Ephesians 3

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.

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴For this reason I kneel^d before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family^a in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches^e he may strengthen you with power^f through his Spirit in your inner being,^{g 17}so that Christ may dwell in your hearts^h through faith. And I pray that you, being rootedⁱ and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,^j to grasp how wide and long and high and deep^k is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge^l—that you may be filled^m to the measure of all the fullness of God.ⁿ

²⁰Now to him who is able^o to do immeasurably more than all we ask^p or imagine, according to his power^q that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.^r