Do not despair

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Not Despairing! Good thoughts for today’s world.
I observed the whole chapter is on the Gospel and the Glory of God.
Paul urges them not to Despair 😩 at his troubles. Or as the KJV translators put not to Faint, be that falling down as if dead, either at seeing his condition, our perhaps being concerned for their own lives. Fainting also implies, being like dead one can’t do anything….maybe the ultimate Despair! The Chapter ends.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Old John Gill wrote about verse 13 in this way.

Ephesians 3:13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you,…. The apostle was a man attended with many tribulations, and great afflictions, which he did not suffer as an evildoer, either from God or men; wherefore he was not ashamed of them, but gloried in them; yea, he took pleasure in them, having much of the presence of God in them; they did not come to him unawares, he always expected them, and was helped to look to the glory which should follow them, the view of which greatly supported him under them; and these tribulations were endured for the sake of the elect, for Christ’s body’s sake; the church, and among others, for the Ephesians, for the sake of preaching the Gospel among them, and for the confirmation of their faith in it;

and yet they were a stumbling to them, they were ready to faint at them; but he desires they would not, since they were on account of the Gospel,…..