Ephesians 3:8

“Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, &c.] This is an instance of the great humility of the apostle, and indeed the greatest saints are generally speaking, the most humble souls, as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and others; these have the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; they rejoice in the grace of God manifested to others; they are willing to receive instruction, nay admonition, from the meanest believer; they have the least opinion of their own works, and are the greatest admirers of the grace of God; and do most contentedly submit to the sovereign will of God: the reasons of their great humility are, because they have the largest discoveries of the love…”

“am--Not merely was I in times past, but I still am the least worthy of so high an office (compare Ti1 1:15, end). least of all saints--not merely "of all apostles" (Co1 15:9-10). is--Greek, "has been given." among--omitted in the oldest manuscripts Translate, "to announce to the Gentiles the glad tidings of the unsearchable (Job 5:9) riches," namely, of Christ's grace (Eph 1:7; Eph 2:7). Rom 11:33, "unsearchable" as a mine inexhaustible, whose treasures can never be fully explored (Eph 3:18-19).”

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints - This is one of the class of expressions unique to Paul. The ordinary terms of language do not express the idea which he wishes to convey, and a word is therefore coined to convey an idea more emphatically; compare the notes at 2 Corinthians 4:17. The word used here - ἐλαχιστότερος elachistoteros - does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It is a comparative made from the superlative. Similar expressions are found, however, in later Greek writers; see Bloomfield and Rosenmuller for examples. The word means here, “who am incomparably the least of all the saints; or who am not worthy to be reckoned among the saints.” It is expressive…”

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given - Here are the noblest strains of eloquence to paint the exceeding low opinion the apostle had of himself, and the fulness of unfathomable blessings which are treasured up in Christ. Ephesians 3:9”

“3:8 Paul considered himself the least deserving of all God’s people (literally the least of God’s people) because he was once an ardent persecutor of believers (see 1 Cor 15:9; 1 Tim 1:12-16). • the endless treasures available to them in Christ: See Eph 1:3-14.”

“who am: Pro 30:2, Pro 30:3; Rom 12:10; Co1 15:9; Phi 2:3; Ti1 1:13, Ti1 1:15; Pe1 5:5, Pe1 5:6 is this: Ch1 17:16, Ch1 29:14, Ch1 29:15; Act 5:41; Rom 15:15-17 I: Eph 3:2; Gal 1:16, Gal 2:8; Ti1 2:7; Ti2 1:11 unsearchable: Eph 3:16, Eph 3:19, Eph 1:7, Eph 1:8, Eph 2:7; Psa 31:19; Joh 1:16; Rom 11:33; Co1 1:30, Co1 2:9; Phi 4:19; Col 1:27, Col 2:1-3; Rev 3:18 Ephesians 3:9”