Ephesians 3

The mystery made known

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—a ²Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,b ³that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.c

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.d 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.e

⁷I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.f 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,g ⁹and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.h

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,i ¹¹according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.j ¹²In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.k

¹³I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.l

Rooted and grounded in love

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father,m ¹⁵from whom every family 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,n ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,o 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,p ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.q

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,r ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.s