For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3
Paul's Relationship to the Divine Mystery
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesuss for the sake of you Gentiles –2 if indeeds you have heard of the stewardshipt of God’s grace that was given to me for you,3 thatt by revelation the divine secrett was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.ts4 When reading this,t you will be able tot understand my insight into this secrett of Christ.5 Now this secrett was not disclosed to peoplet in formert generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets byt the Spirit,6 namely, that through the gospels the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow memberst of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.7 I became a servant of this gospelt according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me byt the exercise of his power.s8 To me – less than the least of all the saintss – this grace was given,s to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ9 and to enlightent everyone about God’s secret plant – a secret that has been hidden for agest in Godt who has created all things.10 The purpose of this enlightenment is thatt through the church the multifaceted wisdomt of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.11 This was according tot the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,12 in whom we have boldness and confident accesst to Godt because oft Christ’st faithfulness.ts
13 For this reason I ask yout not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you,t whichs is your glory.t
Prayer for Strengthened Love
14 For this reasons I kneelt before the Father,s15 fromt whom every familyt in heaven and on the earth is named.16 I pray thatt according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,s
19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up tot all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power that is working within uss is able to do far beyondt all that we ask or think,
21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.