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
Amplified Bible
Paul’s Stewardship
3 For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit; 3 and that by [divine] revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have already written in brief.(A) 4 By referring to this, when you read it you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit; 6 [it is this:] that the Gentiles are now joint heirs [with the Jews] and members of the same body, and joint partakers [sharing] in the [same divine] promise in Christ Jesus through [their faith in] the good news [of salvation]. 7 Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power. 8 To me, [though I am] the very least of all the saints (God’s people), this grace [which is undeserved] was graciously given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible riches of Christ [that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand], 9 and to make plain [to everyone] the plan of the mystery [regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body] which [until now] was kept hidden through the ages in [the mind of] God who created all things. 10 So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ]. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart at my sufferings on your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.
14 For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ], 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth [a]derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father]. 16 May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; 19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].
20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 3:15 In Greek, the word for family is patria, which is derived from pater, the word for “father.” The concept of family originates with God.
Efesios 3
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
El ministerio de Pablo a los gentiles
3 Por esta causa yo, Pablo, prisionero(A) de Cristo Jesús(B) por amor de ustedes(C) los gentiles(D) 2 si en verdad han oído de la dispensación[a] de la gracia de Dios que me fue dada para ustedes(E); 3 que por revelación(F) me fue dado a conocer(G) el misterio(H), tal como antes les escribí brevemente(I).
4 En vista de lo cual, leyendo[b], podrán[c] entender mi comprensión(J) del[d] misterio de Cristo(K), 5 que en otras generaciones no se dio a conocer a los hijos de los hombres, como ahora ha sido revelado a Sus santos apóstoles y profetas(L) por[e] el Espíritu; 6 a saber, que los gentiles son coherederos(M) y miembros del mismo cuerpo(N), participando igualmente[f](O) de la promesa en Cristo Jesús(P) mediante el evangelio.
7 Es de este evangelio que fui hecho ministro(Q), conforme al don de la gracia de Dios que se me ha concedido(R) según la eficacia de Su poder(S). 8 A mí, que soy menos que el más pequeño de todos los santos(T), se me concedió esta gracia: anunciar a los gentiles(U) las inescrutables riquezas de Cristo(V), 9 y sacar a la luz cuál es la dispensación[g] del misterio(W) que por los siglos ha estado oculto en Dios(X), creador de todas las cosas(Y).
10 De este modo, la infinita sabiduría de Dios(Z) puede ser dada a conocer(AA) ahora por medio de la iglesia a los principados y potestades(AB) en los lugares celestiales(AC), 11 conforme al propósito eterno[h](AD) que llevó a cabo[i] en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor(AE), 12 en quien tenemos libertad y acceso(AF) a Dios con confianza(AG) por medio de la fe en Él[j]. 13 Ruego, por tanto, que no desmayen[k](AH) a causa de mis tribulaciones por ustedes(AI), porque son su gloria[l].
Pablo ora otra vez por los efesios
14 Por esta causa, pues, doblo mis rodillas(AJ) ante el Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo[m], 15 de quien recibe nombre toda familia[n] en el cielo y en la tierra. 16 Le ruego que Él les conceda a ustedes, conforme a las riquezas de Su gloria(AK), el ser fortalecidos(AL) con poder por Su Espíritu en el hombre interior(AM);
17 de manera que Cristo habite por la fe en sus corazones(AN). También ruego que arraigados(AO) y cimentados(AP) en amor, 18 ustedes sean capaces de comprender con todos los santos(AQ) cuál es la anchura, la longitud, la altura y la profundidad(AR), 19 y de conocer el amor de Cristo(AS) que sobrepasa el conocimiento(AT), para que sean llenos(AU) hasta la medida de toda la plenitud de Dios(AV).
Doxología
20 Y a Aquel que es poderoso(AW) para hacer todo mucho más abundantemente(AX) de lo que pedimos o entendemos[o], según el poder que obra en nosotros(AY), 21 a Él sea la gloria en la iglesia y en Cristo Jesús por todas las generaciones, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén(AZ).
Footnotes
- Efesios 3:2 O administración.
- Efesios 3:4 Lit. A lo cual, cuando lean.
- Efesios 3:4 O pueden.
- Efesios 3:4 Lit. en el.
- Efesios 3:5 O en.
- Efesios 3:6 Lit. y copartícipes.
- Efesios 3:9 O administración.
- Efesios 3:11 Lit. de los siglos.
- Efesios 3:11 O formó.
- Efesios 3:12 Lit. de Él.
- Efesios 3:13 O que yo no desmaye.
- Efesios 3:13 Los vers. 2 al 13 constituyen un paréntesis intencional de Pablo para manifestar su ministerio a los gentiles.
- Efesios 3:14 Los mss. más antiguos no incluyen: de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
- Efesios 3:15 O la familia entera.
- Efesios 3:20 Lit. pensamos.
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