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To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,(A) and to bring to light [for all][a] what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things,(B) 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities[b] in the heavens.(C) 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:9 [For all]: while some think this phrase was added so as to yield the sense “to enlighten all about the plan…,” it is more likely that some manuscripts and Fathers omitted it accidentally or to avoid the idea that all conflicted with Paul’s assignment to preach to the Gentiles (Eph 3:8) specifically.
  2. 3:10 Principalities and authorities: see note on Eph 1:15–23 regarding Eph 3:21.

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,(A) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles(B) the boundless riches of Christ,(C) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,(D) 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(E) should be made known(F) to the rulers and authorities(G) in the heavenly realms,(H) 11 according to his eternal purpose(I) that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God(J) with freedom and confidence.(K)

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14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,(A) 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love,(B) 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth,(C) 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:14–15 Every family: in the Greek there is wordplay on the word for the Father (patria, patēr). The phrase could also mean “God’s whole family” (cf. Eph 2:21).

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel(A) 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(B) he may strengthen you with power(C) through his Spirit in your inner being,(D) 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts(E) through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted(F) and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,(G) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep(H) is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge(I)—that you may be filled(J) to the measure of all the fullness of God.(K)

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Footnotes

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