Ephesians 6:19 · Bible study
Ephesians 6:19 Commentary: Prayer for Boldness
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
This study explores why the apostle Paul, despite his gifts, asks for prayer for utterance and boldness to proclaim the gospel mystery.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul asks the Ephesians to pray that God would give him the right words and boldness to proclaim the gospel’s secret plan, even while imprisoned.
- Key words: λόγος (logos, “utterance/word from God”), παρρησία (parrēsia, “boldness/frankness”), μυστήριον (mustērion, “mystery/secret plan of redemption”).
- Main debate: Whether the request springs from natural timidity (unlikely given Paul’s history) or from his high view of the gospel’s weight and the reality of spiritual opposition.
- Theological theme: Total dependence on God for witness, even in the most gifted; prayer as the active partner of spiritual warfare.
- Best use: A prayer text for those who preach, teach, or share their faith; a model of how the whole church supports leaders by intercession.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
WEB World English Bible 2000
Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
KJV King James Version 1769
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and in behalf of me, that to me may be given a word in the opening of my mouth, in freedom, to make known the secret of the good news,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and for me in order that utterance may be given to me in [the] opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the glad tidings,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y por mí, para que me sea dada palabra en el abrir de mi boca con confianza, para hacer notorio el misterio del evangelio,
e por mim; a fim de que, quando eu abrir a boca, me seja dada palavra com ousadia, para tornar conhecido o mistério do evangelho,
Priez pour moi, afin qu’ il me soit donné, quand j’ ouvre la bouche, de faire connaître hardiment et librement le mystère de l’ Évangile,
und für mich, auf daß mir gegeben werde das Wort mit freudigem Auftun meines Mundes, daß ich möge kundmachen das Geheimnis des Evangeliums,
En voor mij, opdat mij het Woord gegeven worde in de opening mijns monds met vrijmoedigheid, om de verborgenheid van het Evangelie bekend te maken;
ed anche per me, acciocché mi sia dato di parlare apertamente per far conoscere con franchezza il mistero dell’Evangelo,
I za mię, aby mi była dana mowa ku otworzeniu ust moich z bezpieczeństwem, abym oznajmiał tajemnicę Ewangielii,
и о мне, дабы мне дано было слово — устами моими открыто с дерзновением возвещать тайну благовествования,
也 為 我祈求，使 我 得著 口才，能以放膽 開 口 講明 福音的 奧祕，
And for me, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make clear without fear the secret of the good news,
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Ephesians 6:19
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators reach a clear agreement: Paul’s request for prayer is not a formality but a genuine expression of need. Calvin puts it bluntly: “no man so richly endowed with gifts as not to need this kind of assistance from his brethren.” The Cambridge Bible notes that Paul “wisely covets for his apostolic work the prayers of the obscurest militant believer.” Gill points to Paul’s “great humility and sense of the greatness of the work of the ministry.” Even though Paul had an extraordinary command of language, Matthew Henry recalls that he was called “Mercury” in Acts 14, he asks for λόγος (logos), an utterance given by the Spirit. The Greek verb δοθῇ (dothēa, “may be given”) is a divine passive: God must provide every word. The boldness (παρρησία, parrēsia) he wants is not native courage but a gift of the Spirit, as seen in Acts 4:29, 31. The consensus, then, is that the most gifted servant of Christ remains dependent on the prayers of the church and the enabling of God for faithful proclamation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul, despite his apostolic authority and gifts, sought prayer for divine enablement to proclaim the gospel boldly, showing that no level of spiritual maturity removes the need for prayer.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Why Paul needs boldness | All traditions agree Paul had already shown great courage, but the opposition in Rome was real and he depended on God's ongoing grace. | Some interpreters emphasize Paul's humanness and confessed weakness; others focus on the exceptional spiritual battle of proclaiming the mystery in the imperial capital. |
| Meaning of 'the mystery of the gospel' | Every tradition agrees it refers to God's eternal plan of salvation in Christ, once hidden but now revealed through the apostles. | Reformed commentators (Calvin, Geneva) highlight the inclusion of Jews and Gentiles as one body (Eph 3:1-13). Roman Catholic tradition also sees a sacramental dimension (Christ in you, the hope of glory). |
| The role of the church in supporting apostles | All Christians affirm that lay believers should pray for their leaders in ministry. | Some traditions (e.g., Pentecostal) emphasize that prayer releases supernatural boldness and signs. Others (e.g., Protestant/Reformed) focus on the sovereignty of God in answering prayer for utterance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul writes from a Roman prison. He is an “ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:20), awaiting trial before Caesar. The phrase “that utterance may be given to me” may echo a legal setting. Adam Clarke explains that the Greek expression λόγον δοῦναι was used for receiving permission to defend oneself in court. Paul expects a public hearing where he must not only vindicate himself but prove the truth of the gospel.
The surrounding passage is the familiar armor of God (Eph 6:10, 18). Prayer is the final piece of that spiritual battle. Paul moves from general prayer for all saints to a specific request for himself, showing that the struggle to proclaim the gospel is itself a frontline clash with spiritual forces (v. 12). The phrase “opening of my mouth” carries Old Testament weight: it is a solemn, set formula for prophetic speech (Job 3:1, Dan 10:16). Gill links it to a rabbinical term, פתחון פה, used when a speaker faces opposition from heretics.
The “mystery of the gospel” that Paul must make known is not a secret ritual but God’s long-hidden plan of redemption in Christ, now unveiled for all peoples (cf. Eph 3:3, 6). Proclaiming this mystery in the heart of the Roman Empire required boldness. The authorities viewed this message as a threat. Yet Paul does not pray for an easy road; he prays for courage to speak plainly, without fear, in the very place where it costs him everything.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Ephesians 6:19. The Greek text is stable, with the only minor differences appearing in punctuation and the placement of the conjunction καί (kai). All major manuscript traditions read the same words in the same order.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this verse has been treasured as a prayer pattern for ministers. Origen and Chrysostom saw Paul’s request as a model of apostolic humility. In the Reformation, Luther and Calvin used the text to insist that even the most gifted preacher remains dependent on the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the congregation. The Anabaptist tradition highlighted the need for boldness under persecution. Later missionary movements, including the Moravians and the modern evangelical movement, have turned this verse into a regular petition before evangelistic efforts. In contemporary use, many churches include intercession for pastors’ boldness in their weekly prayers, directly echoing Paul’s language.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Humility in the spotlight. Paul, apostle, church-planter, writer of Scripture, asks for prayer. His example shatters any notion that spiritual maturity removes our need for others.
- The request itself. He asks for utterance (a God-given word for each situation) and boldness (freedom to speak without fear). Both are gifts, not skills.
- The purpose: the mystery of the gospel. The message is too big and too opposed for anyone to carry alone. Paul wants to make known a plan of salvation that defies human reasoning, the inclusion of Gentiles, the cross, the resurrection.
Five-point outline
- The context: spiritual warfare requires prayer (Eph 6:18).
- The shift: Paul includes himself among those needing prayer.
- The specific need: a word from God for every opening.
- The manner: boldness, not timidity.
- The mission: making known the secret plan of God.
Illustration hooks
- The prepared speaker. A teacher who knows the material cold asks a colleague to pray before a tough class. It is not lack of preparation; it is awareness that truth cannot be communicated by skill alone.
- The courtroom witness. Imagine testifying for someone you love in a hostile court. You rehearse your lines, but when the moment comes, your mouth goes dry. You need more than a script, you need presence of mind and courage.
- The family conversation. A parent wants to talk to a teenager about a sensitive issue. The parent knows what to say but fears messing it up. They ask for prayer that the right words will come.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Paul needed prayer for boldness, why do we assume we should be able to witness naturally?
- How do I pray for my pastor beyond “bless him” when his greatest need might be courage to speak hard truths?
- What does it mean that the gospel is a “mystery” even after it is revealed?
Leading a Discussion
This small-group guide invites you to consider why the most spiritually mature among us still depend on others’ prayers. Begin by reading Ephesians 6:19, 20 in several translations. Notice the intensity of Paul’s request: he ties his boldness directly to the prayers of ordinary believers in Ephesus.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about Paul’s request? What does he ask for, and what does he not ask for?
- Why do you think Paul connects a word (utterance) with boldness? Are they related in your experience?
- Paul was in chains. How might his physical situation make him more aware of his need for prayer?
- In what situations do you most need someone else to pray that you will be given the right words and courage?
- How does the “mystery of the gospel” shape the way you share your faith? Is it something you explain or something you ask God to reveal?
- Think of a time you prayed for someone else’s boldness and saw God answer. What happened?
- What would change in your church if every member regularly prayed for the pastor’s boldness to speak the whole gospel?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Acts 2:4 | They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. |
| Acts 4:13 | Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. |
| Acts 4:29 | Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, |
| Acts 4:31 | When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. |
| Acts 9:27 | But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. |
| Acts 9:29 | preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him. |
| Acts 13:46 | Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. |
| Acts 14:3 | Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the Greek phrase behind "utterance may be given," showing it means permission and power to defend oneself in court. For Paul, imprisoned and awaiting trial, this was a prayer not just for words but for the opportunity and ability to make a formal legal defense of the gospel.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes applies Paul's request for prayer to the ten thousand prisoners and three million slaves in the United States, urging Christians to pray for them. He also observes that Paul, though a prisoner, could preach boldly and had hope of success, showing that chains do not silence the gospel.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights that Paul, though richly gifted, earnestly asks fellow believers to pray for him. This proves no Christian is so advanced as to outgrow the need for intercessory support. Paul fears his bold beginning may not be sustained, and the weight of the gospel is too great for any human to handle properly alone.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights the shift in Paul's wording from a general "for me" to "on behalf of me," revealing the apostle's deep, personal sense of need for intercessory prayer. He notes that Paul wisely sought the prayers of even the humblest believers, and that he remained entirely dependent on the Spirit's enabling gift for bold and open proclamation of the gospel's worldwide scope.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible note highlights that Paul asks for utterance — the specific ability to speak — not merely for courage. The Gospel is called a secret or mystery, something once hidden that must now be openly declared. Paul depends entirely on God to supply the words needed to proclaim it boldly.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Paul's humble request for prayer, showing even the greatest apostle depends on others for gospel boldness. He ties Paul's phrase "opening my mouth" to a rabbinical concept of a divinely given occasion to answer heretics. Paul seeks courage to proclaim and defend mysteries like the Trinity and union with Christ.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Paul prays for utterance to be given him, not relying on his natural ability. The shortest road to any heart is by way of heaven; Paul asked God to open the door and open his mouth, so as to avail himself of every opportunity.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that Paul, though a famously gifted speaker, still begged his friends for prayer that God would give him the right words. This shows that even the most eloquent preacher depends entirely on divine help for boldness and clarity in making the gospel known.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that "boldly" in this verse should connect with "to make known" (as in Revelation), not with "open my mouth" as the Authorized Version has it. He also directs readers to his earlier treatment of "mystery" in Romans and Colossians.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets "opening my mouth" as a deliberate act of removing every obstacle, whether inner or outer. For him, genuine prayer or praise is not possible until a person clears away both inward distractions and outward hindrances.