Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

v1

On account of this I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles

v2

—if indeed you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace given to me for you.

v3

According to ^[Some manuscripts have “given to me for you, that according to”] revelation the mystery was made known to me, just as I wrote beforehand in brief,

v4

so that you may be able when you read ^[Or “by reading”] to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ

v5

(which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit):

v6

that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

v7

of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God’s grace given to me, according to the working of his power.

v8

To me, the least of all the saints, was given this grace: to proclaim the good news of the fathomless riches of Christ to the Gentiles,

v9

and to enlighten everyone as to what is the administration of the mystery hidden from the ages by God, who created all things,

v10

in order that the many-sided wisdom of God might be made known now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church,

v11

according to the purpose of the ages which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

v12

in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him. ^[Or “through his i.e., Christ’s faithfulness”]

v13

Therefore I ask you ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] not to be discouraged at my afflictions on behalf of you, which are your glory.

v14

On account of this, I bend my knees before the Father,

v15

from whom every ^[Or “the whole”] family in heaven and on earth is named,

v16

that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,

v17

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love),

v18

in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth,

v19

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

v20

Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us,

v21

to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.