⁸Unto me, ^twho am less than the least of all saints, ^eis this grace given, that I should preach ^camong the Gentiles the ^uunsearchable ^wriches of Christ; ⁹And ^hto make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, ^hwhich from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, ^xwho created all things by Jesus Christ: ¹⁰To the intent that ^ynow unto ^zthe principalities and powers ^ain heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold ^bwisdom of God, ¹¹^cAccording to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: ¹²In whom we have ^dboldness and ^eaccess with ^fconfidence by ^gthe faith of him. ¹³Wherefore I desire that ye ^hfaint not ⁱat my tribulations ^kfor you, ^lwhich is your glory.

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Ephesians 3:8: To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ …

Footnotes

tSo 1 Cor. 15:9. Comp. 2 Cor. 12:11. 1 Tim. 1:15.
e Rom. 1:5. & 12:3. ver. 7, 8. ch. 4:7. See Jude 4.
cSee Acts 9:15. & 13:2.
u Rom. 11:33 (Gk.).
wSo ch. 1:7. Col. 1:27. Comp. Prov. 8:19.
h Col. 1:26 (Gk.), 27. See Rom. 16:25. So ver. 9, 10.
h Col. 1:26 (Gk.), 27. See Rom. 16:25. So ver. 9, 10.
xSee John 1:3. & ch. 2:10.
yComp. 1 Pet. 1:12.
zSee ch. 1:21.
aSee ch. 1:3.
cch. 1:11. So 1 Pet. 1:20. See Rom. 8:28.
eSee ch. 2:18.
f 2 Cor. 3:4 (Gk.).
gSee Mark 11:22.
hSee Luke 18:1.
iSee Acts 14:22.
kSee ver. 1.
lComp. 2 Cor. 1:6. Phil. 1:13, 14.

Cross references

b 1 Cor. 2:7.
d Heb. 4:16. & 10:19.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.

NLTNew Living Translation

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles, and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things, in order that the many-sided wisdom of God might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church, according to the purpose of the ages which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him. Therefore I ask you not to be discouraged at my afflictions on behalf of you, which are your glory.