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
New King James Version
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.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 3:2 stewardship
- Ephesians 3:9 NU, M stewardship (dispensation)
- Ephesians 3:9 NU omits through Jesus Christ
- Ephesians 3:10 variegated or many-sided
- Ephesians 3:10 rulers
- Ephesians 3:14 NU omits of our Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesians 3
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.
Ephesians 3
English Standard Version
The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
3 For this reason I, Paul, (A)a prisoner of Christ Jesus (B)on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of (C)the stewardship of (D)God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 (E)how the mystery was made known to me (F)by revelation, (G)as I have written briefly. 4 (H)When you read this, you can perceive my insight into (I)the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is[a] that the Gentiles are (J)fellow heirs, (K)members of the same body, and (L)partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 (M)Of this gospel I was made (N)a minister according to the gift of (O)God's grace, which was given me (P)by the working of his power. 8 To me, (Q)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, (R)to preach to the Gentiles the (S)unsearchable (T)riches of Christ, 9 and (U)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery (V)hidden for ages in[b] God, (W)who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold (X)wisdom of God (Y)might now be made known to (Z)the rulers and authorities (AA)in the heavenly places. 11 This was (AB)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have (AC)boldness and (AD)access with (AE)confidence through our (AF)faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering (AG)for you, (AH)which is your glory.
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom (AI)every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to (AJ)the riches of his glory (AK)he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit (AL)in your inner being, 17 (AM)so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being (AN)rooted and (AO)grounded in love, 18 may have strength to (AP)comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and (AQ)height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ (AR)that surpasses knowledge, that (AS)you may be filled with all (AT)the fullness of God.
20 (AU)Now to (AV)him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, (AW)according to the power at work within us, 21 (AX)to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 3:6 The words This mystery is are inferred from verse 4
- Ephesians 3:9 Or by
- Ephesians 3:15 Or from whom all fatherhood; the Greek word patria in verse 15 is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
