Ephesians 3:7

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

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Ephesian church, explaining how he came to serve the gospel among the Gentiles. He sits between the mystery of Gentile inclusion (v. 6) and his own sense of unworthiness (v. 8).

The words — ἐγενήθην (egenēthēn), aorist passive, "I became," marks the action as received rather than self-initiated. Διὰκονος (diakonos) is the same word used for table servants and deacons — a low-status role, not a title of honor.

The thread — Ephesians 3:2 calls this a "stewardship of God's grace given to me," and 2 Corinthians 3:6 says God "qualified us as ministers." Ephesians 1:19 grounds the same "working of His power" in the believer's experience.

Why it lands — Paul's authority rests entirely on what was given to him, not on what he accomplished. A reader is asked to stop measuring ministry by personal qualification and start tracing it back to the giver.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

οὗhouof which ἐγενήθηνegenēthēnI would be διάκονοςdiakonosservant κατὰkataaccording to τὴνtēnthe δωρεὰνdōreangift τῆςtēsof the χάριτοςcharitosgrace τοῦtou<the>θεοῦtheouof God τῆςtēswhich δοθείσηςdotheisēshaving been given μοιmoito me κατὰkataaccording to τὴνtēnthe ἐνέργειανenergeianworking τῆςtēsof the δυνάμεωςdunameōspower αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Ephesians 1:19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
2 Corinthians 3:6 And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Ephesians 3:2 Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
Hebrews 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1 Corinthians 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.
Colossians 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
Romans 1:5 Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Romans 15:16 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.