Ephesians 3
Wycliffe Bible
3 For the grace of this thing I Paul, the bound of Christ Jesus [the bound of Jesus Christ], for you heathen men,
2 if nevertheless ye have heard the dispensation of God's grace, that is given to me in you.
3 For by revelation the sacrament is made known to me, as I above wrote in short thing,
4 as ye be able to read, and understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ. [as ye reading may understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ.]
5 Which was not known to other generations to the sons of men, as it is now showed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,
6 that heathen men be even-heirs, and of one body, and partners together of his promise [and together partners of his promise] in Christ Jesus by the evangel;
7 whose minister I am made, by the gift of God's grace, which is given to me by the working of his virtue. [whose minister I am made, after the gift of God's grace, which is given to me after the working of his virtue.]
8 To me, least of all saints, this grace is given to preach among heathen men the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to lighten all men [and to enlighten all men], which is the dispensation of [the] sacrament hid from worlds in God, that made all things of nought;
10 that the much-fold wisdom of God be known to princes and potentates in heavenly things by the church,
11 by the before-ordinance of worlds [after the setting of worlds], which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In whom we have trust and nigh coming [to], in trusting by the faith of him.
13 For which thing I ask, that ye fail not in my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For grace of this thing I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 of whom each fatherhood in heavens and in earth is named, [of whom each fatherhood in heaven and in earth is named,]
16 that he give to you, after the riches of his glory, virtue to be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ dwell by faith in your hearts; that ye rooted and grounded in charity,
18 be able to comprehend with all saints, which is the breadth, and the length, and the highness, and the deepness; [that ye may comprehend with all saints, which is the breadth, and length, and highness, and deepness;]
19 also to know the charity of Christ more excellent than science [also to know the charity of Christ above-seeming to science], that ye be filled in all the plenty of God.
20 And to him that is mighty to do all things more plenteously than we ask or understand, by the virtue that worketh in us [after the virtue that worketh in us],
21 to him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus, into all the generations of the world of worlds [into all the generations of the worlds of worlds]. Amen.
Ephesians 3
New Matthew Bible
He explains the cause of his imprisonment, and more of the revelation of the mystery of Christ. He desires them not to faint because of his trouble, and prays God to make them steadfast in his Spirit.
3 For this then I, Paul, am in the bonds of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you who are heathen – 2 if you have heard of the ministration of the grace of God that is given to me for you. 3 For by revelation he showed this mystery to me, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 from which, when you read, you may know my understanding in the mystery of Christ. 5 This mystery was not in times past opened to the sons of men as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that the Gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise that is in Christ by the means of the gospel – 7 of which gospel I am made a minister by the gift of the grace of God given to me through the working of his power. 8 To me, the least of all saints, is this grace given, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all men see what the fellowship of the mystery is.
This mystery has from the beginning of the world been hid in God, who made all things through Jesus Christ, 10 to the intent that now, through the congregation, the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the rulers and powers in heaven, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 by whom we are bold to draw near in the confidence that we have by faith on him.
13 Therefore I desire that you faint not because of my tribulations for your sakes, which are worthy to be glorified by you. 14 For this I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 who is Father over all that is called father in heaven and in earth. 16 I pray that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, so that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is that breadth and length, depth and height, 19 and to know what is the love of Christ, which love passes knowledge; that you might be filled with every kind of fullness that comes of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think by the power that works in us, 21 be praise in the congregation by Jesus Christ throughout all generations, world without end.
Amen.
Ephesians 3
1599 Geneva Bible
3 1 He declareth that therefore he suffered many things of the Jews, 3 because he preached the mystery touching the salvation of the Gentiles, 8 at God’s commandment. 13 After he desired the Ephesians not to faint for his afflictions. 14 And for this cause he prayeth unto God, 18 that they may understand the great love of Christ.
1 For [a]this cause, I Paul am the [b]prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to youward,
3 That is, that God by revelation hath showed this mystery unto me (as I wrote above in few words,
4 Whereby when ye read, ye may know mine understanding in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in [c]other ages was not opened unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit,
6 That the Gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel,
7 Whereof I am made a minister by the gift of the grace of God given unto me through the effectual working of his power.
8 Even unto me the least of all Saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 And to make clear unto all men what the fellowship of the mystery is, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who hath created all things by Jesus Christ,
10 [d]To the intent, that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church the [e]manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the [f]eternal purpose, which he wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 By whom we have boldness and entrance with confidence, by faith in him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for your sakes, which is your glory.
14 [g]For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 (Of whom is named the whole [h]family in heaven and in earth)
16 That he might grant you according to the [i]riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened by his Spirit in the [j]inner man,
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith:
18 That ye, being rooted and grounded in [k]love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, [l]what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height:
19 And to know the [m]love of Christ, which [n]passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all [o]fullness of God.
20 [p]Unto him therefore that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Be praise in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all generations forever, Amen.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 3:1 He maintaineth his Apostleship against the offense of the cross, whereon also he taketh an argument to confirm himself, affirming that he was not only appointed an Apostle by the mercy of God, but was also particularly appointed to the Gentiles, to call them on every side to salvation: because God had so determined it from the beginning, although he deferred a great while the manifestation of that his counsel.
- Ephesians 3:1 These words, The prisoner of Jesus Christ, are taken passively, that is to say I Paul am cast into prison for maintaining the glory of Christ.
- Ephesians 3:5 He meaneth not that none knew the calling of the Gentiles before, but because very few knew of it, and they that did know it, as the Prophets, had it revealed unto them very darkly, and under figures.
- Ephesians 3:10 The unlooked for calling of the Gentiles, was as it were a glass to the heavenly Angels, wherin they might behold the marvellous wisdom of God.
- Ephesians 3:10 God never had but one way only, to save men by: but it had divers fashions and forms.
- Ephesians 3:11 Which was before all beginnings.
- Ephesians 3:14 He teacheth by his own example, that the efficacy of the doctrine dependeth upon the grace of God, and therefore we ought to join prayers with the preaching and hearing of the word: which are needful not only to them which are younglings in religion, but even to the oldest also, that they growing up more and more by faith in Christ, being confirmed with all spiritual gifts, may be grounded and rooted in the knowledge of that immeasurable love, wherewith God the Father hath loved us in Christ, seeing that the whole family, whereof part is already received into heaven, and part is yet here on earth, dependeth upon that adoption of the heavenly Father, in his only Son.
- Ephesians 3:15 All that whole people which hath but one household Father, and that is the Church which is adopted in Christ.
- Ephesians 3:16 According to the greatness of his mercy.
- Ephesians 3:16 See Rom. 7:22.
- Ephesians 3:18 Wherewith God loveth us, which is the root of our election.
- Ephesians 3:18 How perfect that work of Christ is in every part.
- Ephesians 3:19 Which God hath showeth us in Christ.
- Ephesians 3:19 Which passeth all the capacity of man’s wit, to comprehend it fully in his mind: for otherwise who so hath the Spirit of God, perceiveth so much (according to the measure that God hath given him) as is sufficient to salvation.
- Ephesians 3:19 So that we have abundantly in us, whatsoever things are required to make us perfect with God.
- Ephesians 3:20 He breaketh forth into a thanksgiving, whereby the Ephesians also may be confirmed to hope for anything of God.
Ephesians 3
Authorized (King James) Version
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 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; 6 that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 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. 8 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; 9 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.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.