Ephesians 3
1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
Because [God has done all this for] you non-Jews, I, Paul, [pray for you. I want you to know that it is because I serve] Christ Jesus for your sake that I am in prison.
2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you,
I (assume that/think that probably) someone has told you how God acted very kindly toward me, appointing me [so that I would proclaim the gospel to you non-Jews].
3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
God revealed to me the message that he had not revealed to others. When you read what I have already written briefly about that,
4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,
you will be able to understand that I understand clearly that message about Christ.
5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,
Formerly, [God] did not reveal that message to anyone, but now his Spirit has revealed that message to (his holy apostles and prophets/people who tell messages that come directly from God).
6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
That message, which he has now revealed, is that because of our [(inc)] relationship with Christ Jesus, [all of us], non-Jews as well as Jews [MTY], will receive the [great spiritual blessings that God has] promised as we all form one group [MET] [as a result of our believing] the good news [about Christ].
7 of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
By God powerfully enabling me, and because God acted kindly toward me, doing what I did not deserve, and chose me [to do that work], I became someone who tells others this good message.
8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Although I am the least [worthy] of all God’s people, God kindly [appointed] me to proclaim to the non-Jews the message about the great spiritual blessings that [they can receive] from Christ,
9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages (aiōn g165) has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ,
and to enable everyone to understand clearly how God accomplished what he planned. God, who created everything, [has now revealed] this message, which he never revealed to anyone before. (aiōn g165)
10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
[What he planned] was that all (believers/people who belong to Christ) would be the ones who would reveal to all the ranks [DOU] of spiritual beings in heaven that what God had planned is wise in every way.
That is what God had always planned, and it is what he accomplished by what our Lord Jesus [has done]. (aiōn g165)
12 In him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
Because of what he has done and because of our relationship with him, [when we pray] we can approach God confidently and without being afraid.
13 Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
So I ask that you do not be discouraged because of my suffering many things for you [here in prison]. You should feel honored that I am [willing to] suffer [these things for your sake].
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Because [God has done all this for you], I kneel [and pray] [MTY] to [God our] Father.
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
He is the one who is [like] a father of all [the believers who are now in] heaven and those who are still on the earth.
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,
I pray that, using his unlimited resources, he will cause you to be strengthened by his Spirit {cause his Spirit to strengthen you} in your (inner beings/hearts) with all [God’s] power.
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
That is, I pray that because of your trusting in Christ, his [Spirit] may live in your (inner beings/hearts) (OR, he may live in your hearts). And I pray that because you love [Christ] firmly and faithfully/continually [MET], you,
18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
along with all other believers, may be able to know how very [DOU] much Christ loves [us(inc)].
19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
I want you to experience how very deeply he loves us, even though it is not possible for us to understand fully [how much he loves us]. And I pray that God will enable you to be filled with {have a full measure of} all the [qualities of his character that] he himself has.
20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
[God] is able to do much (greater things/more) than we could ask him to do, or even that we might think that he can do, by his power that is working within us.
