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The Mystery of Christ Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, (A)the prisoner of (B)Christ Jesus (C)on behalf of you (D)Gentiles— if indeed you heard of the (E)stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; (F)that (G)by revelation there was (H)made known to me (I)the mystery, (J)as I wrote before in brief. About which, when you read you can understand (K)my insight [a]into the (L)mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy (M)apostles and prophets [b]in the Spirit: that the Gentiles are (N)fellow heirs and (O)fellow members of the body, and (P)fellow partakers of the promise in (Q)Christ Jesus through the gospel, (R)of which I was made a (S)minister, according to the gift of (T)God’s grace which was given to me (U)according to the working of His power. To me, (V)the very least of all [c]saints, this grace was given, to (W)proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable (X)riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the (Y)mystery which for ages has been (Z)hidden in God (AA)who created all things; 10 so that the manifold (AB)wisdom of God might now be (AC)made known through the church to the (AD)rulers and the authorities in (AE)the heavenly places. 11 This was in (AF)accordance with the [d]eternal purpose which He [e]carried out in (AG)Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and [f](AH)confident (AI)access through faith [g]in Him. 13 Therefore I ask [h]you not (AJ)to lose heart at my afflictions (AK)on your behalf, which are your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I (AL)bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom [i]every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that He would give you, according to (AM)the riches of His glory, to be (AN)strengthened with power through His Spirit in (AO)the inner man, 17 so that (AP)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly (AQ)rooted and (AR)grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with (AS)all the [j]saints what is (AT)the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know (AU)the love of Christ which (AV)surpasses knowledge, that you may be (AW)filled up to all the (AX)fullness of God.

20 (AY)Now to Him who is (AZ)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, (BA)according to the power that works within us, 21 (BB)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations [k]forever and ever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 3:4 Lit in
  2. Ephesians 3:5 Or by
  3. Ephesians 3:8 Or holy ones
  4. Ephesians 3:11 Lit purpose of the ages
  5. Ephesians 3:11 Lit did
  6. Ephesians 3:12 Lit access in confidence
  7. Ephesians 3:12 Lit of Him
  8. Ephesians 3:13 Or that I may not lose
  9. Ephesians 3:15 Or the whole
  10. Ephesians 3:18 v 8, note 1
  11. Ephesians 3:21 Lit of the age of the ages

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. The mystery was made known to me by revelation,(B) as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.(C) This was not made known to people[a] in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets(D) by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise(E) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.(F)

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches(G) of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created(H) all things. 10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom(I) may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.(J) 11 This is according to his eternal purpose(K) accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and confident access(L) through faith in him.[b] 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged(M) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.(N)

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I kneel(O) before the Father[c] 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches(P) of his glory,(Q) to be strengthened with power(R) in your inner being(S) through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,(T) 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able(U) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think(V) according to the power(W) that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.(X)

Footnotes

  1. 3:5 Lit to the sons of men
  2. 3:12 Or through his faithfulness
  3. 3:14 Other mss add of our Lord Jesus Christ