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

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,w but fellow citizensx with God’s people and also members of his household,y 20 builtz on the foundationa of the apostles and prophets,b with Christ Jesus himselfc as the chief cornerstone.d 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy templee in the Lord. 22 And 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

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

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to meh for you, 3 that is, the mysteryi made known to me by revelation,j as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insightk into the mystery of Christ, 5 which 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 heirsm together with Israel, members together of one body,n and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.o

7 I became a servant of this gospelp by the gift of God’s grace given meq 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 Gentilest 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. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of Godw should be made knownx to the rulers and authoritiesy in the heavenly realms,z 11 according to his eternal purposea that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach Godb with freedom and confidence.c 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.