Pablo y el misterio de Cristo

Por esta razón yo, Pablo, prisionero de Cristo Jesús por el bien de ustedes los no judíos, me arrodillo en oración.[a]

Sin duda se han enterado del plan de la gracia de Dios que él me encomendó para ustedes, es decir, el misterio que me dio a conocer por revelación, como ya les escribí brevemente. Al leer esto, podrán darse cuenta de que comprendo el misterio de Cristo. Ese misterio, que en otras generaciones no se dio a conocer a los seres humanos, ahora se ha revelado por el Espíritu a los santos apóstoles y profetas de Dios. Es decir, que los no judíos son, junto con Israel, beneficiarios de la misma herencia, miembros de un mismo cuerpo y participantes igualmente de la promesa en Cristo Jesús mediante el evangelio.

De este evangelio llegué a ser servidor. Este fue el regalo que Dios me dio por su gracia, conforme a su poder eficaz. Aunque soy el más insignificante de todos los creyentes, recibí esta gracia de predicar a las naciones las incalculables riquezas de Cristo y de hacer entender a todos el plan divino, el misterio que desde los tiempos eternos se mantuvo oculto en Dios, creador de todas las cosas. 10 El fin de todo esto es que la sabiduría de Dios, en toda su diversidad, se dé a conocer ahora, por medio de la iglesia, a los poderes y autoridades en las regiones celestiales, 11 conforme a su eterno propósito realizado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor. 12 En él, mediante la fe, disfrutamos de libertad y confianza para acercarnos a Dios. 13 Así que les pido que no se desanimen a causa de lo que sufro por ustedes, ya que estos sufrimientos míos son para ustedes un honor.

Oración por los efesios

14 Por esta razón me arrodillo delante del Padre, 15 de quien recibe nombre toda familia[b] en el cielo y en la tierra. 16 Le pido que, por medio del Espíritu y con el poder que procede de sus gloriosas riquezas, los fortalezca a ustedes en lo íntimo de su ser, 17 para que por fe Cristo habite en sus corazones. Y pido que, arraigados y cimentados en amor, 18 puedan comprender, junto con todos los creyentes, cuán ancho y largo, alto y profundo es el amor de Cristo. 19 En fin, que conozcan ese amor que sobrepasa nuestro conocimiento, para que sean llenos de la plenitud de Dios.

20 Al que puede hacer muchísimo más que todo lo que podamos imaginarnos o pedir, por el poder que obra eficazmente en nosotros, 21 ¡a él sea la gloria en la iglesia y en Cristo Jesús por todas las generaciones, por los siglos de los siglos! Amén.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 En el griego este versículo termina con las palabras no judíos, y el tema se reinicia en el v. 14.
  2. 3:15 familia. Alt. paternidad.

For this reason [[a]because I preached that you are thus built up together], I, Paul, [am] the prisoner of Jesus the Christ [b]for the sake and on behalf of you Gentiles—

Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace (His unmerited favor) that was entrusted to me [to dispense to you] for your benefit,

[And] that the mystery (secret) was made known to me and I was allowed to comprehend it by direct revelation, as I already briefly wrote you.

When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.

[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit.

[It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],

Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus.

10 [The purpose is] that through the church the [c]complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.

11 This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

13 So I ask you not to lose heart [not to faint or become despondent through fear] at what I am suffering in your behalf. [Rather glory in it] for it is an honor to you.

14 For this reason [[d]seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, [e]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [f]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [g]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [h]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:1 Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Holy Bible: The Jews persecuted and imprisoned Paul because he was an apostle to the Gentiles and preached the Gospel to them.
  2. Ephesians 3:1 Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Holy Bible: The Jews persecuted and imprisoned Paul because he was an apostle to the Gentiles and preached the Gospel to them.
  3. Ephesians 3:10 Webster’s New International Dictionary offers this as a definition of “manifold” (the King James Version’s rendering of the Greek polupoikilos).
  4. Ephesians 3:14 Many manuscripts consider that Paul here resumes the thread of verse 1.
  5. Ephesians 3:19 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  6. Ephesians 3:19 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  7. Ephesians 3:19 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  8. Ephesians 3:19 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.