NET Bible

Paul’s Relationship to the Divine Mystery

^3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles ^3:2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ^3:3 that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. ^3:4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ ^3:5 (which was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit), ^3:6 namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. ^3:7 I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. ^3:8 To me—less than the least of all the saints —this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ ^3:9 and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan —the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. ^3:10 The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. ^3:11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ^3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness. ^3:13 For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Prayer for Strengthened Love

^3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, ^3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ^3:16 I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, ^3:17 that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, ^3:18 you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ^3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.

^3:20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, ^3:21 to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.