Ephesians 3:1

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—
• English Standard Version (ESV)For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of 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, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

Ephesians 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 10:1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
• Galatians 5:2Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
• Ephesians 4:1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
• Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
• Luke 21:12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
• Acts 21:33Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.
• Acts 26:29And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
• Acts 28:17And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have 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 ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
• Philippians 1:7just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
• Philippians 1:13so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
• Colossians 1:24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
• Colossians 4:3meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
• 2 Timothy 1:8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
• 2 Timothy 2:9for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
• Philemon 1:1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer,

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

• Gentiles
• Minister, Christian
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Paul
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Paul, Saul
• Jesus Christ
• Boldness
• Effectual
• Ground

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