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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ephesians/3-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/49_Eph_03_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ephesians 3:1 - The Mystery of the Gospel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles..." /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ephesians/2-22.htm" title="Ephesians 2:22">◄</a> Ephesians 3:1 <a href="/ephesians/3-2.htm" title="Ephesians 3:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ephesians/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ephesians/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ephesians/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ephesians/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ephesians/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/ephesians/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For reason of this, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ephesians/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ephesians/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ephesians/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ephesians/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ephesians/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ephesians/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ephesians/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ephesians/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ephesians/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ephesians/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ephesians/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so I could help you Gentiles. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ephesians/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ephesians/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />This is the reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for those of you who are not Jewish. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ephesians/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ephesians/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah Jesus for the sake of you gentiles. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ephesians/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ephesians/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ephesians/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you the non-Jews,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ephesians/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/ephesians/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ephesians/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ephesians/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you the nations,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/ephesians/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For reason of this, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ephesians/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you the nations,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ephesians/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For this, I Paul, the imprisoned of Christ Jesus for you the nations,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ephesians/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ephesians/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />By reason of this grace, I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ephesians/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Because of this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ [Jesus] for you Gentiles—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ephesians/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ephesians/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />FOR this cause I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/ephesians/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Because of this, I Paul am the prisoner of Yeshua The Messiah for the sake of you Gentiles,<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/ephesians/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of the Christ Jesus on account of you Gentiles,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/ephesians/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Therefore I Paul, the prisoner of Christ for the sake of you Gentiles,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/ephesians/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />FOR this cause <i>am</i> I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/ephesians/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/ephesians/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/ephesians/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you gentiles,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/ephesians/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />For this cause I Paul <i>am</i> the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ephesians/3-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfeSHen3sAQ?start=395" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ephesians/3.htm">The Mystery of the Gospel</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/5484.htm" title="5484: charin (Prep) -- Accusative case of charis as preposition; through favor of, i.e. On account of.">For this reason</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: Toutou (DPro-GNS) -- This; he, she, it. "></a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: egō (PPro-N1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">I,</a> <a href="/greek/3972.htm" title="3972: Paulos (N-NMS) -- Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.">Paul,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1198.htm" title="1198: desmios (N-NMS) -- One bound, a prisoner. From desmon; a captive.">prisoner</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5547.htm" title="5547: Christou (N-GMS) -- Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.">of Christ</a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsou (N-GMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/5228.htm" title="5228: hyper (Prep) -- Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. ">for the sake of</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">you</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1484.htm" title="1484: ethnōn (N-GNP) -- Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.">Gentiles...</a> </span> <span class="reftext">2</span>Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/22-21.htm">Acts 22:21</a></span><br />Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-24.htm">Colossians 1:24-25</a></span><br />Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church. / I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-13.htm">Romans 11:13</a></span><br />I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-23.htm">2 Corinthians 11:23</a></span><br />Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/2-7.htm">Galatians 2:7-8</a></span><br />On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. / For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/2-7.htm">1 Timothy 2:7</a></span><br />For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/9-15.htm">Acts 9:15</a></span><br />“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/9-1.htm">1 Corinthians 9:1-2</a></span><br />Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord? / Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/1-11.htm">2 Timothy 1:11</a></span><br />to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/15-16.htm">Romans 15:16</a></span><br />to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/26-16.htm">Acts 26:16-18</a></span><br />‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. / I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them / to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-6.htm">Isaiah 42:6</a></span><br />“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/49-6.htm">Isaiah 49:6</a></span><br />He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/1-5.htm">Jeremiah 1:5</a></span><br />“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-3.htm">Genesis 12:3</a></span><br />I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,</p><p class="hdg">I.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_corinthians/10-1.htm">2 Corinthians 10:1</a></b></br> Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence <i>am</i> base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/5-2.htm">Galatians 5:2</a></b></br> Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.</p><p class="hdg">the.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">Ephesians 4:1</a></b></br> I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ephesians/6-20.htm">Ephesians 6:20</a></b></br> For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/21-12.htm">Luke 21:12</a></b></br> But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute <i>you</i>, delivering <i>you</i> up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.</p><p class="hdg">for.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/5-11.htm">Galatians 5:11</a></b></br> And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/colossians/1-24.htm">Colossians 1:24</a></b></br> Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_thessalonians/2-15.htm">1 Thessalonians 2:15,16</a></b></br> Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ephesians/1-16.htm">Behalf</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-15.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-20.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-18.htm">Gentiles</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-20.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-11.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-1.htm">Paul</a> <a href="/galatians/3-22.htm">Prisoner</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-11.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/galatians/3-19.htm">Sake</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ephesians/3-13.htm">Behalf</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-4.htm">Christ</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-6.htm">Gentiles</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-6.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-8.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/philippians/1-1.htm">Paul</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">Prisoner</a> <a href="/ephesians/3-13.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm">Sake</a><div class="vheading2">Ephesians 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/3-1.htm">The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/3-8.htm">and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/3-13.htm">He desires them not to be discouraged over his tribulation;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ephesians/3-14.htm">and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/ephesians/3.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>For this reason</b><br />This phrase connects the current passage to the preceding context, specifically <a href="/ephesians/2.htm">Ephesians 2</a>, where Paul discusses the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. The Greek phrase "τούτου χάριν" (toutou charin) indicates a cause or purpose. Paul is emphasizing the divine purpose behind his ministry and the mystery of the Gospel that he is about to elaborate on. It serves as a reminder that the truths he is about to share are deeply rooted in the theological foundation he has already laid.<p><b>I, Paul</b><br />Paul identifies himself personally, which adds a level of intimacy and authority to the message. The use of "I, Paul" (ἐγὼ Παῦλος, egō Paulos) is a self-identification that underscores his role as an apostle and a servant of Christ. Historically, Paul was a Pharisee who experienced a dramatic conversion (Acts 9), and his personal testimony adds weight to his teachings. His name, Paul, meaning "small" or "humble" in Latin, reflects his transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a humble servant of Christ.<p><b>the prisoner of Christ Jesus</b><br />Paul refers to himself as a "prisoner" (δέσμιος, desmios) of Christ Jesus, which is both literal and metaphorical. Literally, Paul was under house arrest in Rome at the time of writing this letter (<a href="/acts/28-16.htm">Acts 28:16-31</a>). Metaphorically, it signifies his total commitment and submission to Christ's will. Being a prisoner "of Christ Jesus" indicates that his imprisonment is not due to any wrongdoing but is a result of his faithful service to the Gospel. This phrase highlights the cost of discipleship and the sacrifices made for the sake of spreading the Gospel.<p><b>for the sake of you Gentiles</b><br />Paul's mission was primarily to the Gentiles, as seen in his calling (<a href="/acts/9-15.htm">Acts 9:15</a>). The Greek phrase "ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν" (hyper hymōn tōn ethnōn) emphasizes the purpose of his ministry and suffering. Historically, the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community was a radical concept, breaking down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles (<a href="/ephesians/2-14.htm">Ephesians 2:14</a>). This phrase underscores the universal scope of the Gospel and God's plan for all nations to be united in Christ. It serves as a reminder of the transformative power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>-1<a href="/context/ephesians/3-1.htm" title="For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,">Ephesians 3:1-13</a> contain two subjects closely blended together. The first (carrying on what is implied in the contrast drawn out in Ephesians 2) is the absolute newness of this dispensation to the Gentiles--a mystery hidden from the beginning in God, but now at last revealed. The second, an emphatic claim for St. Paul himself, "less than the least" although he is, of a special apostleship to the Gentiles, proclaiming this mystery by word and deed.<p>(1) <span class= "bld">For this cause . . .</span>--After much discussion of the construction of this verse, there seems little doubt that the nominative, "I, Paul," must be carried on beyond the digression upon the mystery of the gospel, and his part in ministering it, which follows. The only question which can well be raised is whether the resumption takes place at <a href="/ephesians/3-13.htm" title="Why I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.">Ephesians 3:13</a>, "I desire that ye faint not;" or at <a href="/ephesians/3-14.htm" title="For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,">Ephesians 3:14</a>, "I bow my knees;" and this seems decided for the latter alternative, both by the emphatic repetition of "for this cause," and by the far greater weight and finality of the latter sentence.<p><span class= "bld">The prisoner of Jesus Christ.</span>--The phrase (repeated in <a href="/ephesians/4-1.htm" title="I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation with which you are called,">Ephesians 4:1</a>; <a href="/philemon/1-9.htm" title="Yet for love's sake I rather beseech you, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.">Philemon 1:9</a>; <a href="/2_timothy/1-8.htm" title="Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;">2Timothy 1:8</a>) is dwelt upon with an emphasis, explained by St. Paul's conviction that "his bonds" tended to "the furtherance of the gospel"--not merely by exciting a sympathy which might open the heart to his words, but even more (see <a href="/context/philippians/1-13.htm" title="So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;">Philippians 1:13-14</a>) by showing the victorious power of God's word and grace--which "is not bound"--to triumph over captivity and the danger of death. The expression itself is notable. When St. Paul calls himself the "prisoner of Jesus Christ," he represents our Lord's own will, as ordaining his captivity for His own transcendent purposes of good, making him an "ambassador in chains" (<a href="/ephesians/6-20.htm" title="For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.">Ephesians 6:20</a>), and these "the bonds of the gospel." (See <a href="/philemon/1-13.htm" title="Whom I would have retained with me, that in your stead he might have ministered to me in the bonds of the gospel:">Philemon 1:13</a>; and <a href="/acts/28-20.htm" title="For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.">Acts 28:20</a>, "For the hope of Israel I am bound in this chain.") Hence in this passage St. Paul seems to speak of his captivity as a special proof of the reality of his mission, and a new step in its progress; and appeals to it accordingly, just as in the final salutation of the Colossian Epistle, "Remember my bonds." The whole idea is a striking instance of the spiritual alchemy of faith, turning all things to good--not unlike the magnificent passage (in <a href="/context/2_corinthians/11-23.htm" title="Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.">2Corinthians 11:23-30</a>) of his "glorying in his infirmities." . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ephesians/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1-13.</span> - DIGRESSION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE GENTILES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For this cause.</span> The reference is not merely to the last statement or illustration, but to the whole view of the purpose of God toward the Gentiles unfolded in Ephesians it. The apodosis does not come in till ver. 14, at the beginning of which this conjunctive clause is repeated. <span class="cmt_word">I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles.</span> He introduces himself in order to make known the feelings which were roused in <span class="accented">his</span> soul towards them by the consideration of the privileges just enlarged on - especially to acquaint them with the <span class="accented">prayers</span> he offered for them (see vers. 14-19), and apparently with the indirect object of getting them to offer similar prayers for themselves. To justify this introduction of himself, he delicately introduces the fact of his being a prisoner on their behalf. What had brought him to Rome, what had made him appeal to Caesar, was his preaching the gospel <span class="accented">to the Gentiles</span>; indeed, the immediate occasion of his arrest at Jerusalem was the suspicion that he had taken Trophimus, an Ephesian, one of themselves, into the temple (<a href="/acts/21-29.htm">Acts 21:29</a>). By this allusion to the condition into which his regard for them had brought him, be conciliates sympathetic consideration of what is to follow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ephesians/3-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">For this reason,</span><br /><span class="grk">χάριν</span> <span class="translit">(charin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5484.htm">Strong's 5484: </a> </span><span class="str2">Accusative case of charis as preposition; through favor of, i.e. On account of.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐγὼ</span> <span class="translit">(egō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Paul,</span><br /><span class="grk">Παῦλος</span> <span class="translit">(Paulos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3972.htm">Strong's 3972: </a> </span><span class="str2">Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">ὁ</span> <span class="translit">(ho)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">prisoner</span><br /><span class="grk">δέσμιος</span> <span class="translit">(desmios)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1198.htm">Strong's 1198: </a> </span><span class="str2">One bound, a prisoner. From desmon; a captive.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Christ</span><br /><span class="grk">Χριστοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(Christou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5547.htm">Strong's 5547: </a> </span><span class="str2">Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jesus</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰησοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(Iēsou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for the sake of</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑπὲρ</span> <span class="translit">(hyper)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5228.htm">Strong's 5228: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμῶν</span> <span class="translit">(hymōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Gentiles...</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐθνῶν</span> <span class="translit">(ethnōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1484.htm">Strong's 1484: </a> </span><span class="str2">Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ephesians/3-1.htm">Ephesians 3:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ephesians/3-1.htm">NT Letters: Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul am (Ephes. Eph. Ep) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ephesians/2-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ephesians 2:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ephesians 2:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ephesians/3-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ephesians 3:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ephesians 3:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>