Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

He explains the cause of his imprisonment, and more of the revelation of the mystery of Christ. He desires them not to faint because of his trouble, and prays God to make them steadfast in his Spirit.

3 For this then I, Paul, am in the bonds of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you who are heathen – ² if you have heard of the ministration of the grace of God that is given to me for you. ³ For by revelation he showed this mystery to me, as I wrote above in a few words, ⁴ from which, when you read, you may know my understanding in the mystery of Christ. ⁵ This mystery was not in times past opened to the sons of men as it is now revealed to 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 that is in Christ by the means of the gospel – ⁷ of which gospel I am made a minister by the gift of the grace of God given to me through the working of his power. ⁸ To me, the least of all saints, is this grace given, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all men see what the fellowship of the mystery is.

This mystery has from the beginning of the world been hid in God, who made all things through Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ to the intent that now, through the congregation, the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the rulers and powers in heaven, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² by whom we are bold to draw near in the confidence that we have by faith on him.

The time and place of Christ’s birth. The wise men offer their presents. Christ flees into Egypt. The young children are slain. Christ turns in to Galilee.

2 When Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, ² saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.

³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ And they said to him, At Bethlehem in Judea. For thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come the leader who will govern my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod privately called the wise men and carefully enquired of them when the star had appeared, ⁸ and sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child. And when you have found him, bring me word so that I may come and worship him also.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were marvellously glad, ¹¹ and went into the house and found the child with Mary his mother, and kneeled down and worshipped him, and opened their treasures and offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And after they were warned by God in a dream that they should not go again to Herod, they returned into their own country another way.