Ephesians 3 · Verse 7

Ephesians 3:7

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Ephesians 3:7, King James Version

Ephesians 3:7 in other translations

BSB	I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
WEB	of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
ASV	whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
YLT	of which I became a ministrant, according to the gift of the grace of God that was given to me, according to the working of His power;
DARBY	of which I am become minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me, according to the working of his power.
BBE	Of which I was made a preacher, through that grace of God which was given to me in the measure of the working of his power.
Webster	Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power.

What does Ephesians 3:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. Whereof--"of which" Gospel. according to--in consequence of, and in accordance with, "the gift of the grace of God." given--"which (gift of grace) was given to me by (Greek, 'according to,' as in Ep 3:20; 1:19: as the result of, and in proportion to) the effectual working (Greek, 'energy,' or 'in-working') of His power."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. Whereof I was made a minister. Eph 3:2:.

According to the gift of the grace of God. It was not by my own seeking or merit; it was a free gift.

Of the grace of God. The sentiment is, that throughout it was a mere matter of grace that he was called into the ministry, and that so important an office was entrusted to him as that of bearing the gospel to the Gentiles.

By the effectual working of his power. Not by any native inclination which I had to the gospel, and not by any, power which I have put forth. It is by "the energy of his power. Comp. Gall 2:8. Locke understands this of the energy or power which God put forth in converting the Gentiles under his ministry. But it seems to me that it refers rather to the power which God put forth in the conversion of Paul himself, and putting him into the ministry. This is clear from the following verse. The meaning is, that such was his opposition to the gospel by nature, that nothing but the "energy of God" could overcome it, and that his conversion was to be traced to that alone.

(c) "effectual working" Isa 43:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 Whereof I was made a minister - Διακονος· A deacon, a servant acting under and by the direction of the great Master, Jesus Christ; from whom, by an especial call and revelation, I received the apostolic gifts and office, and by την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου, the energy, the in-working of his power, this Gospel which I preached was made effectual to the salvation of vast multitudes of Jews and Gentiles.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 3:1-7

For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 3:1-7 →

Ephesians 3:7 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὗhouof whichG3739

ἐγενήθηνegenēthēnI would beG1096

διάκονοςdiakonosservantG1249

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

τὴνtēntheG3588

δωρεὰνdōreangiftG1431

τῆςtēsof theG3588

χάριτοςcharitosgraceG5485

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

τῆςtēswhichG3588

δοθείσηςdotheisēshaving been givenG1325

μοιmoito meG3165

κατὰkataaccording toG2596

τὴνtēntheG3588

ἐνέργειανenergeianworkingG1753

τῆςtēsof theG3588

δυνάμεωςdunameōspowerG1411

αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 3:7

Ephesians 1:19
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Ephesians 3:2
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Ephesians 3:20
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,
Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:23-25
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 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: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
1 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
Colossians 1:29
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Romans 15:16
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Romans 1:5
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I.
2; Ro 15:16; 2Co 3:6; 4:1; Col 1:23-25
according.
8; Ro 1:5; 1Co 15:10; 1Ti 1:14,15
by.
20; 1:19; 4:16; Isa 43:13; Ro 15:18,19; 2Co 10:4,5; Ga 2:8; Col 1:29
1Th 2:13; Heb 13:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Ephesians 3:8
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;

Read all of Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Del cual yo soy hecho ministro por el don de la gracia de Dios que me ha sido dado según la operación de su potencia.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	duquel je suis devenu serviteur, selon le don de la grâce de Dieu qui m’a été donné selon l’opération de sa puissance.
German Elberfelder 1871	dessen Diener ich geworden bin nach der Gabe der Gnade Gottes, die mir gegeben ist nach der Wirksamkeit seiner Kraft.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	cujus factus sum minister secundum donum gratiæ Dei, quæ data est mihi secundum operationem virtutis ejus.