Eph 3 | LSB | STEP | For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles

‏ Ephesians 3

The Mystery of Christ Revealed

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 About which, when you read you can understand my insight ^{▼▼Lit in}into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets ^{▼▼Or by}in the Spirit: 6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all ^{▼▼Or holy ones}saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the ^{▼▼Lit purpose of the ages}eternal purpose which He ^{▼▼Lit did}carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and ^{▼▼Lit access in confidence}confident access through faith ^{▼▼Lit of Him}in Him. 13 Therefore I ask ^{▼▼Or that I may not lose}you not to lose heart at my afflictions on your behalf, which are your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom ^{▼▼Or the whole}every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the ^{▼▼v 8, note 1}saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^{▼▼Lit of the age of the ages}forever and ever. Amen.