To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,

“The apostle declares that to himself, "less than the least of all saints, was the grace given" of enlightening all men as to "what was the fellowship of the mystery, which during the ages had been hid in God, who created all things." The heretic erased the preposition in, and made the clause run thus: ("what is the fellowship of the mystery) which hath for ages been hidden from the God who created all things.”

“They who go to the physician's have not merely to go there and nothing further; they have to learn how to treat themselves, and to apply remedies. And so with us then who come here, we must not do this and nothing else, we must learn our lesson, the surpassing lowliness of Paul. What? when he was about to speak of the vastness of the grace of God, hear what he saith, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given." Lowliness indeed it was even to bewail his former sins, although blotted out, and to make mention of them, and to hold himself within his true measure as where he calls himself "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious;" yet nothing was equal to this: for "formerly," saith he, such was I; and again he calls himself, "one born out of due time." But that after so many great and good deeds and at that time he should thus humble himself, and call himself "less than the least of all," this is indeed great and surpassing moderation. "To one who am less than the least of all saints;" he saith not, "than the Apostles." So that that expression is less strong than this before us. There his words are, "I am not meet to be called an Apostle." Here he says that he is even "less than the least of all saints;" "to me," saith he, "who am less than the least of all saints was this grace given." Paul himself was sent to the Gentiles, the other Apostles to the Circumsion. So that the more marvellous and astonishing commission was given, saith he, "to me, who am less than the least." And this too was of grace, that he that was least should have the greatest things entrusted to him; that he should be made the herald of these tidings. For he that is made a herald of the greater tidings, is in this way great.”

“After the Apostle has shown that grace was dispensed to him with respect to the knowledge of the divine mysteries, here he shows this same thing with respect to the execution of these mysteries. And concerning this he does two things. First, he recalls the help of grace given to him for carrying it out; second, he shows the office of ministry committed to him, at the words to me, the least of all the saints, etc. The first is divided into two. First he touches on the execution of the divine ministries; second he shows the help given to him for carrying it out, at the words according to the gift of grace, etc. Now the execution of the divine things was committed to him by way of ministry, and as to this he says: I say that this ministry has been committed to me, namely, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs through the Gospel, through which the Gentiles are made partakers of the promise of God in Christ Jesus, of which I, Paul, was made a minister, etc.; as if to say: I do not fulfill or carry this out as from myself or as my own, but as a ministry that is God's. Acts 9:15: this man is a vessel of election to me, etc. Hence the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 4:1: let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Then when he says according to the gift of grace, etc., he touches on the help given to him for the execution of the ministries. Now this help was twofold. One indeed was the very faculty of carrying it out, the other was the very operation, or actuality. Now God gives the faculty by infusing power and grace, through which a man is made capable and apt for acting; but he confers the operation itself inasmuch as he works within us, moving and instigating us interiorly toward the good. And therefore, receiving this from God, the Apostle says as to the first: I say that I was made a minister, but certainly not by my own merits, nor by my own power, but according to the gift of the grace of God which was given to me, namely, because I, who was formerly a persecutor, am made fit for the execution of the divine mysteries. 1 Corinthians 15:10: I have labored more abundantly than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me. As to the second he says according to the operation, which God effects, inasmuch as his power works in us both to will and to accomplish, according to good will. But this can be explained otherwise according to the Gloss, so that what has just been said is referred back to the preceding words — namely, that it should be said that the fact that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs and of the same body, and co-partakers of his promise (that is, of God the Father), this gift indeed God gave to the Gentiles in Christ, that is, through Christ, and this according to the operation of his power, that is, through the fact that he worked powerfully in raising Christ from death. Consequently, when he says for to me, the least of the saints, etc., he shows the office committed to him, the grace of which commission is indeed commended on three counts. First indeed from the condition of his own person; second from the greatness of the things committed, at the words to preach the unsearchable, etc.; third from the usefulness of the fruit, at the words that it might be made known, etc. He commends, then, the office committed to him from the condition of his person. For if some king were to commit some great office to some great and excellent prince, he would not thereby show him much grace, as far as concerns this great man, if he placed him in a great office; but if he should commit a great and most arduous office to some small man, he greatly magnifies him and shows him great grace, and the more so, the more the excellence of the office exceeds the man himself. According to this manner, then, Paul commends the grace of the office committed to him, saying: for to me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace. And he calls himself the least, not from the power committed to him, but from consideration of his former state. 1 Corinthians 15:9: I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. Isaiah 60:22: the least shall become a thousand, and the little one a very strong nation. And this among the Gentiles, that is, among the nations. Galatians 2:8-9: for he who worked in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision worked also in me among the Gentiles. And when they had known the grace of God that was given to me among the Gentiles, etc. Second, the grace of this commission is commended from the greatness of the office, which is to reveal and make manifest the secrets of God, which are great and hidden — namely, concerning the greatness of Christ and concerning the salvation of the faithful accomplished through him. Now the whole Gospel concerns these two things. As to the first he says to preach the gospel, etc., as if to say: this grace was given to me that I might announce the good. 1 Corinthians 1:17: Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. And in the same place, 9:16: for woe is to me if I do not preach the gospel. And this good, namely, the unsearchable riches of Christ, which are the true riches. Above, chapter 2:4: but God, who is rich in mercy, etc. Romans 2:4: or do you despise the riches of his goodness, and patience, and long-suffering? etc. Romans 10:12: rich unto all that call upon him. As if to say: these riches are truly unsearchable, because his mercy is so great that it cannot be understood or searched out. Isaiah 33:6: the riches of salvation are wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure — namely, of Christ, because in Christ the fear of the Lord was most abundant. Isaiah 11:3: the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him. For in Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden, Colossians 2:3, and these are unsearchable, because the wisdom and knowledge of Christ cannot be perfectly searched out. Job 11:7: perhaps you will find the footsteps of God, and will you find out the Almighty perfectly? As if to say: no. For through creatures, in which the footstep of the Creator shines forth, one cannot arrive at perfect knowledge of him. Now the Apostle, marveling in astonishment at riches of this kind, says, Romans 11:33: O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how, etc. Ecclesiasticus 1:3: who shall search out the wisdom of God that goes before all things? As to the second, that is, as to making manifest the salvation coming to the faithful from Christ, he says and to enlighten all, not only the Jews, but also the Gentiles, through preaching and miracles. Ecclesiasticus 24:45: I will enlighten all who hope in the Lord. Acts 9:15: he is a vessel of election, etc. Matthew 5:14: you are the light of the world. To enlighten, I say, as far as it is in me, all — namely, those willing to believe. 1 Timothy 2:4: who wills all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. To this end, namely, that they may understand what is the dispensation of the mystery, because these things avail nothing unless they are dispensed; as if to say: concerning this I will enlighten, namely, how wonderful, and out of how great a love, the fulfillment of the secret redemption was accomplished. Now riches of this unsearchable kind have been dispensed to you through Christ. But because it could be said: that which you say, even though it is great, yet everyone knows it — therefore to this the Apostle responds, saying that it is not so, because it has been hidden from the ages. Here it must be known that all things that exist in effect lie hidden potentially in their causes, just as in the power of the sun are contained all things that exist among generable and corruptible things. But yet among these, some things are hidden, some manifest. For heat is manifestly in fire; but the rationale of certain things, which it produces in a hidden manner, lies hidden in it. Now God is the efficient cause of all things, but he produces certain things whose rationale can be manifest — namely, those which he produces by means of secondary causes. But certain things are hidden in him — namely, those which he produces immediately through himself. And because God worked the mystery of human redemption through himself, therefore this mystery is hidden in him alone. And this is what he says: hidden from the ages in God, that is, in the knowledge of God alone. Now to search out the secrets of the first cause is the greatest thing. 1 Corinthians 2:6: we speak wisdom among the perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, who are brought to nothing; but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which is hidden, which God predestined before the ages. Who, I say, created all things.”

“Unto me who am less than the least of all saints,.... 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 and grace of God and Christ, which are of a soul humbling nature; they are the most sensible of their own sinfulness, vileness, and unworthiness, which keeps them low in their own sight; they are commonly the most afflicted with Satan's temptations, which are suffered to attend them, lest they should be exalted above measure; they are the most fruitful souls, and boughs laden with fruit hang lowest; and they are the most conformable to Christ, who is meek and lowly. The phrase seems to be Jewish: there was one R. Jose "the little", who was so called, it is said, because he was , "the least of saints" (l): but the apostle uses a still more diminutive word, and calls himself less than the least of them; and adds, is this grace given; that is, the gift of grace, as before, the ministerial gift: that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; the riches of Christ, as God, lie in the perfections of his nature, in the works of his hands, in his empire and dominion over all, and in the revenues of glory, which result from thence; and these riches are underived and incommunicable, and are ineffable, yea inconceivable: his riches, as Mediator, lie in the persons of the elect, in the grace that is laid up in him for them, called the riches of grace, and in the inheritance he is possessed of for them, called the riches of glory; and these rich things are communicable, as well as solid, satisfying, and lasting; and they are unsearchable to the natural man, and cannot be fully investigated by believers themselves; they will be telling over to all eternity: and they will appear unsearchable, when it is considered what they have procured, and what blessings have been dispensed according to them; what a large family Christ has maintained by them, and how richly and fully he has provided for them, and to what honour and grandeur he raises them all. Now it was great grace to intrust the apostle with such a ministry, to put such treasure into an earthen vessel; it was great grace that qualified him for it; and it was great grace in particular to the Gentiles, that he should be appointed to publish these among them; and so the apostle esteemed it, and himself unworthy of such honour. (l) T. Hieros. Bava Kama, fol. 3, 4. Misna Sota, c. 9. sect. 15. Juchasin, fol. 79. 2.”

“Less than the least of all saints - Ελαχιστοτερῳ παντων ἁγιων. As the design of the apostle was to magnify the grace of Christ in the salvation of the world, he uses every precaution to prevent the eyes of the people from being turned to any thing but Christ crucified; and although he was obliged to speak of himself as the particular instrument which God had chosen to bring the Gentile world to the knowledge of the truth, yet he does it in such a manner as to show that the excellency of the power was of God, and not of him; and that, highly as he and his follow apostles were honored; they had the heavenly treasure in earthen vessels. To lay himself as low as possible, consistently with his being in the number of Divinely commissioned men, he calls himself less than the least; and is obliged to make a new word, by strangely forming a comparative degree, not from the positive, which would have been a regular grammatical procedure, but from the superlative. The adjective ελαχυς signifies little, ελασσων or ελαττων, less, and ελαχιστος, least. On this latter, which is the superlative of ελαχυς, little, St. Paul forms his comparative, ελαχιστοτερος, less than the least, a word of which it would be vain to attempt a better translation than that given in our own version. It most strongly marks the unparalleled humility of the apostle; and the amazing condescension of God, in favoring him, who had been before a persecutor and blasphemer, with the knowledge of this glorious scheme of human redemption, and the power to preach it so successfully among the Gentiles. The unsearchable riches of Christ - The word ανεξιχνιαστος, from α, privative, and εξιχνιαζω, to trace out, from ιχνος, a step, is exceedingly well chosen here: it refers to the footsteps of God, the plans he had formed, the dispensations which he had published, and the innumerable providences which he had combined, to prepare, mature, and bring to full effect and view his gracious designs in the salvation of a ruined world, by the incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection of his Son. There were in these schemes and providences such riches - such an abundance, such a variety, as could not be comprehended even by the naturally vast, and, through the Divine inspiration, unparalleledly capacious mind of the apostle. Yet he was to proclaim among the Gentiles these astonishing wonders and mysteries of grace; and as he proceeds in this great and glorious work, the Holy Spirit that dwelt in him opens to his mind more and more of those riches - leads him into those footsteps of the Almighty which could not be investigated by man nor angel, so that his preaching and epistles, taken all in their chronological order, will prove that his views brighten, and his discoveries become more numerous and more distinct in proportion as he advances. And had he lived, preached, and written to the present day, he had not exhausted the subject, nor fully declared to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ - the endless depths of wisdom and knowledge treasured up in him, and the infinity of saving acts and saving power displayed by him.”

“To me, the least of all the saints, (i.e. of the faithful) is given this mission by the grace of God, and power from the Almighty of working miracles, and other miraculous gifts from him, who created all things in order to enlighten [4] or bring light to all men, that they may know and be convinced of the dispensation and manner in which God will have this mystery now made known and preached to all the world. (Witham)”

“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).”