Ephesians 3
1 This is why, I, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you foreigners,
On this account, I Paul am a prisoner of Jesus the Messiah, for the sake of you Gentiles:
2 (well, I'm assuming you've heard that God gave me the specific responsibility of sharing God's grace with you),
if so be, ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which was given to me among you:
3 how, by what God showed me, made clear the mystery that was previously hidden. I wrote to you briefly before about this,
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, (as I have now written to you in brief,
4 and when you read this you'll be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
so that while ye read, ye might be able to understand my knowledge of the mystery of the Messiah, )
5 In past generations this wasn't made clear to anyone, but now it's been revealed to God's holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy legates and to his prophets, by the Spirit;
6 that foreigners are joint heirs, part of the same body, and in Christ Jesus share together in the promise through the good news.
that the Gentiles should be sharers. of his inheritance, and partakers of his body, and of the promise which is given in him by the gospel;
7 I became a minister of this good news through the gift of God's grace that I was given by his power that was at work in me.
of which I have been a minister, according to the gift of the goodness of God, which was imparted to me by the operation of his power:
8 This grace was given to me, the least important of all Christians, in order to share with the foreigners the incredible value of Christ,
to me, who am the least of all the saints, hath this grace been given, that I should announce among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of the Messiah,
9 and to help everyone see the purpose of the mystery which from the very beginning was hidden in God who made everything. (aiōn g165)
and should show to all men what is the dispensation of the mystery, which for ages was hid up in God the Creator of all things: (aiōn g165)
10 God's plan was that the various aspects of his wisdom would be revealed through the church to the rulers and authorities in heaven.
so that, by means of the church, the manifold wisdom of God might become known to the principalities and powers that are in heaven:
11 This was in accordance with God's eternal purpose that he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōn g165)
which wisdom he arranged ages before, and he hath executed it by Jesus the Messiah our Lord; (aiōn g165)
12 Because of him and our trust in him we can come to God in total freedom and confidence.
through whom we have boldness and access, in the confidence of his faith.
13 So I'm asking that you don't get discouraged that I'm suffering—it's for you and you should value that!
Therefore I pray, that I may not be discouraged by my afflictions, which are for your sakes; for this is your glory.
14 This is why I kneel before the Father
And I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its nature and character,
from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named;
16 asking him that out of his wealth of glory he may strengthen you in your innermost being with power through his Spirit.
that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit; that in your inner man
17 May Christ live in you as you trust in him, so that as you are planted deep in love,
the Messiah may dwell by faith, and in your hearts by love, while your root and your foundation waxeth strong;
18 you may have the power to comprehend with all God's people the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love.
and that ye may be able to explore, with all the saints, what is the height and depth, and length and breadth,
19 May you know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you're made full and complete by the fullness of God.
and may know the greatness of the Messiah's love; and that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now may he who—through his power working in us—can do infinitely more than we ever ask for or even think about,
Now to him who is able, by his almighty power, to do for us even more than we ask or think, according to his power that worketh in us;
