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.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneeld before the Father, 15 from whom every familya in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious richese he may strengthen you with powerf through his Spirit in your inner being,g 17 so that Christ may dwell in your heartsh through faith. And I pray that you, being rootedi and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,j to grasp how wide and long and high and deepk is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledgel—that you may be filledm to the measure of all the fullness of God.n

20 Now to him who is ableo to do immeasurably more than all we askp or imagine, according to his powerq that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.r