Ephesians 2:14–3:13

¹⁴For he himself is our peace,^l who has made the two groups one^m and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵by setting aside in his fleshⁿ the law with its commands and regulations.^o His purpose was to create in himself one^p new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,^q by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace^r to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{s 18}For through him we both have access^t to the Father^u by one Spirit.^v

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,^w but fellow citizens^x with God’s people and also members of his household,^{y 20}built^z on the foundation^a of the apostles and prophets,^b with Christ Jesus himself^c as the chief cornerstone.^{d 21}In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple^e in the Lord. ²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.^f

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

3For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner^g of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

²Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me^h for you, ³that is, the mysteryⁱ made known to me by revelation,^j as I have already written briefly. ⁴In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight^k 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.^{l 6}This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^m together with Israel, members together of one body,ⁿ and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^o

⁷I became a servant of this gospel^p by the gift of God’s grace given me^q through the working of his power.^{r 8}Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^s this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^t the boundless riches of Christ,^{u 9}and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery,^v which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. ¹⁰His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God^w should be made known^x to the rulers and authorities^y in the heavenly realms,^{z 11}according to his eternal purpose^a that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹²In him and through faith in him we may approach God^b with freedom and confidence.^{c 13}I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.