John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ , &c.] Not actively, whom Christ had apprehended by his grace, and made a prisoner of hope; but passively, who was made a prisoner for Christ, on account of preaching Christ, and his Gospel: he was not a prisoner for any capital crime, as theft, murder, &c. and therefore be was not ashamed of his bonds, but rather glories in them; and a prison has often been the portion of the best of men in this world: from hence we learn, that this epistle was written when the apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and the consideration of this his condition serves much to confirm the truths he had before delivered, seeing they were such as he could, and did suffer for; and which must engage the attention of the Ephesians to them, and especially since his sufferings were on their account: for you Gentiles : because he preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, which the Jews forbid, that they might not be saved; and because he taught them, that circumcision and the rest of the ceremonies of the law were not binding upon them; which gave great offence to the Jews, who were the means of bringing of him into these circumstances, and particularly the Asiatic Jews, the Jews of Ephesus; who having seen and heard him there, knew him again when in the temple at Jerusalem, and raised a mob upon him, having bore a grudge against him for his ministry at Ephesus, by which means he became a prisoner; so that he might truly say, he was a prisoner for the sake of them; (see Acts 21:27-33). One of Stevens's copies adds, am an ambassador, as in ( Ephesians 6:20) and another of them, glory, or rejoice; (see Philippians 2:16,17).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 an 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 soul of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvatio through Christ. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the age 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 Gentile to salvation by faith in Christ. An effectual working of Divine powe attends the gifts of Divine grace. As God appointed Paul to the office so he qualified him for it.
Greek Textus Receptus
τουτου 5127 D-GSN χαριν 5484 ADV εγω 1473 P-1NS παυλος 3972 N-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM δεσμιος 1198 N-NSM του 3588 T-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM ιησου 2424 N-GSM υπερ 5228 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP των 3588 T-GPN εθνων 1484 N-GPN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. For this cause. Seeing ye are so builded together.Of Christ Jesus (tou Cristou Ihsou). Notice the article, the Christ, and see on ch. ii. 13.
Gentiles. To whom Paul was expressly sent, and in preaching to whom he had fallen into the hands of the civil law.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:1 {For this cause} (toutou carin). Use of carin (accusative of caris) as a preposition with the genitive and referring to the preceding argument about God's elective grace. It is possible that Paul started to make the prayer that comes in verses #14-21 when he repeats toutou carin. If so, he is diverted by his own words "the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles" (ho desmios tou cristou iesou huper humwn twn eqnwn) to set forth in a rich paragraph (#1-13) God's use of him for the Gentiles.
