1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –2Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,5which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,11according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
A prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father,15from whom every family[1] in heaven and on earth derives its name.16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3
English Standard Version
The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— (Ac 23:18; Eph 3:13; Eph 4:1; Eph 6:20; Php 1:7; Col 1:24)2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, (Ac 11:23; Ro 1:5; Eph 1:10; Eph 3:7; Eph 4:7; Col 1:25; 1Ti 1:4)3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. (Da 2:29; Ac 22:17; Ac 22:21; Ac 26:16; Ro 16:25; 2Co 12:1; Eph 1:9)4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, (2Co 11:6; Col 4:3)5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.6This mystery is[1] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Ga 3:29; Eph 2:16; Eph 5:7)7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. (2Co 3:6; Eph 1:19; Eph 3:2; Eph 3:20; Col 1:23; Col 1:25)8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (Job 5:9; Ac 9:15; Ro 2:4; Ro 11:33; 1Co 15:9; Eph 1:18)9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[2] God, who created all things, (Eph 2:10; Eph 3:2; Col 1:26; Re 4:11)10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ro 11:33; Eph 1:3; Eph 1:21; Eph 6:12; 1Pe 1:12)11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Eph 1:11)12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. (Mr 11:22; 2Co 3:4; Eph 2:18; Php 3:9; Heb 4:16; Heb 10:19)13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (2Co 1:6; Eph 3:1)
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,15from whom every family[3] in heaven and on earth is named, (Eph 1:10; Eph 1:21)16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Ro 7:22; 1Co 16:13; Eph 3:8; Eph 6:10; Php 4:13; Col 1:11)17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (Eph 2:22; Col 1:23; Col 2:7)18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (Job 11:8; Joh 1:5; Ro 8:39)19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 1:23; Php 4:7; Col 2:10)20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (Ro 16:25; 2Co 9:8; Eph 3:7; Jud 1:24)21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ro 11:36)