Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul emphasizes that his focus on the Gentiles isn't just about them; it's a strategic way to eventually draw his own Jewish people back to God. By making his ministry to the Gentiles glorious, he aims to spark jealousy and longing in the hearts of his countrymen, showing them what they're missing.
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is shifting his focus from the broader topic of God's plan for Israel and the Gentiles to his personal ministry. He addresses the Gentile believers directly, explaining that his unique commission as the apostle to them fuels his dedication. He emphasizes that he "magnifies" or glorifies his office not just for their sake, but with the hope of provoking his own Jewish people to jealousy and ultimately to salvation.
Paul declares he 'magnifies' his ministry. What does that really mean? Is it about bragging, or something deeper?
When Paul says he "magnifies" his ministry (or "glorifies" it), he isn't boasting about himself. Instead, he's highlighting the immense honor and importance of the specific work God called him to do: being the apostle to the Gentiles.
Honouring the Call
Why is Paul speaking to Gentiles here? What's his hidden agenda, and how does it involve his own people?
Paul addresses the Gentile believers directly, but his words carry a strategic purpose that extends to his fellow Jews. It's a beautiful illustration of how God's plan for one group can profoundly impact another.
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A Double Purpose
Understand the original words
apostolos · Greek Noun
A "sent one" authorized by Jesus Christ to represent Him, preach the gospel, and establish the early church with divine authority.
diakonia · Greek Noun
The spiritual work or duty assigned to a believer by God, intended to serve the Church and advance the kingdom of God.
Paul emphasizes his unique calling to the Gentiles. This ministry to non-Jews, while sometimes controversial, was divinely ordained and deeply cherished by him, even as he longed for his own Jewish people's salvation.
c. 30s AD
Paul's Apostolic Commission
Paul is commissioned by Jesus Christ to be an apostle, particularly to the Gentiles. This event is foundational to his ministry and the context of Romans.
c. 48-49 AD
Council of Jerusalem
Apostles and elders debate the requirements for Gentile believers. The decision affirms that Gentiles do not need to adhere to Mosaic law, validating Paul's mission.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul spends significant time in Corinth, a major Gentile city, establishing a church and strengthening his ministry to the Gentiles, as referenced in his letters.
c. 55-58 AD— this verse
Writing of Romans in Corinth/Cenchreae
Paul writes his letter to the Roman church, largely composed of Gentiles, from Corinth or Cenchreae, summarizing his theology and mission.
c. 60-62 AD
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul is under house arrest in Rome, continuing to minister and write letters, including those that would eventually inform the understanding of Romans.
This passage directly speaks to Paul's commission as the 'chosen instrument' to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, directly supporting his claim in Romans 11:13.
Galatians 2:7-8Here Paul explicitly states his apostleship to the Gentiles, contrasting it with Peter's apostleship to the circumcised, reinforcing the distinctiveness of his ministry that he 'magnifies' in Romans 11:13.
1 Corinthians 12:26This passage speaks about the interconnectedness of the body of Christ, where if one part suffers, all suffer, and if one rejoices, all rejoice. It echoes the idea that Paul's work among the Gentiles has implications and benefits for all, including his own people.
Ephesians 3:8Paul refers to himself as 'less than the least of all the saints' but emphasizes his specific commission to preach the 'uncharted riches of Christ' to the Gentiles, directly aligning with how he views and 'magnifies' his ministry.
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16This passage illustrates Paul's deep commitment and love for both the Jewish people and the Gentiles, showing his earnest desire for the salvation of his own kinsmen, which is a key motivation behind his zealous ministry to the Gentiles as mentioned in Romans 11:13.
ellicottRomans 11:13: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:"
(13-16) In this I am speaking to you Gentiles. It is you who will benefit by the restoration of the Jews. And this is the real reason why, as Apostle of the Gentiles, I make the most of my office. I do it in order to incite to emulation my own countrymen, knowing that the effects of their rejection lead us to infer the very happiest effects from their readmission. For their end will…
vincentRomans 11:13: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:"
For IspeakThe best texts read δὲ but instead of γάρ for. The sentence does not state the reason for the prominence of the Gentiles asserted in Romans 11:12, but makes a transition from the statement of the divine plan to the statement of Paul's own course of working on the line of that plan. He labors the more earnestly for the Gentiles with a view to the salvation of his own race…
Paul emphasizes that his focus on the Gentiles isn't just about them; it's a strategic way to eventually draw his own Jewish people back to God. By making his ministry to the Gentiles glorious, he aims to spark jealousy and longing in the hearts of his countrymen, showing them what they're missing.
Paul is shifting his focus from the broader topic of God's plan for Israel and the Gentiles to his personal ministry. He addresses the Gentile believers directly, explaining that his unique commission as the apostle to them fuels his dedication. He emphasizes that he "magnifies" or glorifies his office not just for their sake, but with the hope of provoking his own Jewish people to jealousy and ultimately to salvation.
Paul is shifting his focus from the broader topic of God's plan for Israel and the Gentiles to his personal ministry. He addresses the Gentile believers directly, explaining that his unique commission as the apostle to them fuels his dedication. He emphasizes that he "magnifies" or glorifies his office not just for their sake, but with the hope of provoking his own Jewish people to jealousy and ultimately to salvation.
"Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry" — Paul emphasizes that his focus on the Gentiles isn't just about them; it's a strategic way to eventually draw his own Jewish people back to God. By making his ministry to the Gentiles glorious, he…
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Last reviewed October 2026