Ephesians 3
1 For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles;
For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--
2 If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me towards you:
if, that is, you have heard of the work which God has graciously entrusted to me for your benefit,
3 How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me, as I have written above in a few words;
and that by a revelation the truth hitherto kept secret was made known to me as I have already briefly explained it to you.
4 As you reading, may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,
By means of that explanation, as you read it, you can judge of my insight into the truth of Christ
5 Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:
which in earlier ages was not made known to the human race, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and Prophets through the Spirit--
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and co-partners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel:
I mean the truth that the Gentiles are joint heirs with us Jews, and that they form one body with us, and have the same interest as we have in the promise which has been made good in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
7 Of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which is given to me according to the operation of his power:
in which I have been appointed to serve, in virtue of the work which God, in the exercise of His power within me, has graciously entrusted to me.
8 To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,
To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,
9 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things: (aiōn g165)
and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all the Ages lay concealed in the mind of God, the Creator of all things-- (aiōn g165)
10 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,
concealed in order that the Church might now be used to display to the powers and authorities in the heavenly realms the innumerable aspects of God's wisdom.
Such was the eternal purpose which He had formed in Christ Jesus our Lord, (aiōn g165)
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
in whom we have this bold and confident access through our faith in Him.
13 Wherefore I pray you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Therefore I entreat you not to lose heart in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf, for they bring you honour.
14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For this reason, on bended knee I beseech the Father,
15 Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named,
from whom the whole family in Heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man,
to grant you--in accordance with the wealth of His glorious perfections--to be strengthened by His Spirit with power penetrating to your inmost being.
17 That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and founded in charity,
I pray that Christ may make His home in your hearts through your faith; so that having your roots deep and your foundations strong, in love, you may become mighty to grasp the idea,
18 You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth:
as it is grasped by all God's people, of the breadth and length, the height and depth--
19 To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
yes, to attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, so that you may be made complete in accordance with God's own standard of completeness.
20 Now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly than we desire or understand, according to the power that worketh in us;
Now to Him who, in exercise of His power that is at work within us, is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or thoughts--
