Here is my commentary on Ephesians 6:20. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 6:20

“… for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.”

Paul describes himself as an ambassador in chains for the gospel.

Every nation sends out ambassadors to other countries to represent the interests of the home nation abroad. An ambassador is a go between in many ways, communicating the views of their own government as well as informing their government if what is happening in the other nation.

To be an ambassador for the gospel means to represent the gospel amongst those who do not know it, to be the light in the darkness, so to speak.

Paul particularly saw himself as an ambassador to the gentiles. At this time of his life, that ministry is now focused on one particular person, the Emperor himself.

For Paul, the great culmination of years of preaching the gospel would be reached when he stood before Caesar to represent the Kingdom of Jesus. If he could share the claims of the gospel with the most influential people in Rome, the gospel would be more easily preached right through the Empire.

Paul’s dream did not come to pass in his own lifetime. He was executed by Nero around the year 65. Persecution of Christians continued sporadically through the Empire until Constantine became a Christian in the early 300’s. Within a generation of that date, Christianity had become the official religion of the Empire.

In every nation of the world, to be appointed as an ambassador is seen as a prestigious thing. Ambassadorships can be offered to career public servants or as a reward to political allies. While there are some positions that might be considered as less prestigious than others (e.g. remote locations in Africa or South America would be less exciting than London or Washington), nobody would want to be appointed as an ambassador in chains.

In the human way of looking at things, Paul was just another political prisoner or a religious zealot awaiting trial before the emperor, but Paul saw his position as God saw it. He was an ambassador of Jesus Christ!

We must not let our self-esteem be determined by the world’s judgements. If we are serving God, it is His assessment of us that matters, not the world’s .

Paul asks for the Ephesians to pray for him to be bold in his speaking.

We might think that Paul would want to tread carefully while he is in prison. In this situation, he is vulnerable to mistreatment by guards, other prisoners, and officials. It might be tempting to not say anything that might cause offence. Paul isn’t one to fly under the radar. He prays for the ability to speak the message boldly even in this vulnerable condition.

He is aware that he must speak. It isn’t clear whether he is thinking primarily about his eventual court case before the Emperor. Perhaps he is thinking about his daily encounters with various people.

He is conscious of the need to share the gospel. It is like a fire burning within him, a force that compels him. If he is going to speak, as indeed he must, he might as well do so boldly .

He needs prayer for this because it is all part of the spiritual warfare that he wrote of earlier in the chapter. As the ambassador of Christ in chains, his battle is not against human enemies, but against the principalities and demonic rulers of this present age.

Key points in this verse:

• We are all called to be ambassadors for the gospel
• whether we are In chains like Paul, it is God’s calling that gives us status not the rewards of men
• Even though Paul’s desire to see the Emperor saved did not come in his lifetime, it did come to pass eventually
• We must not soft-pedal the gospel even when we are tempted to do so
• Everybody needs prayer to be able to share the gospel