Focused Passage

Ephesians 3:7-13

The Mystery Revealed and the Church Strengthened in Christ’s Love

Paul explains the revealed mystery of Gentile inclusion in Christ, describes his gospel stewardship, and prays that the church would be strengthened to know Christ's surpassing love and be filled to the measure of God's fullness.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.

8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

11 according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

13 So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

I became ἐγενήθην G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular a servant διάκονος G1249 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of [this gospel] οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Singular by κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular gift δωρεὰν G1431 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God’s Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular grace χάριτος G5485 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular given δοθείσης G1325 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Feminine Singular me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular through κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular working ἐνέργειαν G1753 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular power δυνάμεως G1411 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 8

Original words

[Though I am] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular less than the least ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ G1647 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular - Comparative of all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural [the] saints ἁγίων G40 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural this αὕτη G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular grace χάρις G5485 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular was given ἐδόθη G1325 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular me Ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular to preach εὐαγγελίσασθαι G2097 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural Gentiles ἔθνεσιν G1484 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular unsearchable ἀνεξιχνίαστον G421 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular riches πλοῦτος G4149 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 9

Original words

and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to illuminate φωτίσαι G5461 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active for everyone πάντας G3956 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural - τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular stewardship οἰκονομία G3622 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of [this] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular mystery μυστηρίου G3466 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular which τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular for ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural ages past αἰώνων G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural was kept hidden ἀποκεκρυμμένου G613 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Neuter Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular who τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular created κτίσαντι G2936 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • NE and WH and to illuminate the stewardship; TR and to illuminate for everyone the fellowship
Verse 10

Original words

[ His purpose was ] that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction now νῦν G3568 Adverb through διὰ G1223 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular church ἐκκλησίας G1577 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular manifold πολυποίκιλος G4182 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular wisdom σοφία G4678 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular should be made known γνωρισθῇ G1107 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular to the ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural rulers ἀρχαῖς G746 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural authorities ἐξουσίαις G1849 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural heavenly realms ἐπουρανίοις G2032 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural
Verse 11

Original words

according to κατὰ G2596 Preposition vvv τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural [the] eternal αἰώνων G165 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural purpose πρόθεσιν G4286 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular that ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular He accomplished ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστῷ G5547 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίῳ G2962 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

In ἐν G1722 Preposition Him G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular [and] through διὰ G1223 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular in Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular we may ἔχομεν G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural enter [ God’s ] presence προσαγωγὴν G4318 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular with boldness παρρησίαν G3954 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . ἐν G1722 Preposition confidence πεποιθήσει G4006 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or through His faithfulness
Verse 13

Original words

So Διὸ G1352 Conjunction I ask [you] αἰτοῦμαι G154 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb to be discouraged ἐνκακεῖν G1573 Verb - Present Infinitive Active because of ἐν G1722 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural sufferings θλίψεσίν G2347 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural for ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural which ἥτις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular are ἐστὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural glory δόξα G1391 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.