The Mystery Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the ^[a]dispensation of the grace of God ^(A)which was given to me for you, ^3 (B)how that by revelation ^(C)He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵ 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: ⁶ that the Gentiles ^(D)should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ^7 (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

⁸ 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, ⁹ 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.

Benediction

^25 [a]Now ^(A)to Him who is able to establish you ^(B)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ^(C)according to the revelation of the mystery ^(D)kept secret since the world began ²⁶ but ^(E)now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for ^(F)obedience to the faith— ²⁷ to ^(G)God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Sacrificial Service for Christ

^24 (A)I now rejoice in my sufferings ^(B)for you, and fill up in my flesh ^(C)what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for ^(D)the sake of His body, which is the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to ^(E)the ^[a]stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, ^26 (F)the ^[b]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, ^(G)but now has been revealed to His saints. ^27 (H)To them God willed to make known what are ^(I)the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: ^[c]which is ^(J)Christ in you, ^(K)the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, ^(L)warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, ^(M)that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me ^(N)mightily.