Ephesians 3:1

Ephesians 3:1 Meaning and Explanation

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

King James Version (KJV)

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Paul, a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles, begins to speak of his calling to them.

What Does Ephesians 3:1 Mean?

Paul calls himself 'the prisoner of Jesus Christ.' Though held in literal chains, he sees himself bound not finally to Rome but to his Lord. His imprisonment is not a defeat but a service, undertaken 'for you Gentiles' to whom he was sent.

He begins a thought here that he will set aside and return to in verse 14. The sheer wonder of what God has done for the nations seems to overflow, and Paul cannot move on without pausing to explain the calling that put him in chains. His suffering is woven into his ministry to those once far off.

Ephesians 3:1 in the Original Language

desmios (δέσμιος), 'prisoner' -- one bound, a captive in chains.

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What does Ephesians 3:1 mean?

Paul, a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles, begins to speak of his calling to them.

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