Epheser 3
1 Um deswillen bin ich, Paulus, der Gefangene von Jesus Christus für euch Heiden;
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 Sofern ihr gehört habt von dem Amt der Gnade Gottes, die mir für euch zuteil geworden ist;
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 Daß mir durch Offenbarung, wie ich oben kürzlich geschrieben habe, das Geheimnis kund geworden ist;
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 Daran ihr, so ihr es leset, inne werden könnt mein Verständnis des Geheimnisses von Christus,
you will be able to understand that I understand clearly that message about Christ.
5 Welches in früheren Zeiten den Menschenkindern nicht kund getan worden, wie es nun Seinen heiligen Aposteln und Propheten durch den Geist geoffenbart wurde.
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 Daß nämlich die Heiden Miterben und Miteinverleibte und Mitteilhaber Seiner Verheißung seien in Christus durch das Evangelium,
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 Dessen Diener ich geworden bin nach Gabe der Gnade Gottes, die mir nach der Kraftwirkung Seiner Macht zuteil geworden ist.
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 Mir, dem allergeringsten aller Heiligen, ist diese Gnade zuteil geworden, unter den Heiden den unergründlichen Reichtum von Christus zu verkündigen;
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 Und alle zu erleuchten, welches die Anordnung sei, die in Hinsicht auf das Geheimnis, das von Ewigkeit her in Gott verborgen gewesen, Der alle Dinge durch Jesus Christus geschaffen hat, getroffen ist; (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 Auf daß jetzt kund würde den Mächten und Gewalten im Himmel an der Gemeinde die mannigfaltige Weisheit Gottes;
[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 Nach dem Ratschlusse der Ewigkeit, den Er in Jesus Christus unserem Herrn ausgeführt hat; (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 In Dem wir haben die Freudigkeit und den Zutritt in Zuversicht durch den Glauben an Ihn.
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 Darum bitte ich euch, über meinen Drangsalen zu eurem Besten, die ja euch zur Herrlichkeit gereichen, nicht den Mut zu verlieren.
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 Deshalb beuge ich meine Knie vor dem Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus,
Because [God has done all this for you], I kneel [and pray] [MTY] to [God our] Father.
15 Welcher der rechte Vater ist über alles, was da Kinder heißt, im Himmel und auf Erden.
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 Daß Er euch nach dem Reichtum Seiner Herrlichkeit Kraft gebe, zu erstarken durch Seinen Geist am inneren Menschen,
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 Auf daß Christus durch den Glauben in euren Herzen wohne, damit ihr in Liebe gewurzelt und gegründet seid;
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 So daß ihr völlig im Stande seid, mit allen Heiligen zu begreifen, welches die Breite, die Länge und die Tiefe und Höhe sei;
along with all other believers, may be able to know how very [DOU] much Christ loves [us(inc)].
19 Und zu erkennen Christus Liebe, so alle Erkenntnis übersteigt, auf daß ihr der ganzen Fülle Gottes in vollem Maße teilhaftig werdet.
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 Ihm aber, Der weit über alles überschwenglich mehr tun kann, als wir bitten und verstehen, vermöge der in uns wirkenden Kraft,
[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.
