Paul Made a Minister

Excerpt

‎I became a servant of this gospel (cf. “gospel” in v. 6) denotes Paul’s rendering of service (cf. Col. 1:23). The word “servant” (diakonos) stresses not the idea of subjection (as does doulos, “slave”) but the idea of service or serving, as one who is a waiter (John 2:5, 9). This service has its basis in the gift of God’s grace (cf. Eph. 3:2) given to Paul through the working of His power (cf. 1:19; Col. 1:29). The Greek more clearly implies that Paul’s service was initiated by “the gift of God’s grace” and continues by “the working (energeian) of His power” (dynameōs). Ministering this grace—by God’s strength, not his own—was Paul’s responsibility though he considered himself less than the least of all God’s people. (“God’s people” renders hagiōn, “saints”; cf. Eph. 1:1, 15). This denotes Paul’s deep humility in view of God’s incomparably generous grace.

Hoehner, Harold W. “Ephesians.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 629. Print.

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