PAUL’S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES

3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisonerw of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—2 assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation,x as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.y 5 This was not made known to peopleB in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophetsz by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promiseaa in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 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.ab

8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable richesac of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who createdad all things. 10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdomae may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.af 11 This is according to his eternal purposeag accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we have boldness and confident accessah through faith in him.C 13 So, then, I ask you not to be discouragedai over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.aj

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL POWER

14 For this reason I kneelak before the FatherD 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the richesal of his glory,am to be strengthened with poweran in your inner beingao 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,ap 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 ableaq to do above and beyond all that we ask or thinkar according to the poweras that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.at