Ephesians | Session 14 | 3:6-8

In our study today in Ephesians 3:6-8, Paul continues his explanation that believing Gentiles and Jews are now in the same body and partakers of the same promise, and he expresses his gratitude that God still chose to use him who was formerly a blasphemer to preach it.

Verse 6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: This is the mystery! Jew and Gentile in one body. No where in the Bible was this event foretold, i.e., Hebrew Scriptures. This But Now (Ephesians 2:13) period in which we live was never spoken of until Paul. 

Verses 7-8: 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. 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; Paul's point is that his ministry to the Gentiles with the mystery was the result of the gift of the grace of God that was given to him by the effectual working of his power. 

I believe that gift of the grace of God was his salvation while some would say that it was the actual grace gospel that he is referring to. I do know that Paul was a blasphemer and that according to Matthew 12:31 his only way of salvation would have had to have been grace. 

I also believe that he was indeed the first (1Timothy 1:11-16). 

What does he mean that he is the least of all saints? I believe that he makes this statement because of the persecution that he inflicted on the kingdom church (1 Timothy 1:11-16) and the fact that God would still choose to use him to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Again, I believe that he is referring to the mystery, that until revealed only to him, and thus, unsearchable (Colossians 1:26-27).