Ephesians 3
1 This is why, I, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you foreigners,
Because [God has done all this for] you non-Jews, I, Paul, [pray for you. I want you to know that it is because I serve] Christ Jesus for your sake that I am in prison.
2 (well, I'm assuming you've heard that God gave me the specific responsibility of sharing God's grace with you),
I (assume that/think that probably) someone has told you how God acted very kindly toward me, appointing me [so that I would proclaim the gospel to you non-Jews].
3 how, by what God showed me, made clear the mystery that was previously hidden. I wrote to you briefly before about this,
God revealed to me the message that he had not revealed to others. When you read what I have already written briefly about that,
4 and when you read this you'll be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
you will be able to understand that I understand clearly that message about 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
Formerly, [God] did not reveal that message to anyone, but now his Spirit has revealed that message to (his holy apostles and prophets/people who tell messages that come directly from God).
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 message, which he has now revealed, is that because of our [(inc)] relationship with Christ Jesus, [all of us], non-Jews as well as Jews [MTY], will receive the [great spiritual blessings that God has] promised as we all form one group [MET] [as a result of our believing] the good news [about Christ].
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.
By God powerfully enabling me, and because God acted kindly toward me, doing what I did not deserve, and chose me [to do that work], I became someone who tells others this good message.
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,
Although I am the least [worthy] of all God’s people, God kindly [appointed] me to proclaim to the non-Jews the message about the great spiritual blessings that [they can receive] from 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 enable everyone to understand clearly how God accomplished what he planned. God, who created everything, [has now revealed] this message, which he never revealed to anyone before. (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.
[What he planned] was that all (believers/people who belong to Christ) would be the ones who would reveal to all the ranks [DOU] of spiritual beings in heaven that what God had planned is wise in every way.
11 This was in accordance with God's eternal purpose that he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōn g165)
That is what God had always planned, and it is what he accomplished by what our Lord Jesus [has done]. (aiōn g165)
12 Because of him and our trust in him we can come to God in total freedom and confidence.
Because of what he has done and because of our relationship with him, [when we pray] we can approach God confidently and without being afraid.
13 So I'm asking that you don't get discouraged that I'm suffering—it's for you and you should value that!
So I ask that you do not be discouraged because of my suffering many things for you [here in prison]. You should feel honored that I am [willing to] suffer [these things for your sake].
14 This is why I kneel before the Father
Because [God has done all this for you], I kneel [and pray] [MTY] to [God our] Father.
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its nature and character,
He is the one who is [like] a father of all [the believers who are now in] heaven and those who are still on the earth.
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, using his unlimited resources, he will cause you to be strengthened by his Spirit {cause his Spirit to strengthen you} in your (inner beings/hearts) with all [God’s] power.
17 May Christ live in you as you trust in him, so that as you are planted deep in love,
That is, I pray that because of your trusting in Christ, his [Spirit] may live in your (inner beings/hearts) (OR, he may live in your hearts). And I pray that because you love [Christ] firmly and faithfully/continually [MET], you,
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.
along with all other believers, may be able to know how very [DOU] much Christ loves [us(inc)].
19 May you know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you're made full and complete by the fullness of God.
I want you to experience how very deeply he loves us, even though it is not possible for us to understand fully [how much he loves us]. And I pray that God will enable you to be filled with {have a full measure of} all the [qualities of his character that] he himself has.
20 Now may he who—through his power working in us—can do infinitely more than we ever ask for or even think about,
[God] is able to do much (greater things/more) than we could ask him to do, or even that we might think that he can do, by his power that is working within us.
