Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah^[a] Jesus for the sake of you gentiles. ² Surely you have heard about the responsibility of administering God’s grace that was given to me on your behalf, ³ and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past. ⁴ By reading this, you will be able to grasp my understanding of the secret about the Messiah,^{[b] 5} which in previous generations was not made known to human beings^[c] as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s^[d] holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:^{[e] 6} The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised^[f] by the Messiah^[g] Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ I have become a servant of this gospel^[h] according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah^{[i] 9} and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things. ¹⁰ He did this^[j] so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm ¹¹ in keeping with the eternal purpose that God^[k] carried out through the Messiah^[l] Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and confident access through his faithfulness.^{[m] 13} So then, I ask you not to become discouraged because of my troubles on your behalf, which work toward your glory.

To Know the Messiah’s Love

¹⁴ This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,^{[n] 15} from whom every family^[o] in heaven and on earth receives its name. ¹⁶ I pray^[p] that he would give you, according to his glorious riches, strength in your inner being and power through his Spirit, ¹⁷ and that the Messiah^[q] would make his home in your hearts through faith. Then, having been rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ you will be able to understand, along with all the saints, what is wide, long, high, and deep— ¹⁹ that is, you will know the love of the Messiah^[r]— which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among^[s] us— ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in the Messiah^[t] Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen.