NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
22 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Ephesians 3:1 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
13 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles —
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .
22 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called.
19 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--
16 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
22 words
KJV
13 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
22 words
MSG
19 words
NASB
16 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Ephesians 3:1?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Ephesians 3:1 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Ephesians 3:1 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.