English Standard Version
Ephesians 3:1
1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
Ephesians 3:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
- New International Version (NIV)For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
- New King James Version (NKJV)For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
- New Living Translation (NLT)When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .
Context of Ephesians 3:1
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
Read all of Ephesians 3Ephesians 3:1 word by word
Τούτου χάριν ἐγὼ Παῦλος ὁ δέσμιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- For this causeχάρινcharin · because ofG5484
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- the prisonerὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the prisonerδέσμιοςdesmios · prisonerG1198
- of JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- youσύsu · youG4771
- Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
Cross-references for Ephesians 3:1
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
- Galatians 5:2Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
- Ephesians 4:1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
- Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
- Luke 21:12But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.
- Acts 21:33Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.
- Acts 26:29And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains."
- Acts 28:17After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
- Philippians 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
- Philippians 1:13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
- Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
- Colossians 4:3At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
- 2 Timothy 1:8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
- 2 Timothy 2:9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
- Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker
Commentaries on Ephesians 3:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1For 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 Acts 21:21-28, etc. The prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles - For…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1For 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle sets forth his office, and his qualifications for it, and his call to it. (1-7) Also the noble purposes answered by it. (8-12) He prays for the Ephesians. (13-19) And adds a thanksgiving. (20-21) Verses 1-7 For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1For this reason: Paul wrote about the amazing salvation that God's grace brings to undeserving sinners under his judgment. He also wrote about the incredible revelation that gentiles can join God's new family, the people of God (chapters 1–2). the prisoner of Christ Jesus: Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned for sharing his faith with the gentiles.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-21As the first chapter treated of THE Father's office; and the second, THE Son's, so this, that of THE Spirit. 1. 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. His very bonds were profitable…Read the comment
Topics related to Ephesians 3:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ephesians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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