The Ministry and Message of St. Paul
F. Dobbin, M. A. Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given… I. THE MAN. His humility! The bird that sings sweetest, and soars highest, builds upon the ground. The flower of richest fragrance is the lowly violet. So humility is the fairest of Christian graces. Notice St. Paul's growth in this. He calls himself successively — 1. The least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9). 2. Less than the least of all saints (Ephesians 3:8). 3. The chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). II. THE MINISTRY HE HAD RECEIVED. Its excellence in contrast with his own conscious unworthiness. The treasure on the one hand — the earthen vessel on the other, 1. This ministry a grace given to him. All work for Christ should be so regarded. Accepted as a privilege it ceases to be a task. 2. The grace given. St. Paul's special work as the apostle of the Gentiles. The gathering in of the Jews the difficulty in many minds now; the gathering in of the Gentiles the difficulty then. Duty of the Church as regards missions. III. THE MESSAGE. Good tidings. 1. Christ: the substance and life of all true preaching. 2. The riches of Christ. Favourite expression of the apostle. Riches of Christ's grace (Ephesians 1:7). Riches of Christ's glory (Ephesians 3:16). 3. Unsearchable riches. Not traced out (Greek); but now revealed. (F. Dobbin, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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; WEB: To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,