Ephesians 3
1 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.
En dit is de reden, waarom ik Paulus, de gevangene van Christus Jesus, voor u heidenen ben aangesteld.
2 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].
Gij hebt immers gehoord, dat aan mij het beheer van Gods genadegaven voor u is toevertrouwd,
3 God revealed to me the message that he had not revealed to others. When you read what I have already written briefly about that,
en dat aan mij door openbaring het heilsgeheim bekend is gemaakt, zoals ik dit boven in het kort heb beschreven.
4 you will be able to understand that I understand clearly that message about Christ.
Wanneer gij dit leest, kunt gij daaruit mijn inzicht a fleiden in het Christus-geheim.
5 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).
Nooit is het onder vroegere geslachten aan de kinderen der mensen bekend gemaakt, zoals het thans in den Geest door zijn heilige Apostelen en Profeten is geopenbaard:
6 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].
dat namelijk de heidenen door het Evangelie medeerfgenamen zijn, medeleden en deelgenoten aan de Belofte in Christus Jesus.
7 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.
Daarvan ben ik de bedienaar geworden krachtens de genadegave, die God door zijn machtige werking aan mij heeft verleend.
8 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,
Aan mij, den geringste van alle heiligen, is deze genade geschonken: aan de heidenen de ondoorgrondelijke rijkdom van Christus te verkondigen,
9 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)
en het Bestel te doen zien van het heilsgeheim, dat van eeuwigheid verborgen was in God, den Schepper aller dingen; (aiōn g165)
10 [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.
opdat thans door middel van de Kerk de veelzijdige Wijsheid van God bekend zou worden gemaakt aan de hemelse heerschappijen en machten.
11 That is what God had always planned, and it is what he accomplished by what our Lord Jesus [has done]. (aiōn g165)
En dit is geschied volgens de eeuwige voorbeschikking, die Hij ten uitvoer heeft gebracht in Christus Jesus onzen Heer. (aiōn g165)
12 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.
In Hem naderen we door het geloof in Hem, vrijmoedig en vol vertrouwen tot God.
13 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].
Daarom bid ik u, dat gij de moed niet verliest door mijn wederwaardigheden terwille van u; want daarin juist ligt uw roem.
14 Because [God has done all this for you], I kneel [and pray] [MTY] to [God our] Father.
En daarom buig ik mijn knieën voor den Vader,
15 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.
van wien alle geslachten in de hemel en op de aarde hun naam hebben ontvangen:
16 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.
dat Hij naar de rijkdom zijner glorie u moge verlenen, krachtig naar den inwendigen mens te worden gesterkt door zijn Geest;
17 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,
dat Hij Christus in uw harten doe wonen door het geloof; dat gij geworteld moogt blijven en gegrondvest in liefde.
18 along with all other believers, may be able to know how very [DOU] much Christ loves [us(inc)].
Dan zult gij tezamen met alle heiligen u een denkbeeld kunnen vormen van de breedte en lengte, de hoogte en diepte;
19 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.
en de liefde van Christus leren beseffen, die alle begrip te boven gaat; dan zult gij vervuld worden van de ganse volheid van God.
20 [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.
Aan Hem, die door de kracht die in ons werkt, veel meer kan uitrichten, dan wat wij bidden of denken:
