Ephesians 3

Paul’s Work of Spreading the Good News

1 This is the reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesust for those of you who are not Jewish.2 Certainly, you have heard how God gave me the responsibility of bringing his kindnesst 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 Father15 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.

Ephesians 3

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,--2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;5 which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;6 to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,7 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through 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 in confidence through our faith in him.13 Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto 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 the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.