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
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
III. World Mission of the Church
Chapter 3
Commission to Preach God’s Plan.[a] 1 Because of this,(A) I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ[b] [Jesus] for you Gentiles— 2 if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship[c] of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit,(B) 3 [namely, that] the mystery[d] was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.(C) 4 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,(D) 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.(E)
7 Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.(F) 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,(G) 9 and to bring to light [for all][e] what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things,(H) 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities[f] in the heavens.(I) 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.(J) 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory.(K)
Prayer for the Readers.[g] 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[h] 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,(L) 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love,(M) 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth,(N) 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.(O)
20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us,(P) 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Notas al pie
- 3:1–13 Paul reflects on his mission to the Gentiles. He alludes to his call and appointment to the apostolic office (Eph 3:2–3) and how his insight through revelation, as well as that of the other apostles and charismatic prophets in the church (Eph 3:4–5), has deepened understanding of God’s plan of salvation in Christ. Paul is the special herald (Eph 3:7) of a new promise to the Gentiles (Eph 3:6): that the divine plan includes them in the spiritual benefits promised to Israel. Not only is this unique apostolic role his; Paul also has been given the task of explaining to all the divine plan of salvation (Eph 3:8–9), once hidden. Through the church, God’s plan to save through Christ is becoming manifest to angelic beings (Eph 3:10; cf. Eph 1:21), in accord with God’s purpose (Eph 3:11). The fulfillment of the plan in Christ gives the whole church more confidence through faith in God (Eph 3:12). The readers of this letter are also thereby encouraged to greater confidence despite Paul’s imprisonment (Eph 3:13).
- 3:1 A prisoner of Christ: see Introduction. Paul abruptly departs from his train of thought at the end of Eph 3:1, leaving an incomplete sentence.
- 3:2 Stewardship: the Greek is the same term employed at Eph 1:10 for the plan that God administers (Col 1:25) and in which Paul plays a key role.
- 3:3–4 The mystery: God’s resolve to deliver Gentiles along with Israel through Christ; cf. notes on Eph 1:10; 3:9.
- 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.
- 3:10 Principalities and authorities: see note on Eph 1:15–23 regarding Eph 3:21.
- 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).
- 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).
Ephesians 3
Christian Standard Bible
Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles
3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation,(B) as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.(C) 5 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: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise(E) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 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)
8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches(G) of Christ, 9 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)
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.
Notas al pie
- 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
Ephesians 3
GOD’S WORD Translation
Paul’s Work of Spreading the Good News
3 This is the reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus [a] for those of you who are not Jewish.
2 Certainly, you have heard how God gave me the responsibility of bringing his kindness [b] to you. 3 You have heard that he let me know this mystery through a revelation. I’ve already written to you about this briefly. 4 When you read this, you’ll see that I understand the mystery about Christ. 5 In the past, this mystery was not known by people as it is now. The Spirit has now revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is the Good News that people who are not Jewish have the same inheritance as Jewish people do. They belong to the same body and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this Good News through God’s kindness freely given to me when his power worked ⌞in me⌟.
8 I am the least of all God’s people. Yet, God showed me his kindness by allowing me to spread the Good News of the immeasurable wealth of Christ to people who are not Jewish. 9 He allowed me to explain the way this mystery works. God, who created all things, kept it hidden in the past. 10 He did this so that now, through the church, he could let the rulers and authorities in heaven know his infinite wisdom. 11 This was God’s plan for all of history which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 We can go to God with bold confidence through faith in Christ. 13 So then, I ask you not to become discouraged by the troubles I suffer for you. In fact, my troubles bring you glory.
Paul Prays That God Would Strengthen Christians
14 This is the reason I kneel in the presence of the Father 15 from whom all the family in heaven and on earth receives its name. 16 I’m asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation. 18 This way, with all of God’s people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. 19 You will know Christ’s love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.
20 Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. 21 Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity! Amen.
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