Ephesians 3
3
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
1When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles#3:1 Paul resumes this thought in verse 14: “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father.” . . . 2assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.#3:6 Or because they are united with Christ Jesus. 7By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9I was chosen to explain to everyone#3:9 Some manuscripts do not include to everyone. this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12Because of Christ and our faith in him,#3:12 Or Because of Christ’s faithfulness. we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,#3:14 Some manuscripts read the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.#3:15 Or from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Ephesians 3
3
The Mystery Revealed
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God #Acts 9:15which was given to me for you, 3#Acts 22:17, 21; 26:16how that by revelation #(Rom. 11:25; 16:25; Eph. 3:4, 9; 6:19); Col. 1:26; 4:3He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6that the Gentiles #Gal. 3:28, 29should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7#Rom. 15:16of which I became a minister #Rom. 1:5according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by #Rom. 15:18the effective working of His power.
Purpose of the Mystery
8To me, #(1 Cor. 15:9)who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles #(Col. 1:27; 2:2, 3)the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who #John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2created all things through Jesus Christ; 10#1 Pet. 1:12to the intent that now #(1 Tim. 3:16)the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church #Eph. 1:21; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:10, 15to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11#(Eph. 1:4, 11)according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access #2 Cor. 3:4; Heb. 4:16; 10:19, 35; (1 John 2:28; 3:21)with confidence through faith in Him. 13#Phil. 1:14Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, #2 Cor. 1:6which is your glory.
Appreciation of the Mystery
14For this reason I bow my knees to the #Eph. 1:3Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16that He would grant you, #(Eph. 1:7; 2:4; Phil. 4:19)according to the riches of His glory, #1 Cor. 16:13; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:11to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in #Rom. 7:22the inner man, 17#John 14:23; Rom. 8:9; 2 Cor. 13:5; (Eph. 2:22)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, #Col. 1:23being rooted and grounded in love, 18#Eph. 1:18may be able to comprehend with all the saints #Rom. 8:39what is the width and length and depth and height— 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled #Eph. 1:23with all the fullness of God.
20Now #Rom. 16:25to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly #1 Cor. 2:9above all that we ask or think, #Col. 1:29according to the power that works in us, 21#Rom. 11:36to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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