對外邦人的服事

因此,我保羅為你們外邦人做了基督耶穌的囚犯。 你們一定聽說過,為了你們的緣故,神那恩典的任務已經賜給我了; 也就是說,藉著啟示,那奧祕已經顯明給我,就像我先前簡略寫過的那樣。 你們讀了,就能明白我在基督奧祕上的悟性。 這奧祕在別的各世代並不顯明給人類[a],不像如今藉著聖靈啟示給了他的聖使徒和先知們。 這奧祕就是:外邦人在基督耶穌[b]裡,藉著福音,成為共同的繼承人,同屬一體、同蒙應許。 我成了這福音的僕人[c],是照著神恩典的賞賜;這賞賜是照著他大能的作為賜給我的。

我在所有聖徒中,比最小的還小,但被賜予了這恩典,是為了把基督那無法測度的豐盛傳給外邦人; 並且使所有的人都明白這奧祕的計劃[d]到底是什麼,這奧祕自古以來被隱藏在[e]創造萬有的神裡面, 10 為要使天上的統治者和掌權者,如今藉著教會能明白神各種各樣的智慧。 11 這都是照著他在我們主基督耶穌裡所成就的永恆心意。 12 在基督裡,藉著信基督,我們能坦然無懼、確信無疑地來到神面前[f] 13 所以,我請求你們[g],不要因我為你們所受的患難而喪膽[h];這患難是你們的榮耀。

祈求屬靈的能力

14 因此,我屈膝在[i]父面前—— 15 天上地上的萬族都是從他得名的, 16 願他按照他那榮耀的豐盛,藉著他的靈,以大能使你們內在的人剛強起來; 17 使基督藉著你們的信仰,住在你們心裡;使你們在愛中扎根,根基穩固, 18 好讓你們有能力與所有聖徒一起了解基督的愛[j]是多麼長、闊、高、深—— 19 明白那超越了人所能[k]理解的基督之愛,好讓你們得以滿足,達到神一切的豐盛完美。

20 神能照著在我們裡面做工的大能,成就那遠超過我們所求所想的一切事—— 21 願榮耀在教會裡、在基督耶穌裡歸於神,直到世世代代,永永遠遠!阿們。

Footnotes

  1. 以弗所書 3:5 人類——原文直譯「人的子孫」。
  2. 以弗所書 3:6 基督耶穌——有古抄本作「基督」。
  3. 以弗所書 3:7 僕人——或譯作「執事」。
  4. 以弗所書 3:9 計劃——或譯作「任務」或「管家任務」;有古抄本作「契合」。
  5. 以弗所書 3:9 有古抄本附「藉著耶穌基督」。
  6. 以弗所書 3:12 神面前——輔助詞語。
  7. 以弗所書 3:13 你們——輔助詞語。
  8. 以弗所書 3:13 喪膽——或譯作「膽怯」。
  9. 以弗所書 3:14 有古抄本附「我們主耶穌基督的」。
  10. 以弗所書 3:18 基督的愛——輔助詞語。
  11. 以弗所書 3:19 人所能——輔助詞語。

外族人的福音使者

为此,我保罗为了把基督耶稣传给你们外族人而做了囚犯。 相信你们已经听说了,上帝委派我将祂的恩典传给你们。 祂借着启示让我明白福音的奥秘,正如我前面简要提过的。 你们读过之后,就能明白我对基督的奥秘有深刻的认识。 自古以来,上帝没有让人知道这奥秘,如今祂借着圣灵将这奥秘启示给祂的圣使徒和先知。 这奥秘就是外族人能够在基督耶稣里借着福音与以色列人同做后嗣,同为一体,同享应许。

上帝运用大能赐给我恩典,叫我成为这福音的使者。 我本来比最卑微的圣徒还卑微,却蒙上帝赐我这恩典,让我把基督那测不透的丰富传给外族人, 让全人类都明白世代隐藏在创造万物的上帝里面的奥秘, 10 目的是为了透过教会让天上的执政者和掌权者现在可以看出上帝丰富的智慧。 11 这是上帝万世以前在我们主基督耶稣里定好的计划。 12 我们靠着基督、借着信祂可以坦然无惧、毫无疑虑地来到上帝面前。 13 所以,我请求各位不要因我为你们受苦而沮丧,这其实是你们的荣耀。

基督的爱

14-15 为此,我跪在天地万物的本源——天父面前, 16 祈求祂按照自己丰富的荣耀,借着祂的灵,以大能使你们内在的生命刚强起来, 17 使基督借着你们的信心住在你们心里,使你们在爱中扎根、坚立, 18 以便能够与众圣徒一同领悟基督的爱是多么长阔高深, 19 并知道基督的爱是远超过人所能理解的爱,好叫上帝无限的丰富充满你们。

20 上帝的能力运行在我们里面,能够丰丰富富地成就一切,超过我们所求所想的。 21 愿祂在教会中,在基督耶稣里得到荣耀,直到世世代代,永永远远。阿们!

外族人的福音使者

為此,我保羅為了把基督耶穌傳給你們外族人而作了囚犯。 相信你們已經聽說了,上帝委派我將祂的恩典傳給你們。 祂藉著啟示讓我明白福音的奧祕,正如我前面簡要提過的。 你們讀過之後,就能明白我對基督的奧祕有深刻的認識。 自古以來,上帝沒有讓人知道這奧祕,如今祂藉著聖靈將這奧祕啟示給祂的聖使徒和先知。 這奧祕就是外族人能夠在基督耶穌裡藉著福音與以色列人同作後嗣,同為一體,同享應許。

上帝運用大能賜給我恩典,叫我成為這福音的使者。 我本來比最卑微的聖徒還卑微,卻蒙上帝賜我這恩典,讓我把基督那測不透的豐富傳給外族人, 讓全人類都明白世代隱藏在創造萬物的上帝裡面的奧祕, 10 目的是為了透過教會讓天上的執政者和掌權者現在可以看出上帝豐富的智慧。 11 這是上帝萬世以前在我們主基督耶穌裡定好的計劃。 12 我們靠著基督、藉著信祂可以坦然無懼、毫無疑慮地來到上帝面前。 13 所以,我請求各位不要因我為你們受苦而沮喪,這其實是你們的榮耀。

基督的愛

14-15 為此,我跪在天地萬物的本源——天父面前, 16 祈求祂按照自己豐富的榮耀,藉著祂的靈,以大能使你們內在的生命剛強起來, 17 使基督藉著你們的信心住在你們心裡,使你們在愛中扎根、堅立, 18 以便能夠與眾聖徒一同領悟基督的愛是多麼長闊高深, 19 並知道基督的愛是遠超過人所能理解的愛,好叫上帝無限的豐富充滿你們。

20 上帝的能力運行在我們裡面,能夠豐豐富富地成就一切,超過我們所求所想的。 21 願祂在教會中,在基督耶穌裡得到榮耀,直到世世代代,永永遠遠。阿們!

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 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.

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me(B) for you, that is, the mystery(C) made known to me by revelation,(D) as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight(E) into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.(F) This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs(G) together with Israel, members together of one body,(H) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.(I)

I became a servant of this gospel(J) by the gift of God’s grace given me(K) through the working of his power.(L) Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,(M) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles(N) the boundless riches of Christ,(O) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,(P) which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God(Q) should be made known(R) to the rulers and authorities(S) in the heavenly realms,(T) 11 according to his eternal purpose(U) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God(V) with freedom and confidence.(W) 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel(X) before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches(Y) he may strengthen you with power(Z) through his Spirit in your inner being,(AA) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts(AB) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted(AC) and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,(AD) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep(AE) is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge(AF)—that you may be filled(AG) to the measure of all the fullness of God.(AH)

20 Now to him who is able(AI) to do immeasurably more than all we ask(AJ) or imagine, according to his power(AK) that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:15 The Greek for family (patria) is derived from the Greek for father (pater).