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Ephesians 3:8-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

8 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) 9 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) 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory.(E)

Prayer for the Readers.[c] 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[d] 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,(F) 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love,(G) 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth,(H) 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(I)

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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.
  3. 3:14–21 The apostle prays that those he is addressing may, like the rest of the church, deepen their understanding of God’s plan of salvation in Christ. It is a plan that affects the whole universe (Eph 3:15) with the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love in Christ (Eph 3:18) or possibly the universe in all its dimensions. The apostle prays that they may perceive the redemptive love of Christ for them and be completely immersed in the fullness of God (Eph 3:19). The prayer concludes with a doxology to God (Eph 3:20–21).
  4. 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).
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.