Ephesians 3:13Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
The setting
Rome, ~62 AD. Paul writes from house arrest, chained to a Roman guard. The Ephesians feel ashamed their apostle is imprisoned because of them.
The emotion here: chained but determined to encourage
The original word
enkakeō (ἐνκακεῖν) — to lose heart, become discouraged, literally 'to act badly in'
Why it matters
Paul was under house arrest for 2 years, paying his own rent while chained to guards
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ephesians 3:13
The Ephesians felt GUILTY that Paul was suffering because he preached to them
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about not being discouraged by your own troubles. Paul is actually saying 'Don't feel bad that I'm suffering because I ministered to you.'
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ephesians 3:13
Bible Genome reading
Ephesians 3:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ephesians 3:13 comes from the book of Ephesians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 70% and a tone that is tender. It belongs to the letter genre of biblical literature. Key themes include perseverance, sacrificial love. Notable phrases: do not lose heart; my troubles for you.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Ephesians 3:13 mean to you, today?
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