Ephesians 3
3
Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles
1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words; 4#Col 1.26,27. whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,) 5which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.
7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9and to make all men see what is the fellowship#3.9 fellowship. Some early manuscripts have stewardship. of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Prayer for Love Which Surpasses Knowledge
14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21unto him be glory in the church by#3.21 by. Some early manuscripts have and in. Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
Ephesians 3
3
Paul's Mission to the Gentiles
1Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so I could help you Gentiles. 2You have surely heard about God's gift of undeserved grace in choosing me to help you. 3In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. 4#Col 1.26,27. As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. 5No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.
7God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. 8I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. 9#3 Macc 2.3. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. 10Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
11God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all Christ Jesus our Lord had done. 12Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so we can come to God by faith. 13This is why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to you.
Christ's Love for Us
14I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him.#3.15 receive their life from him: Or “know who they really are because of him.” 16God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18#Si 1.3. I pray that you and all God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.#3.18 what is called wide or long or high or deep: This may refer to the heavenly Jerusalem or to God's love or wisdom or to the meaning of the cross. 19I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.
20-21I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.