对外邦人的服事

因此,我保罗为你们外邦人做了基督耶稣的囚犯。 你们一定听说过,为了你们的缘故,神那恩典的任务已经赐给我了; 也就是说,藉着启示,那奥秘已经显明给我,就像我先前简略写过的那样。 你们读了,就能明白我在基督奥秘上的悟性。 这奥秘在别的各世代并不显明给人类[a],不像如今藉着圣灵启示给了他的圣使徒和先知们。 这奥秘就是:外邦人在基督耶稣[b]里,藉着福音,成为共同的继承人,同属一体、同蒙应许。 我成了这福音的仆人[c],是照着神恩典的赏赐;这赏赐是照着他大能的作为赐给我的。

我在所有圣徒中,比最小的还小,但被赐予了这恩典,是为了把基督那无法测度的丰盛传给外邦人; 并且使所有的人都明白这奥秘的计划[d]到底是什么,这奥秘自古以来被隐藏在[e]创造万有的神里面, 10 为要使天上的统治者和掌权者,如今藉着教会能明白神各种各样的智慧。 11 这都是照着他在我们主基督耶稣里所成就的永恒心意。 12 在基督里,藉着信基督,我们能坦然无惧、确信无疑地来到神面前[f] 13 所以,我请求你们[g],不要因我为你们所受的患难而丧胆[h];这患难是你们的荣耀。

祈求属灵的能力

14 因此,我屈膝在[i]父面前—— 15 天上地上的万族都是从他得名的, 16 愿他按照他那荣耀的丰盛,藉着他的灵,以大能使你们内在的人刚强起来; 17 使基督藉着你们的信仰,住在你们心里;使你们在爱中扎根,根基稳固, 18 好让你们有能力与所有圣徒一起了解基督的爱[j]是多么长、阔、高、深—— 19 明白那超越了人所能[k]理解的基督之爱,好让你们得以满足,达到神一切的丰盛完美。

20 神能照着在我们里面做工的大能,成就那远超过我们所求所想的一切事—— 21 愿荣耀在教会里、在基督耶稣里归于神,直到世世代代,永永远远!阿们。

Footnotes

  1. 以弗所书 3:5 人类——原文直译“人的子孙”。
  2. 以弗所书 3:6 基督耶稣——有古抄本作“基督”。
  3. 以弗所书 3:7 仆人——或译作“执事”。
  4. 以弗所书 3:9 计划——或译作“任务”或“管家任务”;有古抄本作“契合”。
  5. 以弗所书 3:9 有古抄本附“藉着耶稣基督”。
  6. 以弗所书 3:12 神面前——辅助词语。
  7. 以弗所书 3:13 你们——辅助词语。
  8. 以弗所书 3:13 丧胆——或译作“胆怯”。
  9. 以弗所书 3:14 有古抄本附“我们主耶稣基督的”。
  10. 以弗所书 3:18 基督的爱——辅助词语。
  11. 以弗所书 3:19 人所能——辅助词语。

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, (A)a prisoner of Christ Jesus (B)on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of (C)the stewardship of (D)God's grace that was given to me for you, (E)how the mystery was made known to me (F)by revelation, (G)as I have written briefly. (H)When you read this, you can perceive my insight into (I)the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is[a] that the Gentiles are (J)fellow heirs, (K)members of the same body, and (L)partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

(M)Of this gospel I was made (N)a minister according to the gift of (O)God's grace, which was given me (P)by the working of his power. To me, (Q)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, (R)to preach to the Gentiles the (S)unsearchable (T)riches of Christ, and (U)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery (V)hidden for ages in[b] God, (W)who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold (X)wisdom of God (Y)might now be made known to (Z)the rulers and authorities (AA)in the heavenly places. 11 This was (AB)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have (AC)boldness and (AD)access with (AE)confidence through our (AF)faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering (AG)for you, (AH)which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom (AI)every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to (AJ)the riches of his glory (AK)he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit (AL)in your inner being, 17 (AM)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being (AN)rooted and (AO)grounded in love, 18 may have strength to (AP)comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and (AQ)height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ (AR)that surpasses knowledge, that (AS)you may be filled with all (AT)the fullness of God.

20 (AU)Now to (AV)him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, (AW)according to the power at work within us, 21 (AX)to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:6 The words This mystery is are inferred from verse 4
  2. Ephesians 3:9 Or by
  3. Ephesians 3:15 Or from whom all fatherhood; the Greek word patria in verse 15 is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14