Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner(A) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. The mystery was made known to me by revelation,(B) as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.(C) This was not made known to people[a] in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets(D) by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise(E) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.(F)

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches(G) of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created(H) all things. 10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom(I) may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.(J) 11 This is according to his eternal purpose(K) accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and confident access(L) through faith in him.[b] 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged(M) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.(N)

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I kneel(O) before the Father[c] 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches(P) of his glory,(Q) to be strengthened with power(R) in your inner being(S) through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,(T) 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able(U) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think(V) according to the power(W) that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.(X)

Footnotes

  1. 3:5 Lit to the sons of men
  2. 3:12 Or through his faithfulness
  3. 3:14 Other mss add of our Lord Jesus Christ

For this reason *I* Paul, prisoner of the Christ Jesus for you nations,

(if indeed ye have heard of the administration of the grace of God which has been given to me towards you,

that by revelation the mystery has been made known to me, (according as I have written before briefly,

by which, in reading it, ye can understand my intelligence in the mystery of the Christ,)

which in other generations has not been made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in [the power of the] Spirit,

that [they who are of] the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of [his] promise in Christ Jesus by the glad tidings;

of which I am become minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me, according to the working of his power.

To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ,

and to enlighten all [with the knowledge of] what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things,

10 in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the assembly the all-various wisdom of God,

11 according to [the] purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I beseech [you] not to faint through my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ],

15 of whom every family in [the] heavens and on earth is named,

16 in order that he may give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love,

18 in order that ye may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what [is] the breadth and length and depth and height;

19 and to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge; that ye may be filled [even] to all the fulness of God.

20 But to him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us,

21 to him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen).