Ephesians 3
Wycliffe Bible
3 For the grace of this thing I Paul, the bound of Christ Jesus [the bound of Jesus Christ], for you heathen men,
2 if nevertheless ye have heard the dispensation of God's grace, that is given to me in you.
3 For by revelation the sacrament is made known to me, as I above wrote in short thing,
4 as ye be able to read, and understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ. [as ye reading may understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ.]
5 Which was not known to other generations to the sons of men, as it is now showed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,
6 that heathen men be even-heirs, and of one body, and partners together of his promise [and together partners of his promise] in Christ Jesus by the evangel;
7 whose minister I am made, by the gift of God's grace, which is given to me by the working of his virtue. [whose minister I am made, after the gift of God's grace, which is given to me after the working of his virtue.]
8 To me, least of all saints, this grace is given to preach among heathen men the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to lighten all men [and to enlighten all men], which is the dispensation of [the] sacrament hid from worlds in God, that made all things of nought;
10 that the much-fold wisdom of God be known to princes and potentates in heavenly things by the church,
11 by the before-ordinance of worlds [after the setting of worlds], which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In whom we have trust and nigh coming [to], in trusting by the faith of him.
13 For which thing I ask, that ye fail not in my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For grace of this thing I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 of whom each fatherhood in heavens and in earth is named, [of whom each fatherhood in heaven and in earth is named,]
16 that he give to you, after the riches of his glory, virtue to be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ dwell by faith in your hearts; that ye rooted and grounded in charity,
18 be able to comprehend with all saints, which is the breadth, and the length, and the highness, and the deepness; [that ye may comprehend with all saints, which is the breadth, and length, and highness, and deepness;]
19 also to know the charity of Christ more excellent than science [also to know the charity of Christ above-seeming to science], that ye be filled in all the plenty of God.
20 And to him that is mighty to do all things more plenteously than we ask or understand, by the virtue that worketh in us [after the virtue that worketh in us],
21 to him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus, into all the generations of the world of worlds [into all the generations of the worlds of worlds]. Amen.
Ephesians 3
New King James Version
The Mystery Revealed
3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the [a]dispensation of the grace of God (A)which was given to me for you, 3 (B)how that by revelation (C)He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles (D)should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 (E)of which I became a minister (F)according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by (G)the effective working of His power.
Purpose of the Mystery
8 To me, (H)who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles (I)the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the [b]fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who (J)created all things [c]through Jesus Christ; 10 (K)to the intent that now (L)the [d]manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church (M)to the [e]principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 (N)according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access (O)with confidence through faith in Him. 13 (P)Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, (Q)which is your glory.
Appreciation of the Mystery
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the (R)Father [f]of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, (S)according to the riches of His glory, (T)to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in (U)the inner man, 17 (V)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, (W)being rooted and grounded in love, 18 (X)may be able to comprehend with all the saints (Y)what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled (Z)with all the fullness of God.
20 Now (AA)to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly (AB)above all that we ask or think, (AC)according to the power that works in us, 21 (AD)to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 3:2 stewardship
- Ephesians 3:9 NU, M stewardship (dispensation)
- Ephesians 3:9 NU omits through Jesus Christ
- Ephesians 3:10 variegated or many-sided
- Ephesians 3:10 rulers
- Ephesians 3:14 NU omits of our Lord Jesus Christ
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
