in the Church. His last statement pointed to their being built in . They were, therefore, objects for intercession, such as their heathen ancestors had not been. 2. His relation to them . He did not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-13

Aspects of the true gospel ministry. "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and. prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:8

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints ; not only of apostles and prophets, but even of all believers—a profound expression of humility, founded not only on his persecuting career, but on his consciousness of sin, of inborn rebellion against God's Law, of fountains of unlawful desire in his flesh ( Romans 7:18 ; 1 Timothy 1:13-15 ), making him feel himself to be, in heart and essence, the chief of sinners. The sense of sin is not usually in proportion to the acts of outward... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:8

The unsearchable riches of Christ. "Riches" an attractive word. Human heart leaps towards them. Ceaseless disappointments of most who follow after them. Here the riches that moth and rust do not corrupt, nor thieves break through to steal. 1. There are in Christ unsearchable riches of compassion . Case of the lost, proper object of pity. Christ's pity boundless. Human pity often quenched by great wickedness, troublesomeness, loathsomeness. Not so Christ's! Pity for thief on cross,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:8

"Less than the least of all saints." I. HE WHO IS MOST HIGHLY GIFTED WITH DIVINE GRACE WILL THINK MOST LOWLY OF HIMSELF . St. Paul, the most gifted apostle, is most deeply conscious of his own unworthiness. We must distinguish between the endowment of grace and the acquisition of merit. To have much grace is only to be much favored. As a man grows in grace he grows in power of spiritual insight; and the result is twofold—he has more knowledge of his own true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:8

"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Some riches are unsearchable because they are inaccessible, like jewels guarded by jealous sentinels, and pearls in sea-caves, and the gold-mines of remote stars. Some riches are unsearchable because they are secret, like treasure hid in a field, and ancient records in undeciphered hieroglyphics; in this sense an illiterate man finds the wealth of a library, and an unscientific man the stores of a museum, unsearchable. No doubt there are wonderful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:8-9

The apostle's high privilege. Very often does he refer, with a sort of grateful humility, to the Divine favor in attaching him to the service of the gospel. I. MARK THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HIS CALL AND HIS SENSE OF PERSONAL NOTHINGNESS . "Less than the least of all saints." The expression is exceedingly emphatic, being a comparative formed upon a superlative. He could never forget his share in the death of Stephen, and his fierce persecutions of the Church of God.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:9

And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery. Another branch of his office, and another fruit of God's grace in conferring it. He was not only to benefit man, but also to vindicate God. For "fellowship of the mystery" (A.V.), the R.V. has "dispensation of the mystery," founded on the preference of the reading οἰκονομια , for which there is a great preponderance of authority over κοινωνία . It was the apostle's function to show how this mystery had been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:8

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints - This is one of the class of expressions unique to Paul. The ordinary terms of language do not express the idea which he wishes to convey, and a word is therefore coined to convey an idea more emphatically; compare the notes at 2 Corinthians 4:17. The word used here - ἐλαχιστότερος elachistoteros - does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It is a comparative made from the superlative. Similar expressions are found, however, in later... read more

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