< 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.
For this cause I Paul am the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles:
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].
as ye have heard the dispensation of the grace of God, which was given me to preach unto you:
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,
that by immediate revelation He made known to me the mystery, (as I wrote before in brief, by which,
4 you will be able to understand that I understand clearly that message about Christ.
when ye read it, ye may perceive my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, )
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).
which in other generations was not made known to men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be co-heirs,
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].
and of the same body, and joint-partakers of his promise in Christ, by the gospel:
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.
of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God conferred on me by the effectual operation of his power.
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,
On me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace bestowed, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
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 )
and make all men to see the communication of the mystery, which from the ages past hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; (aiōn )
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.
that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly regions;
11 That is what God had always planned, and it is what he accomplished by what our Lord Jesus [has done]. (aiōn )
according to the ancient purpose, which He executed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (aiōn )
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.
by whom we have freedom and access with confidence through faith in Him.
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].
Wherefore I desire that ye would not be discouraged at my afflictions on your account, which is your glory.
14 Because [God has done all this for you], I kneel [and pray] [MTY] to [God our] Father.
For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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.
from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named,
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.
that He would grant you, according to his glorious riches, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit, as to the inner man;
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,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: and be ye rooted and grounded in love,
18 along with all other believers, may be able to know how very [DOU] much Christ loves [us(inc)].
that ye may be able, with all the saints, to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
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.
and height, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasseth knowledge; that ye may be filled according to the abundant fulness of 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.
Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power operating in us,
21 Because of our relationship with Christ Jesus, may all (believers/those who belong to him) praise him forever. (Amen!/May it be so!) (aiōn )
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all the generations of eternal ages. Amen. (aiōn )