Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 3:13

"Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory." — Ephesians 3:13 (ASV)

Paul rounds off his account (begun in v.2) of the administration of God’s grace that has been entrusted to him. He makes a request, arising from what he had said in v.1 about his imprisonment. There he had made it clear that what he endured was for the sake of the Gentiles. Now he repeats the assertion that his sufferings are for them, but he begs them not to lose heart because of his predicament. After all, he has learned to take his share of Christ’s continuing passion (Colossians 1:24). Those sufferings are the price to be paid so that blessing may come to the Gentiles. Paul saw his trials as their glory, and they must learn to look at them like that too.