For This Reason, I Paul, a Prisoner of Christ For You Gentiles...
3 For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you the Gentiles—
For I Am a Steward of God’s Plan To Make Gentiles Partakers of His Promises
2 ... if indeed you heard-of the stewardship[a] of the grace of God having been given[b] to me for you, 3 that by way of revelation the mystery was made-known to me (just as I wrote-before in brief, 4 with reference to which you are able, while reading, to perceive my understanding in[c] the mystery of Christ) 5 which in other generations was not made-known to the sons of humans as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit— 6 that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs and fellow-body-members and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the good-news, 7 of which I was made a minister[d] in-accordance-with the gift of the grace of God having been given[e] to me by-way-of the working of His power.
It Was Granted To Me To Enlighten Everyone To See The Creator’s Long Hidden Plan
8 This grace was given to me, the less-than-least of all saints, that I might announce-as-good-news to the Gentiles the untraceable riches of Christ, 9 and enlighten everyone to see what is the stewardship[f] of the mystery having been hidden from the past ages in God, the One having created all things, 10 so that now the multifaceted wisdom of God might be made-known to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church, 11 in-accordance-with the purpose of the ages[g] which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in Whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith[h] in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you not lose-heart in connection with my afflictions for-your-sake, which is your glory!
For This Reason I Pray For You To Know The Love of Christ And The Fullness of God
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from Whom the whole[i] family in the heavens and on earth is named, 16 asking that He might grant to you in accordance with the riches of His glory that you be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner person 17 so-that[j] Christ may dwell[k] in your hearts through faith, 18 in-order-that[l] you, having[m] been rooted and founded in love, might be strong-enough[n] to grasp[o] together-with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge, in-order-that[p] you might be filled to all the fullness of God.
To God Be The Glory
20 Now to the One being able to do super-abundantly beyond all of the things which we ask or think[q] according to the power being at-work[r] in us— 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations forever and ever, amen.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 3:2 That is, the position of management responsibility; or, the arrangement or mode of operation in which Paul served.
- Ephesians 3:2 That is, the grace... given.
- Ephesians 3:4 That is, in connection with the mystery concerning Christ.
- Ephesians 3:7 Or, servant.
- Ephesians 3:7 That is, the grace... given.
- Ephesians 3:9 That is, mode of operation, arrangement.
- Ephesians 3:11 the purpose of the ages. Or, the eternal purpose.
- Ephesians 3:12 through faith in Him. Or, through His faithfulness.
- Ephesians 3:15 the whole. Or, every.
- Ephesians 3:17 so that. Or, that, parallel with ‘that you be strengthened’.
- Ephesians 3:17 Or, reside, live, have His home.
- Ephesians 3:18 in order that. Or, that, making this a second main thing he is ‘asking that’.
- Ephesians 3:18 having been ... in love. In the Greek word order, this phrase precedes ‘in order that you’ (it is part of v 17), making it emphatic.
- Ephesians 3:18 Or, fully able.
- Ephesians 3:18 Or, comprehend, lay hold of. Paul may be referring to the dimensions of God’s plan and wisdom (v 10); or, the dimensions of Christ’s love.
- Ephesians 3:19 in order that. Or, that, making this a third main thing he is ‘asking that’.
- Ephesians 3:20 Or, understand, imagine, perceive.
- Ephesians 3:20 Or, in-operation.