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.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
7 This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details.
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
7 By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 3:7
Commentary on Ephesians 3:1-7
(Read 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 through Christ. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the ages before Christ, as unto the prophets of the New Testament. This was the great truth made known to the apostle, that God would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ. An effectual working of Divine power attends the gifts of Divine grace. As God appointed Paul to the office, so he qualified him for it.