Ephesians 3
Paul's Relationship to the Divine Mystery
3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus1 for the sake of you Gentiles – 3:2 if indeed2 you have heard of the stewardship3 of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3:3 that4 by revelation the divine secret5 was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.6 3:4 When reading this,7 you will be able to8 understand my insight into this secret9 of Christ. 3:5 Now this secret10 was not disclosed to people11 in former12 generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by13 the Spirit, 3:6 namely, that through the gospel14 the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members15 of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel16 according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by17 the exercise of his power.18 3:8 To me – less than the least of all the saints19 – this grace was given,20 to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ 3:9 and to enlighten21 everyone about God’s secret plan22 – a secret that has been hidden for ages23 in God24 who has created all things. 3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that25 through the church the multifaceted wisdom26 of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. 3:11 This was according to27 the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access28 to God29 because of30 Christ’s31 faithfulness.32 3:13 For this reason I ask you33 not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you,34 which35 is your glory.36
Prayer for Strengthened Love
3:14 For this reason37 I kneel38 before the Father,39 3:15 from40 whom every family41 in heaven and on the earth is named. 3:16 I pray that42 according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,43 3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to44 all the fullness of God.
3:20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us45 is able to do far beyond46 all that we ask or think, 3:21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.