Ephesians 3
Paul Is the Messenger to Non-Jews
1 I, Paul, am a prisoner because of Christ Jesus. I am in prison because of my work among you who are not Jews.
2 I am sure you have heard that God appointed me to share his grace with you.3 I'm talking about the mystery God showed me. I have already written a little about it.4 By reading it you will be able to understand what I know about the mystery of Christ.
5 The mystery was not made known to people of other times. But now the Holy Spirit has made it known to God's holy apostles and prophets.
6 Here is the mystery. Because of the good news, God's promises are for non-Jews as well as for Jews. Both groups are parts of one body. They share in the promise. It belongs to them because they belong to Christ Jesus.
7 I now serve the good news because God gave me his grace. His power is at work in me.8 I am by far the least important of all of God's people. But he gave me the grace to preach to the non-Jews about the wonderful riches that Christ gives.
9 God told me to make clear to everyone how the mystery came about. In times past it was kept hidden in the mind of God, who created all things.10 He wanted the rulers and authorities in the heavenly world to come to know his great wisdom. The church would make it known to them.
11 That was God's plan from the beginning. He has worked it out through Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Through him and through faith in him we can approach God. We can come to him freely. We can come without fear.
13 So here is what I'm asking you to do. Don't lose hope because I am suffering for you. It will lead to the time when God will give you his glory.
Paul Prays for God's People
14 I bow in prayer to the Father because of my work among you.15 From the Father his whole family in heaven and on earth gets its name.
16 I pray that he will use his glorious riches to make you strong. May his Holy Spirit give you his power deep down inside you.17 Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him.
And I pray that your love will have deep roots. I pray that it will have a strong foundation.18 May you have power with all God's people to understand Christ's love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is.19 And may you know his love, even though it can't be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you.
20 God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us.21 Give him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Give him glory through all time and for ever and ever. 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.