EFESIËRS 3
God se geheime plan
1 Hier volg nou die rede waarom ek, Paulus, die gevangene in diens van Christus, vir julle, die nie-Jode, bid.2 Julle het seker gehoor van die bediening wat God uit genade aan my toevertrou het, 'n bediening in julle belang.3 'n Geheime plan is deur openbaring aan my bekendgemaak. Oor dié geheime plan het ek hierbo kortliks geskryf.4 Deur dit te lees kan julle 'n begrip vorm van my insig in die geheime Christusplan.
5 God het hierdie geheime plan nie in vorige geslagte aan mense bekendgemaak nie, maar nou het Hy dit deur die Gees bekendgemaak aan die apostels en profete wat aan Hom toegewy is.
6 Dié geheime plan is dat die nie-Joodse nasies deur Christus Jesus saam sal deel in die erfenis van God se volk, dat hulle saam lede van dieselfde liggaam is, en saam deel het aan die beloftes wat op grond van die Goeie Nuus verkry word.7 Uit genade het God my die gawe gegee om 'n dienaar van hierdie Goeie Nuus te word. Die gawe is aan my gegee deur die werking van God se krag.8 Aan my, die heel onbelangrikste van al God se mense, is hierdie genade gegee om aan die nie-Joodse nasies die onmeetlike rykdom van Christus te verkondig!9 Ek moet vir almal duidelik maak hoe God, die Skepper van alle dinge, die geheime plan uitvoer wat nog altyd verborge was.10 Die doel hiermee is om nou deur die kerk vir al die bose hemelse regeerders en maghebbers te wys hoe allesomvattend die wysheid van God11 se ewige plan is, dié plan wat Hy deur Christus Jesus ons Here tot uitvoer bring.12 Deur Christus en ons geloof in Hom, kan ons met vertroue vrymoedig na God toe gaan.
13 Om hierdie rede vra ek dat julle nie moedeloos word oor my swaarkry ter wille van julle nie. Dit strek tot julle eer!
Paulus se gebed vir die Efesiërs
14 Daarom kniel ek voor die Vader.15 Hy is die Vader van elke gemeenskap in die hemel en op die aarde.16 Mag Hy deur sy Gees uit die rykdom van sy Goddelike grootheid aan julle die krag gee om innerlik sterk te word.17 Dan sal Christus deur die geloof in julle harte woon, en sal julle in God se liefde gewortel en gegrondves wees.18 Mag julle in staat wees om saam met al God se mense te begryp hoe breed en lank en hoe hoog en diep sy liefde is.
19 Dan sal julle Christus se liefde, wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, beleef. Mag julle heeltemal met die volheid van God vervul word.
20 Hy moet geprys word - Hy wat mag het om deur die krag wat in ons werk, oneindig meer te doen as wat ons vra of dink om te vra.
21 Die kerk wat aan Christus Jesus verbind is, moet Hom prys deur al die geslagte heen tot in alle ewigheid! Amen.
EPHESIANS 3
Paul's Mission to //the Gentiles
1 Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so I could help you Gentiles. 2 You have surely heard about God's gift of undeserved grace in choosing me to help you. 3 In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. 4 t As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. 5 No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.
7 God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. 8 I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. 9 t God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind.
10 Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
11 God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all Christ Jesus our Lord had done. 12 Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so we can come to God by faith.
13 This is why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to you.Christ's Love for Us
14 I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15 All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him.t 16 God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18 t I pray that you and all God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.t
19 I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.
20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.