Ephesians 3
1 This is why, I, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you foreigners,
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, bow my knees in prayer.
2 (well, I'm assuming you've heard that God gave me the specific responsibility of sharing God's grace with you),
Surely you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3 how, by what God showed me, made clear the mystery that was previously hidden. I wrote to you briefly before about this,
how God made the mystery known to me by revelation, just as I have written above in a few words.
4 and when you read this you'll be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
When you read what I have written, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
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 previous generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 that foreigners are joint heirs, part of the same body, and in Christ Jesus share together in the promise through the good news.
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of God's promise in Christ through 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.
I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working 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,
This grace was given to me, the very least of all the saints, to preach among the Gentiles the good news of the boundless riches of Christ,
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 to bring to light for everyone the plan of the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ. (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.
The purpose of bringing this to light is that, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 This was in accordance with God's eternal purpose that he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōn g165)
according to the eternal purpose that God has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōn g165)
12 Because of him and our trust in him we can come to God in total freedom and confidence.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we have boldness and confident access to God.
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 ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, which will bring you glory.
14 This is why I kneel before the Father
For this reason I bow my knees in prayer before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its nature and character,
from whom every 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.
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he would grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 May Christ live in you as you trust in him, so that as you are planted deep in love,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,
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.
as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may be able to fully comprehend, together with all the saints, how wide and long and deep and high
19 May you know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you're made full and complete by the fullness of God.
is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, so that you 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 to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us—
