Ephesians 3:8

Unto me A slight pause and new start here occurs in the long parenthesis. The thought of his commission, and of the Divine power which enabled him, leads by contrast to the thought of the personal insignificance and unworthiness of the subject of that power, in view of the field and of the message.

less than the least One Greek word, and that a unique one. It is a comparative-superlative; "more least," "leaster," where "lesser" would be the regular form. The holy intensity of thought breaks the bounds of accidence. For the sentiment no flight of rhetoric, but the strong and true result of a profound view of the glory and mercy of Christ cp. 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16.

this grace See on Ephesians 3:2 above.

among Better, unto.

unsearchable Lit., "not to be tracked by footprints," a deeply suggestive word. In N.T. the word occurs only here and Romans 11:33 (A.V., "past finding out"). In the LXX. it appears thrice, in the Book of Job 5:9; Job 9:10; Job 34:24.

riches See on Ephesians 1:7 for St Paul's love of this and kindred words.

The whole phrase here before us is one of the greatest in holy Scripture. It presents the truths, harmonized into one truth, of the simplicity and the infinity of the Gospel. All is centralized in Christ, the Christ of Pauline, of New Testament, theology, the Incarnate Son slain, risen, and glorified; and from that Centre diverge countless lines of application to every need of the human soul. A Gospel thus described is totally different from an ethical code, or system; and equally different from a mere growth, however sublime, of human sentiment and aspiration. It claims to be nothing less than a direct unfolding of Divine resources of love and power. See Appendix E for a remarkable incident in Christian biography, connected with this clause.

E. THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST. (Ch. Ephesians 3:8.)

The following passage, referred to in the notes, is extracted from "A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St Paul's, Deptford, on Sunday, May 7, 1786, on the lamented occasion of the death of Richard Conyers, LL.D., late Rector of that Parish," by the Rev. John Newton.

"When he entered upon his ministry at his beloved Helmsley, in Yorkshire, he found the place ignorant and dissolute to a proverb … With much zeal and diligence, he attempted the reformation of his parish, which was of great extent and divided into several hamlets. He preached frequently in them all. He encouraged his parishioners to come to his house. He distributed them into little companies, that he might instruct them with more convenience; he met them in rotation by appointment. In this manner … I have been assured that he often preached or exhorted, publicly or more privately, twenty times in a week. These labours were not in vain; a great, visible, and almost universal reformation took place. About the time I am speaking of, a clergyman in his neighbourhood made very honourable mention of Mr Conyers, in a letter to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (which I have seen in print), as perhaps the most exemplary, indefatigable and successful, parochial minister in the kingdom. Yet, in the midst of applause and apparent success, he was far from being satisfied with himself. He did what he could; he did more than most others; but he felt there was something still wanting, though for a time he knew not what; but he was desirous to know. He studied the Scriptures, and he prayed to the Father of lights. They who thus seek shall surely find. Important consequences often follow from a sudden, involuntary turn ot thought. One day an expression of St Paul's, -the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8), engaged his attention. He had often read the passage, but never noticed the word - unsearchable" before. The Gospel, in his view of it, had appeared plain and within his comprehension; but the Apostle spoke of it as containing something that was -unsearchable." A conclusion, therefore forced itself upon him that the idea he had hitherto affixed to the word - Gospel," could not be the same with that of the Apostle.… Thus he was brought, with the Apostle, to account his former gain but loss. The -unsearchable riches of Christ" opened to his mind; he received power to believe; his perplexities were removed, and he -rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." … He, from that time, preached Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, as the only ground of hope for sinners, and the only source from whence they could derive wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30.… This change in his sentiments, and manner of preaching, though it added efficacy to his moral instructions, and endeared him to his people at home, lost him much of that high estimation in which he had been held abroad. But he knew the gospel of God too well to be ashamed of it: whatever disgrace he suffered in such a cause he could bear with patience [43]."

[43] Conyers" name occurs in Cowper's Truth:"[Heaven's] open, and ye cannot enter why?Because ye will not, Conyers would reply."