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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.

The Mystery Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the [a]dispensation of the grace of God (A)which was given to me for you, (B)how that by revelation (C)He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 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: that the Gentiles (D)should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, (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

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, 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

  1. Ephesians 3:2 stewardship
  2. Ephesians 3:9 NU, M stewardship (dispensation)
  3. Ephesians 3:9 NU omits through Jesus Christ
  4. Ephesians 3:10 variegated or many-sided
  5. Ephesians 3:10 rulers
  6. Ephesians 3:14 NU omits of our Lord Jesus Christ

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.

You may have heard of the administration of the grace of God which was given me for you, how by revelation He made known to me the mystery, as I have written briefly already, by which, when you read it, you may understand my knowledge of the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel.

Of this I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the incomprehensible riches of Christ, and to reveal for all people what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ, 10 so that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He completed in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

To Know the Love of Christ

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, power to be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, 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 surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ministerio de Pablo a los no judíos

Por eso yo, Pablo, estoy preso por causa de Cristo Jesús para bien de ustedes, los no judíos. Sin duda ustedes se habrán enterado del plan que Dios, en su bondad, me asignó para el bien de ustedes; me refiero al misterio que me declaró por revelación, como ya les había escrito brevemente. Al leerlo, podrán darse cuenta de que conozco el misterio de Cristo, misterio que en otras generaciones no se dio a conocer a la humanidad tal y como ahora se ha revelado a sus santos apóstoles y profetas por el Espíritu. Ahora sabemos que, por medio del evangelio, los no judíos son coherederos y miembros del mismo cuerpo, y copartícipes de la promesa en Cristo Jesús.(A)

Por el don de la gracia de Dios, que me ha sido dado conforme a su gran poder, yo fui designado ministro de este evangelio. Yo, que soy menor que el más pequeño de todos los santos, he recibido el privilegio de anunciar entre los no judíos el evangelio de las insondables riquezas de Cristo, y de hacer entender a todos cuál es el plan del misterio que Dios, el creador de todas las cosas, mantuvo en secreto desde tiempos remotos 10 para dar a conocer ahora, por medio de la iglesia, su multiforme sabiduría a los principados y poderes en los lugares celestiales, 11 conforme al propósito eterno que llevó a cabo por medio de Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor, 12 en quien tenemos seguridad y confiado acceso por medio de la fe en él. 13 Por lo tanto, les pido que no se desanimen a causa de mis sufrimientos por ustedes. Al contrario, considérenlos un motivo de orgullo.

El sublime amor de Cristo

14 Por eso yo me arrodillo delante del Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, 15 de quien recibe su nombre toda familia en los cielos y en la tierra, 16 para que por su Espíritu, y conforme a las riquezas de su gloria, los fortalezca interiormente con poder; 17 para que por la fe Cristo habite en sus corazones, y para que, arraigados y cimentados en amor, 18 sean ustedes plenamente capaces de comprender, con todos los santos, cuál es la anchura, la longitud, la profundidad y la altura del amor de Cristo; 19 en fin, que conozcan ese amor, que excede a todo conocimiento, para que sean llenos de toda la plenitud de Dios.

20 Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer que todas las cosas excedan a lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder que actúa en nosotros, 21 a él sea dada la gloria en la iglesia en Cristo Jesús por todas las generaciones, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.