A Prisoner in Christ's Service

Paul begins a prayer in 3:1, but immediately digresses. He does not return to his prayer until verse 14. Because Jew and Gentile were built together on the one foundation, Paul was ready to give thanks to the Father. He identifies himself as "the prisoner of Jesus Christ" because it was in His service that he was taken captive. Further, that captivity was being used by God to advance the cause of Christ, particularly in the Gentile world (Ephesians 6:20; Philemon 1:13; Acts 20:22-24; Acts 21:13; Acts 28:20).

The word "if" in 3:2 would be better rendered "since" or "seeing that." The Ephesians knew Paul's commission from Christ particularly pertained to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Galatians 2:7-9). He was God's ambassador to tell of the wondrous grace available to all in Christ.

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