Ephesians 3:8

King James Version (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;

Translations

Ephesians 3:8 - Amplified Bible

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted {and} graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],

Ephesians 3:8 - American Standard Version

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;

Ephesians 3:8 - Bible in Basic English

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, so that I might make clear to the Gentiles the good news of the unending wealth of Christ:

Ephesians 3:8 - Darby Bible

To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ,

Ephesians 3:8 - English Standard Version

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Ephesians 3:8 - King James Version

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;

Ephesians 3:8 - La Biblia de las Americas

A mì, que soy menos que el más pequeño de todos los santos, se me concediò esta gracia: anunciar a los gentiles las inescrutables riquezas de Cristo,

Ephesians 3:8 - The Message

And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!

Ephesians 3:8 - New American Standard Bible

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

Ephesians 3:8 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

A mì, que soy menos que el más pequeño de todos los santos, se me concediò esta gracia: anunciar a los Gentiles las inescrutables riquezas de Cristo,

Ephesians 3:8 - World English Bible

To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Ephesians 3:8 - Young's Living Translation

to me -- the less than the least of all the saints -- was given this grace, among the nations to proclaim good news -- the untraceable riches of the Christ,

Ephesians 3:8 - Additional Comments

1 Cor 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."
See how humbly Paul speaks of himself, and how highly he lifts up Jesus Christ.
Paul calls himself the least of all the saints for the same reason, where he came from. I wonder if he still carried guilt from those earlier days. Regardless, it greatly humbled him. The interesting thing is that his former failures built him into more of the godly man that God wanted him to be. His great humility allowed his ministry to be stronger.
Regardless of the past, we are still challenged today to have the same humility that Paul had, that God wants us to have. It is difficult to have a strong ministry without a strong humility. How does one get great humility? By constantly focusing on others, and not on self. This is somewhat of a paradox - improve yourself by not focusing on yourself. But, that is the secret.
And, the more you focus on others, the more humility, and the more humility, the stronger your ministry.
So, notice that God wants each of us to have a strong ministry, and it is important for humility to be built into our lives to enable that. This might mean that because God has great plans for you, He has to take some time to mold you and humble you.
The good thing is this work for others is fully supported and carried by God's grace and power (vs 7).
Isa 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isa 66:2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
1 Pet 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
These riches that Paul speaks of are unsearchable, meaning we can never discover the bottom of the depths of these riches. No human wisdom can fully understand it. May we keep in mind that these riches are there, that they are vast, and they are so vast that we can never understand or see the ends of them. And, these "riches of Christ" are there for us, being made known to us (vs 9).

Comments are closed.