Ephesians

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians, chapter 3, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 3 New English Translation

Paul's Relationship to the Divine Mystery

   1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles - 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. 4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. 5 Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 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. 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. 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 9 and to enlighten everyone about God's secret plan - a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. 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. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our LORD, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness. 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

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

King James Version

   1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
   2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
   3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
   4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
   5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
   6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
   7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
   8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
   9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
   10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
   11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
   12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
   13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
   14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
   15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
   16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
   17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
   18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
   19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
   20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
   21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.