Ephesians 3:8 Study Bible: To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

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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,

Study Bible

Though I am less than the least of all the saints
This phrase reflects Paul's deep humility and recognition of his past as a persecutor of Christians. The Greek word used here, "ἐλαχιστότερος" (elachistoteros), is a superlative form meaning "less than the least." Paul acknowledges his unworthiness in comparison to other believers, emphasizing the transformative power of God's grace. Historically, Paul’s conversion from a zealous Pharisee to a devoted apostle underscores the radical change that Christ can bring into a person's life. This humility is a model for all Christians, reminding us that our past does not disqualify us from being used by God.

this grace was given me
The term "grace" (χάρις, charis) in this context refers to the divine favor and empowerment bestowed upon Paul. It is not merely unmerited favor but also the enabling power of God to fulfill His purposes. The historical context of Paul’s mission to the Gentiles highlights the revolutionary nature of this grace, as it broke the barriers between Jews and Gentiles, bringing them together in the body of Christ. This grace is a reminder that God equips those He calls, providing them with the necessary strength and wisdom to carry out His will.

to preach to the Gentiles
The word "preach" (εὐαγγελίζω, euangelizō) means to proclaim the good news. Paul's specific mission to the Gentiles was a significant shift in the early church, as the message of Christ was extended beyond the Jewish community. This reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 12:3). The inclusion of the Gentiles is a testament to the universal scope of the Gospel, breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers and uniting all people under Christ.

the unsearchable riches of Christ
The term "unsearchable" (ἀνεξιχνίαστος, anexichniastos) conveys the idea of something that cannot be fully comprehended or explored. The "riches of Christ" refer to the boundless spiritual blessings and treasures found in a relationship with Him. These riches include salvation, peace, joy, and eternal life, which are beyond human understanding and cannot be measured by earthly standards. This phrase invites believers to continually seek and discover the depths of Christ's love and grace, knowing that there is always more to learn and experience in Him.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul describes himself as "less than the least of all the saints," highlighting his humility and the transformative power of God's grace in his life.

2. The Gentiles
Non-Jewish people to whom Paul was specifically called to preach. This reflects the expansion of the Gospel beyond the Jewish community to all nations.

3. The Church in Ephesus
The recipients of this letter, located in a major city of the Roman province of Asia, known for its diverse population and significant pagan influences.

4. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
Refers to the boundless and incomprehensible blessings and truths found in Christ, which Paul was tasked to proclaim.

5. Grace
The unmerited favor of God, which empowered Paul to fulfill his mission despite his past as a persecutor of Christians.

Teaching Points

Humility in Service
Paul’s acknowledgment of being "less than the least" teaches us the importance of humility in our service to God. We should recognize our own unworthiness and rely on God's grace.

The Universality of the Gospel
The message of Christ is for all people, regardless of their background. We are called to share the Gospel with everyone, just as Paul was called to the Gentiles.

The Riches of Christ
As believers, we have access to the "unsearchable riches of Christ." This should encourage us to delve deeper into our relationship with Him and to share these riches with others.

Empowerment by Grace
Just as Paul was empowered by grace to fulfill his mission, we too are equipped by God's grace to accomplish the tasks He sets before us.

The Transformative Power of the Gospel
Paul's life is a testament to how the Gospel can transform even the most unlikely individuals. This should inspire us to believe in the power of the Gospel to change lives today.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Paul's description of himself as "less than the least of all the saints" challenge our own views of humility and service in the church?

2. In what ways can we actively share the "unsearchable riches of Christ" with those around us, especially those who may not know Him?

3. How does understanding the universality of the Gospel impact our approach to evangelism and missions?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace empowering you to accomplish something you felt unworthy or unable to do. How can this experience encourage others?

5. How can we cultivate a deeper appreciation for the "unsearchable riches of Christ" in our daily walk with Him? What practical steps can we take to grow in this area?

Connections to Other Scriptures

1 Corinthians 15:9-10
Paul similarly expresses his unworthiness and the grace of God that enabled him to work effectively as an apostle.

Romans 11:33
Speaks of the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge, paralleling the "unsearchable riches of Christ."

Acts 9:15
God's calling of Paul to be a chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel.

Philippians 3:8
Paul considers everything a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, echoing the theme of the riches found in Christ.

Sermons

Christ Above All Praise	Foster's Cyclopaedia	Ephesians 3:8
Christ's Riches	W. Graham, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
Christ's Unsearchable Riches	A. F. Mitchell, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
Christ's Unsearchable Riches	R. J. McGhee, M. A.	Ephesians 3:8
Further Riches in Christ		Ephesians 3:8
Great Saints are Lowly	C. H. Spurgeon.	Ephesians 3:8
Humility of a Minister		Ephesians 3:8
Humility of Greatness		Ephesians 3:8
Less than the Least of All Saints	W.F. Adeny	Ephesians 3:8
Ministerial Humility and Zeal	Paul Bayne.	Ephesians 3:8
Our Spiritual Treasury	J. Eadie, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
Paul's Humility and Zeal a Pattern for Christians	W. Jay.	Ephesians 3:8
Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ	J. Burns, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
Self-Knowledge Humiliates	C. H. Spurgeon.	Ephesians 3:8
St. Paul's Lowly Estimate of Himself	C. H. Spurgeon.	Ephesians 3:8
The Apostle and His Ministry	J. Lathrop, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The Gospel Message	J. Stratten.	Ephesians 3:8
The Grace Given to Paul	R. W. Dale, LL. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The Humility of St. Paul	C. Bradley, M. A.	Ephesians 3:8
The Ministry and Message of St. Paul	F. Dobbin, M. A.	Ephesians 3:8
The Ministry of the Apostle Paul	A. S. Patterson.	Ephesians 3:8
The Missionary Calling	Bishop E. Steere.	Ephesians 3:8
The Riches Implied in the Methods by Which Christ Brings Us to Enjoy Salvation	J. Benson.	Ephesians 3:8
The Riches of Christ	W. Ormiston, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The Riches of Christ's Redeeming Acts	J. Benson.	Ephesians 3:8
The Riches of Christ's Saving Benefits	J. Benson.	Ephesians 3:8
The Riches of the Gospel of Christ	R. J. McGhee, M. A.	Ephesians 3:8
The Subject and Spirit of the Christian Ministry	W. Ormiston, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The True Riches	E. Blencowe, M. A.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	C. H. Spurgeon.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	S. Martin, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	J. Slade, M. A.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	T. Raffles, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	F. Tucker, B. A.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	A. Barry, D. D.	Ephesians 3:8
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ	W.F. Adeny	Ephesians 3:8
Unsearchable Riches	Bishop Ryle.	Ephesians 3:8
Unsearchable Riches	John Trapp.	Ephesians 3:8
Unsearchable Riches for Men of All Nations	J. Pulsford.	Ephesians 3:8
Unsearchable Riches Offered to the Gentiles	J. Mackay, B. D.	Ephesians 3:8
Variety of Riches	J. Pulsford.	Ephesians 3:8
Wealth in Christ	E. Aston.	Ephesians 3:8
Aspects of the True Gospel Ministry	D. Thomas	Ephesians 3:1-13
Paul's Apostleship to the Gentiles: Introduction	R. Finlayson	Ephesians 3:1-13
The Death of the Tribal Spirit	R.M. Edgar	Ephesians 3:1-13
The Apostle's High Privilege	T. Croskery	Ephesians 3:8, 9

People

Ephesians, Paul

Places

Ephesus

Topics

Announce, Christ, Clear, Entrusted, Exhaustless, Gentiles, Glad, God's, Grace, Graciously, Least, Less, Nations, News, Preach, Proclaim, Riches, Saints, Though, Tidings, Unending, Unfathomable, Unsearchable, Untraceable, Wealth

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Ephesians 3:8

     2428   gospel, descriptions
     5040   murder
     7026   church, leadership
     8261   generosity, God's
     8425   evangelism, nature of
     8701   affluence
     8813   riches, spiritual

Ephesians 3:3-11

1444 revelation, NT

Ephesians 3:4-11

1175 God, will of

Ephesians 3:6-8

6687 mercy, God's

Ephesians 3:7-8

1055 God, grace and mercy

Ephesians 3:7-9

     5109   Paul, apostle
     6671   grace, and Christian life
     7755   preaching, importance

Ephesians 3:7-11

7414 priesthood, NT

Ephesians 3:8-9

2427 gospel, transmission
6694 mystery

Library

April 15. "Rooted and Grounded in Love" (Eph. Iii. 17).
"Rooted and grounded in love" (Eph. iii. 17). There is a very singular shrub, which grows abundantly in the west, and is to be found in all parts of Texas. It is no less than the "mosquito tree." It is a very slim, and willowy looking shrub, and would seem to be of little use for any industrial purposes; but is has extraordinary roots growing like great timbers underground, and possessing such qualities of endurance in all situations that it is used and very highly valued for good pavements. The …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

August 28. "According to the Power that Worketh in Us" (Eph. Iii. 20).
"According to the power that worketh in us" (Eph. iii. 20). When we reach the place of union with God, through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, we come into the inheritance of external blessing and enter upon the land of our possession. Then our physical health and strength come to us through the power of our interior life; then the prayer is fulfilled, that we shall be in health and prosper, as our soul prospereth. Then, with the kingdom of God and His righteousness within us, all things are added …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Paul's Care and Prayer for the Church.
Text: Ephesians 3, 13-21. 13. Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 and that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

'The Whole Family'
'The whole family in heaven and earth.'--Eph. iii. 15. Grammatically, we are driven to recognise that the Revised Version is more correct than the Authorised, when it reads 'every family,' instead of 'the whole family.' There is in the expression no reference to the thought, however true it is in itself, that the redeemed in heaven and the believers on earth make up but one family. The thought rather is, that, as has been said, 'the father makes the family,' and if any community of intelligent beings, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Strengthened with Might
'That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory; to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.'--Eph. iii. 16. In no part of Paul's letters does he rise to a higher level than in his prayers, and none of his prayers are fuller of fervour than this wonderful series of petitions. They open out one into the other like some majestic suite of apartments in a great palace-temple, each leading into a loftier and more spacious hall, each drawing nearer the presence-chamber, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Indwelling Christ
'That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; ye being rooted and grounded in love.'--Eph. iii. 17. We have here the second step of the great staircase by which Paul's fervent desires for his Ephesian friends climbed towards that wonderful summit of his prayers--which is ever approached, never reached,--'that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' Two remarks of an expository character will prepare the way for the lessons of these verses. The first is as to the relation of this clause …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Paradox of Love's Measure
The breadth, and length, and depth, and height.'--Eph. iii. 18. Of what? There can, I think, be no doubt as to the answer. The next clause is evidently the continuation of the idea begun in that of our text, and it runs: 'And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.' It is the immeasurable measure, then; the boundless bounds and dimensions of the love of Christ which fire the Apostle's thoughts here. Of course, he had no separate idea in his mind attaching to each of these measures …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Climax of all Prayer
'That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.'--Eph. iii. 19. The Apostle's many-linked prayer, which we have been considering in successive sermons, has reached its height. It soars to the very Throne of God. There can be nothing above or beyond this wonderful petition. Rather, it might seem as if it were too much to ask, and as if, in the ecstasy of prayer, Paul had forgotten the limits that separate the creature from the Creator, as well as the experience of sinful and imperfect men, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Love Unknowable and Known
'That ye ... may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.'--Eph. iii. 18, 19. This constitutes the third of the petitions in this great prayer of Paul's, each of which, as we have had occasion to see in former sermons, rises above, and is a consequence of the preceding, and leads on to, and is a cause or occasion of the subsequent one. The two former petitions have been for inward strength …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Measureless Power and Endless Glory
'Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21. Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.'--Eph. iii. 20, 21. One purpose and blessing of faithful prayer is to enlarge the desires which it expresses, and to make us think more loftily of the grace to which we appeal. So the Apostle, in the wonderful series of supplications which precedes the text, has found his …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Christian Church a Family.
Preached January 11, 1852. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH A FAMILY. "Our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."--Ephesians iii. 14, 15. In the verses immediately before the text the Apostle Paul has been speaking of what he calls a mystery--that is, a revealed secret. And the secret was this, that the Gentiles would be "fellow-heirs and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel." It had been kept secret from the former ages and generations; …
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

The Measure of the Cross
EPHESIANS iii. 18, 19. That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. These words are very deep, and difficult to understand; for St. Paul does not tell us exactly of what he is speaking. He does not say what it is, the breadth and length, and depth, and height of which we are to comprehend and take in. Only he tells us afterwards what will come of our taking it in; we shall know the …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Past Knowledge.
(Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.) EPHESIANS iii. 19. "To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge." There are some things which no earthly school can teach us, no earthly science explain. Science can do very much, it has done marvellous things, and will do still more. Men can work now with ease such wonders as would have sent them to the fire as wizards three hundred years ago. Science can calculate the exact time of an eclipse ages before the time, science can connect two worlds with the …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

First Day for the Power of the Holy Spirit
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Power of the Holy Spirit "I bow my knees unto the Father, that He would grant you that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit."--EPH. iii. 16. "Wait for the promise of the Father."--ACTS i. 4. "The fuller manifestation of the grace and energy of the Blessed Spirit of God, in the removal of all that is contrary to God's revealed will, so that we grieve not the Holy Spirit, but that He may work in mightier power in the Church, for the exaltation of Christ and …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Strength and Indwelling.
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that …
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul

The Love of Christ.
THE Patience of Christ was recently the object of our meditation in these pages. Blessed and inexhaustible it is. And now a still greater theme is before our hearts. The Love of Christ. The heart almost shrinks from attempting to write on the matchless, unfathomable love of our blessed and adorable Lord. All the Saints of God who have spoken and written on the Love of Christ have never told out its fulness and vastness, its heights and its depths. "The Love of Christ which passeth knowledge" (Ephesians …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Holy Spirit Forming Christ Within Us.
It is a wonderful and deeply significant prayer that Paul offers in Eph. iii. 16-19 for the believers in Ephesus and for all believers who read the Epistle. Paul writes, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

"Love that Passeth Knowledge. "
"To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge." (Ephesians iii. 19.) If I could only make men understand the real meaning of the words of the apostle John--"God is love," I would take that single text, and would go up and down the world proclaiming this glorious truth. If you can convince a man that you love him you have won his heart. If we really make people believe that God loves them, how we should find them crowding into the kingdom of heaven! The trouble is that men think God hates them; …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Another Archbishop
Paul did not say, Let everyone desire the episcopate. It is a work, not a relaxation; a solicitude, not a luxury; a responsible ministration, not an irresponsible dominion; a fatherly supervision, not a tyrannical autocracy.--Isidore of Pelusium, Ep. iii. 216. Nectarius, then, on September 27, 397, lay dead in his splendid palace; and the breath was hardly out of the Archbishop's body when there were a dozen austere intriguers' in the field, and the subterranean plots and whisperings began, and the …
Frederic William Farrar—Gathering Clouds: A Tale of the Days of St. Chrysostom

His Dwelling-Place
T. S. M. Eph. iii. 17 Thou knewest not where to lay Thy head; When over the twilight sea The birds of the mountains homeward sped, There was no home for Thee. But God had prepared for the weary feet A home when the toil was past, And there, in His chamber still and sweet, O Lord, Thou shouldst rest at last. A Home to be won by deadly fight, The price to be paid in blood-- Oh where is that palace of fair delight, That glorious Home of God? The City that hath foundations shone To Abram's eyes of …
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

The Apology of Rufinus.
Addressed to Apronianus, in Reply to Jerome's Letter to Pammachius, [2814] Written at Aquileia a.d. 400. In Two Books. In order to understand the controversy between Jerome and Rufinus it is necessary to look back over their earlier relations. They had been close friends in early youth (Jerome, Ep. iii, 3, v, 2.) and had together formed part of a society of young Christian ascetics at Aquileia in the years 370-3. Jerome's letter (3) to Rufinus in 374 is full of affection; in 381 he was placed in …
Various—Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.

Whether Only a Bishop Can Confer this Sacrament?
Objection 1: It seems that not only a bishop can confer this sacrament. For Gregory (Regist. iv), writing to Bishop Januarius, says: "We hear that some were scandalized because we forbade priests to anoint with chrism those who have been baptized. Yet in doing this we followed the ancient custom of our Church: but if this trouble some so very much we permit priests, where no bishop is to be had, to anoint the baptized on the forehead with chrism." But that which is essential to the sacraments should …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

"And if Christ be in You, the Body is Dead Because of Sin; but the Spirit is Life Because of Righteousness. "
Rom. viii. 10.--"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." God's presence is his working. His presence in a soul by his Spirit is his working in such a soul in some special manner, not common to all men, but peculiar to them whom he hath chosen. Now his dwelling is nothing else but a continued, familiar and endless working in a soul, till he hath conformed all within to the image of his Son. The soul is the office house, or workhouse, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

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